Global Citizenship (SumBlog 3)

Through out class this week we learned about global identity, along with this we learned about two theoretical approaches that are used. The first one is identify theory, in class we learned that individuals’ self-perceived roles and relationships are based on social characteristics like race, class, gender and religion along with many others. Many roles structure interactions and social networks. The other theory we learned was the social identity theory. This theory stresses social categories that we perceive membership. It has to with concern with the inter-group interactions and normative process of self-evaluation within these groups. A lot is based off of social comparison. From here we learned about being a global citizen. To me being a global citizen is when you know what is going on in the world around you, you make an effort to learn other cultures and the way other societies work. When I think of global citizenship I also relate that to volunteering, in your own country as well as others. I would not say that I am fully a global citizen. But I am definitely working on becoming more informed and really caring about what is going on in the world and not just focused on my own country.

I found a video that I really like and I think it explains why being a global citizen is important. For me it feels like I am part of a movement, globalization is relatively, new term in the aspect of sociology. However, I don’t think it is new as a whole. If you think about it religion, food, economies and even English are fairly global and have been for quite some time. Now it is time for people to become global and recognize that there is life outside of their own familiar county. I will continue to try to be a global citizen and inform people of this movement.

Attitudes of Cultures (SumBlog 2)

This week in class we discussed ethnocentrism along with cultural relativism. Both of these concepts explain very different points of view. Ethnocentrism is when someone holds his or her own culture above everyone else’s. If you are ethnocentric you most likely hold your own values, beliefs, religion, language and customs higher than others around you. A person will use their culture to judge another’s, usually in a negative aspect. A lot of times this can lead us to make incorrect judgments about other people’s culture. Ethnocentrism can cause discrimination, biasness and hatred towards another culture. On the other hand some people can make an argument that in a way ethnocentrism can be seen in a positive light. A functional example of this would be having a great deal of solidarity in your culture. This would be a feeling of togetherness. I think about solidarity is when people come together to stand up for something they care about and believe in. Overall, ethnocentrism is seen in a very negative light but in certain situations there can be positive aspects.

This video shows an explanation of ethnocentrism and why it is important

 not live your life in this mindset. It can greatly affect the people around you in a negative way.I really think that living with an open mind will impove many aeas of your life.

Cultural relativism is when a person tries to understand cultures that are different then his or her own. These people see other people’s values, beliefs, religion language and customs too be comparative to their culture. These people do not judge other cultures, they understand “right” and “wrong” are different in other cultures and societies and people hold different morals. Cultural relativism is non-judgmental and sees nothing characteristically immoral about different cultural expressions. People with this view, respect others beliefs and are very open-minded.

This is also a helpful video; this one compares ethnocentrism and cultural relativism a little more in depth. I think both of these terms are important for people to understand and get an idea of their own perspective on their culture as well as others. 

SumBlog 1: Globalization - Do our shoes reflect what we stand for?

The very first activity we did in Sociology of Globalization (Sociology 370) was one that I found to be very interesting and truly made me reflect on my morals and what I stand for. I researched a pair of shoes that I own, which is TOMS. I love these shoe, however I only knew the basic background of the company. Through my research I found positive aspects about the company as a whole. Blake Mycoskie founded the company in 2006. He did so after returning from a trip to Argentina. Seeing all the children whom did not have shoes bothered him. Although this is a for-profit company, TOMS are benefiting people by their “one for one movement”, for every TOMS shoe purchased, one new pair is given away to a child in need. Overall, the company’s employers are treated quite well and they are working in a safe environment.

I also own Nike shoes and apparel, and their company’s aspects are a lot more negative unlike TOMS. I started looking into Nike after I heard a couple different people in class discuss what they found when they researched their Nike shoes. What they said and what I found during my own research was very unsettling foe me. I am horrified about how they have treated their workers and what type of conditions they have had to work in. I watched a YouTube video on the sweatshops of Nike and honestly it makes you not want to purchase Nike shoes or clothes ever again.

So here's where my beliefs become conflicted. First off it is upsetting that TOMS shoes is so pro workers while Nike is clearly not (however they are working on making improvements). They are both a for-profit company but TOMS is definitely more of a classy who respects workers rights company. The second part that I have trouble digesting id that I own so much Nike aparell. How they treat their workers is no where near how a person should be treated. I am a big supporter of human rights and justice and I feel like Nike is almost the opposite. So if I am wearing Nike aparell does that mean I am supporting the way they treat their workers? I don't think it necsscarily is. But I am also not doing anything to improve the conditions because after all I am still purchasing from the company and therefore they are making money from me consuming their products. This is a question that conflicts with my morals and it is something that so many of us have a blind eye to.