This week I knew what social roles were and what roles I have taken on in my life from past studies.  The thing that was new and interesting to me was about how some scientist called for certain people to be sterilized because their genetic makeup.  I think that the environment in which you grow up in has more of an effect on how you will turn out in later years.  For instance a person who grows up in a dysfunctional family with abuse may grow up and mimic what they have seen in their childhood with their own children   they are allowing for the cycle to continue.  I know that this instance is not always true because some people have strong personalities that allow them to want to makes changes in their lives in a positive way.  I think that both genetic and environmental factors combined will determine how a person will turn out but it will never be 100% accurate since there are too many variables in ones environment that can change.

One of the questions I have about this weeks pod has to do with the video on the Westboro Baptist Church.  I am wondering why the state has not come in and investigated these parents for putting their children in direct harms way by allowing them to be at these protests?  I watched the videos and it would seem that these videos are evidence enough of child neglect.  I also and wondering why there hasn't been a federal law enacted prohibiting protests at funerals.  I understand that there is a right to free speech and peaceful protests but the families of these deceased also have the right to be able to mourn in peace.  You must not infringe on another rights while exercising your own.

Social Controls in Society

In this weeks pod I knew what formal and informal sanctions were due to previous classes that I had taken.  I am not entirely sure if I agree with the text on what it says when it comes to gossiping.  the text had stated that gossiping serves as an effective means of social control.  I personally think that the assumption of that statement is outdated and does not correlate with the times we are in today.  I feel that gossiping can become a mean spirited action that leads to bullying in today's society.  As we have been seeing in the news lately this also leads to teen suicides.  It is being the brunt of such gossip that can take a severe emotional tole on some people.  I also no longer believe that the churches opinion of others can be used as a form of social control given the state of the church and the scandals they have been involved in during recent years.  I think they need to look inside their own house before they can cast judgement on others.  I do know that not all gossipers and church groups have bad intents but there is enough negativity associated with both that leads me not take whole heatedly engage with either groups of people.  I do think that laws are an effective way of maintaining social control when used universally across the board for offenders who commit the same crimes.  If a male and female teacher commit the same crime with a student I feel that they should face the same penalty.

Deviance

I always knew what deviant behavior was but was shocked to find out it included a lot more things than I would have thought.  I related deviant behavior to criminal activity.  i was surprised to learn that it could include bottle feeding over breast feeding.  After pondering that piece of new information it kind of made sense to me because when I had my children the nurses always pushed for me to try breast feeding and kind of looked at me funny when I said  I had no interest in attempting to do that at all.
I also know that many people in society view smoking as deviant behavior because it is something we are taught is bad for us.  It also reminded me of a time when I was smoking outside during my work break and a woman walked by and asked me why I would smoke where people walked by.
I guess it is a matter of personal choice what one would consider to be deviant.  I have read some books and stories about laws in the United States and it is astounding as to the types of things that were considered deviant and criminal in prior years.  I am wondering when society will change their views on many things and accept them as the norm.  I also think that as the times have changed that the laws need to change to represent the current societal views and not those in grained in us from a time where we were not even born.