Socialization Chapter 6 (Killing Us Softly, A Call To Men).

                                                                                                             Merida Angelina~


Socialization- is the process through which people learn their culture's basic norms, values, beliefs, and appropriate behaviors.



       I have giving much thought after watching "Killing Us Softly" By, Jean Kilbourne & "A Call To Men" By, Tony Porter; I must say I was rather impressed by both for their informative unbiased lecture addressing inequality within our culture. Let me further explain....

       Killing Us Softly addresses; Woman are being exploited as objects through media such as commercials, modeling, movies, etc, advertising digitally enhanced woman "artificial constructed images" all to send a message that woman are to be perfect, in body, weight, facial features, etc...  This has gone too far in my opinion. We are living in a culture that promotes complete fraudulence; sending a message to young woman and full grown woman that in order to be accepted we have to be perfect, thus creating some woman to feel subpar and unworthy, stressed, ultimately effecting women's self esteem; it just doesn't stop there, woman are starving themselves, malnourished, dealing with sickness such as bulimia, anorexia.  Advertising has gone as far as creating clothing sizes double zero! Inequality in racism, Dark woman have no role whatsoever, Black woman are often portrayed in the "jungle" as exotic animals and or to excel in the entertainment one has to have carcausin features? A culture that promotes sexuality at all cost, dehumanizing woman, I agree with Jean Kilbourne when she states "turning a human being into a thing is almost always the 1st step toward justifying violence against that person" hence she is referring to woman; Sending a clear message to men that woman are objects, we are to be seen not heard. Your worth depends on how you look, Our girls as Jean stated " are taught to inspire to become nothing.

       A Call To Men By, Tony Porter addresses inequality as well; Woman are of less value, property of men. He further adds by finally identifying why his perception growing up as a young man was tainted by one of the many agents of socialization he was exposed to, family.. Chapter 6 states "Families are the primary agent of socialization". Porter learned earlier on in his social structure that men were not to cry, they were to be on the prowl, woman are objects. However he sums his lecture up by saying "My liberation as a man is tied to your liberation as a woman. Could have not said it better in my opinion. That is where equality between men and woman can begin. The norms, values and beliefs as we know it have to change; thus leading to a more conducive/ healthy environment.

       Chapter 6 (Socialization) identifies the many roles "socialization functions within our society, however socialization varies from culture to culture depending what the norms are within that particular society.  Family, schools, media, peer groups, religion, are all agents of socialization. Each setting has its own set of norms, rules, values and beliefs.  Socialization evolves throughout time because we are ever adapting and changing throughout our life course.

      What Does It Mean to Be Human? Human Nature, Society and Culture By, Joel M. Charon illustrates as humans we are social beings, and that our culture shapes by the society in which we live, we become  conditioned by the rules and norms, Socialization does not have say all in whom we become but it is an intricate aspect of life because we live what we learn, Our language, behaviors attitudes are aspects of socialization. Within my home I have set rules, values and norms by which my home is set on these principals. As simple as we wash our hands before we eat dinner, It is so embedded in my three year old son, when we go out to eat, He knows to go to the public restroom to wash his hands. He already is developing a sense of Selfhood.

       In conclusion Socialization is a driven force within our culture, with that being said, We as humans are in fact interdependent on one another, We thrive on one another and are very influential to one another. Good or Bad, However I'm always for the Good :)



                                                                                                Merida Angelina~