soc essay

Running head: SOCIOLOGICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 1

SOCIOLOGICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT 6

Sociological Autobiography Assignment

YUHONG LYU

SOC 1

Sociological Autobiography Assignment

The process of socialization is vital in the life of humanity. It is a process that teaches people how to be proficient members of society. Through the process of socialization, individual learn and understands the social norms and societal expectations. This, in return, helps them to accept the beliefs within a given society and become aware of the underlying values in the society thereof. Therefore, socialization is a process that helps individuals to become social persons in society and propel them into attaining their personality. This paper provides my sociological autobiography by exploring the influence of social aspects on my self-identity and the sociological concepts and theories connected to my autobiography.

Influence of social aspects on my self-identity

Culture

Cultural values play a vital role in national identity and identity. As a Chinese male, I still value traditional cultural values because they influence my psyche. It is a cultural norm for any Chinese individual to foster harmony, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, honesty, wisdom, and loyalty. Growing up in China with all my parents and siblings, I learned the art of living in harmony, being honest, and exercising loyalty throughout life. I have always practiced and kept all these cultural values from China even though I could study abroad. I embrace this culture by staying true to all the people I have met because I found it easier to integrate into a diversified environment.

Types of groups

My life as a Chinese-born individual has influenced the types of groups and peers I associate with. While growing up, my parents instilled great values and norms to guide me throughout life. While growing up, I learned to associate myself with like-minded individuals who always thought about others' good. More so, I also learned that schools in China provided me with a chance to engage other students and learned that respecting and embracing others' differences is paramount in a diversified environment. I studied in a diversified high school where I met students from other countries; therefore, without my parent's influence, I would not have survived in the diverse environment that I am in today.

Effects of technology/social media

Born and raised in China has had a great influence on my life. China is a country that has advanced in terms of technology and the use of social media. I can attest that social media has played a vital role in shaping my self-esteem as an individual. While growing up, I got scared of the adverts regarding chubby or fat children. I remember there is a time when I saw an advert saying that if a child is fat, he or she is a ‘dork.’ Since then, I developed low self-esteem. However, today, I have outgrown these esteem issues. I have developed new norms and values. I have grown into a man that appreciates who he is because I have re-socialized into a better version of myself.

Social class status

China is made up of 5 social classes that make up the structure of residents. The bottom, the grassroots, the lower middle class, the upper-middle class, and the upper class are the five social levels in China. My family belonged to the lower-middle-class status level, which comprises 25% of Chinese residents. These include ordinary people who do white-collar jobs, technicians, civil servants, and recently graduated individuals. Such a class would mingle with people of the same status but hardly mingle with the upper-class members. One day, I remember walking home from school, and I was hit by a bike that a boy was riding from an upper-class family. My parents tried to negotiate with them to take responsibility for the injury. Still, since we were a low-income earning family, it was not easy to engage this boy's family. This experience has influenced my engagement and socialization to date. When I came here for studies, I encountered social stratification where people are divided into social classes. The upper class received better treatments within the society and public amenities, unlike those in the lower class. I have learned to be part of the middle-class individuals.

Race and ethnicity

Race and ethnicity play an integral role in shaping our self-identities. I am a Chinese residing in the US because of the need for education. In the past few years, there have been beliefs, prejudice, and stereotypes regarding Chinese staying in the US. This has resulted from the ongoing rivalry and conflicts between the US and China. This has shaped how I relate to people around me. I value diversity and embrace it so much. I always regard all people around me as special individuals blessed with different abilities. Therefore, as a global citizen, race and ethnicity do not affect my relationship with those I meet regardless of their origins.

Gender

Every society has developed different gender roles for women and men in society. China is a patriarchal society that places men as superior to women. Boys are taught as early as possible to take their positions in masculine-related aspects. We are taught to take the top management positions in organizations and other leading roles because they are meant for men. However, diversity has changed my views and perceptions significantly. Today, I view all people in the same way regardless of their gender. People should not be judged based on their gender but should be judged based on their capabilities.

Sociological concepts and theories

Sociological concepts and theories have significantly contributed to understanding the society, relationships, and social behaviors that shape our self-identities as individuals. The symbolic interaction theory, conflict theory, and social learning theory connect with the sociological aspects discussed above. According to the symbolic interaction theory, people focus on the symbolic meaning in societies, which people rely on during interaction. This is connected with my culture, race and ethnicity, and social status aspects that have influenced how I interact with people I meet and those around me.

The conflict theory focuses on the role played by coercion and power to shape and provide order in societies. According to Karl Marx, society is fragmented into groups that strive to share social and economic resources. Therefore, such societies' order is brought about by domination because those in high-ranking positions such as politicians, economists, and social resources will dominate. This is connected with the social class status aspect discussed above.

The last theory is the social learning theory that explains socialization and how it influences self-identity development. This theory looks deeply into individuals' learning process and how society influences the socialization aspect of individuals. This theory explains the aspects of deviance and crime. It can be connected to the cultural aspects and gender as discussed above.

References

Blossfeld, G. J., Blossfeld, P. N., & Blossfeld, H. P. (2019). A sociological perspective on education as a lifelong process. In Research Handbook on the sociology of education. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Wallace, W. L. (Ed.). (2017). Sociological theory: An introduction. AldineTransaction.