IDS 400 ( week 4)

For your response posts, address the following:

1. Discuss your insider/outsider relationship to the cultural expression your peer has shared.

Remember, this assignment is graded on the quality of your initial post and at least two response posts to your classmates. If you refer to any sources, be sure to include an attribution (or citation) to the resource.

To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric.

______________________________________________________________ Peer 1: Madison Carmon

Hello class,

A subculture I identify with is sports. I have been playing sports my whole life, such as Volleyball and Track and Field. Sharing similarities with others by playing the same sport is an example of having a culture. However, most importantly sport breaks down barriers between people of different cultures. Sport allows people to define themselves in a non-confrontational environment. Sports are adapted to culture.

As an insider, one might experience this culture as a form of physical exercise. Sports culture can help build your endurance, strength, and confidence within yourself. It also helps some relieve stress and anger.

As an outsider, athletes may seem to be more "stuck up" or "better than others", but in reality we love our fans and support system and without them, it would not be the same. The sports culture is one big family and we welcome everyone to join and give it a try.

Adopting both insider and outsider perspectives inform your understanding of the social impact of this cultural expression by it helping to gain a better understanding and respect for athletes. By everyone understanding, we will all be able to relate more and have deeper conversations.

_________________________________________________________________________

Peer 2: Anna Mitchell

One subculture I identify with is a homesteader. My husband and I bought a few aches in 2019. We own a few goats, sheep, chickens, and rabbits. We raise the chickens for eggs, the sheep and rabbits for meat, and the goats for pasture control. We have plans for a large garden but for now it is just a few above ground planters. I’ve made homemade kombucha, I hang my clothes on a clothesline, and can sew and mend. I sheer my own sheep and my girls use the wool for needle felting silly creations.

As an insider the cultural expression I experience is a sense of independence and

self-sufficiency. We are far from living off the land, but we have made changes that benefit our family.

Some things we do are ecologically conscious, and our goal is to become more so. I thrift shop for most

of my clothes and find ways to repurpose what we can. I love it when people complement my outfit, and

I can tell them it is from a thrift store. Some people are impressed, and others are quite shocked. There is

a real pride that comes with growing your own food and caring for animals.

When I was a child, my family was poor. We raised animals, grew gardens, and thrift shopped

out of necessity. I can always remember my mom working so hard all the time. I never felt like I went

without but there were definitely times when I felt like a country bumpkin. I think that can be a

perception of an outsider. Often it is seen as an alternative lifestyle or people think we are trying to live

off the grid. I’ve been called a hippie, farmer, and “punk Mennonite.” People wonder why I wouldn’t just

buy my eggs from the store because it would be so much easier.

Understanding both the insider and outsider perspective can help break down some

misconceptions. When people try to see life from someone else’s point of view it gives them a chance to

step outside themselves. I know I seem a little odd to some people and rightfully so, but I find more

meaningful conversations happen when I don’t assume the other person is thinking the worst about me.

I enjoy people asking questions to try to understand me and my lifestyle a little more. Often, I gain a

better understanding of who they are when they ask questions about who I am.