When we are born we have no sense of what is right or wrong. As we grow up from newborns to toddlers, from toddlers to kids, from kids to teenagers and so forth, we learn the proper ways to act in certain settings. Without the contact of other individuals and without resources there is a probability we could miss out on beneficial opportunities. At times it may not be completely our fault though as it depends on where or how we grew up.
To begin with, we are the people we are today due to a process called socialization. This concept goes on for years in life since we’re constantly learning and retaining new mannerisms. It should be known there are two kinds of socialization – primary and secondary. Our primary socialization involves our family and it’s regarding simple actions that as adults we consider common sense. These actions were learned when we were toddlers and our parents taught us to wash our hands after using the bathroom or to clean up after playing with our toys. Primary socialization becomes secondary when we begin attending school. We are taught to remain quiet when someone else is speaking, for example, or that you need to remain seated and calm in serious environments. The way we socialize goes hand in hand with the sociological perspective. “What’s the sociological perspective?” you may ask.
The sociological perspective is the view that our attitudes, behaviors, and life chances are influenced by our social background. There are four primary sociological perspectives that are split into macrosociology and microsociology where functionalism and conflict theory are macro and symbolic interactionism and utilitarianism are micro. Functionalism revolves around the belief that social stability is necessary to have a strong society and that social change should be slow since a drastic change would destabilize society. A representation of this would be schools because it is a part of society that helps it operate and makes it strong. The root of conflict theory, another perspective, is inequality and it could be compared to a hierarchy. The people with power and wealth put their all to remain at the top while they keep the poor below. Next, symbolic interactionism is the study of human conduct and is based on experiences with different people. For example, you get a better understanding of symbols when you visit a society like Vietnam, where the crossing of fingers is considered rude and obscene as opposed to in America it’s a symbol for good luck (Anderson and Stuart). Lastly, the theory that people act in ways that are guided in self-interest and go through with plans that maximize their advantages is called utilitarianism. This is easily seen when applying for jobs. People tend to lean towards a job that pays well and provides a schedule that corresponds to their lifestyle instead of a job that isn’t fulfilling. The social perspective evidently holds some truth as our environment definitely impacts our behaviors and beliefs. Socialization and the sociological perspective are viewed as pairs because without socialization, what essentially makes us who we are, there would be nothing social background could change about us.
Certain social factors affect Americans differently. A common factor that affects people of all ages regardless of their geographical location would be social class. It is known that there is a huge gap between the upper class and the lower class around the world and this is partly due to industrialization which has made the rich even richer. The middle class has fewer benefits than the upper class, but they certainly have “high levels of poverty…because political and economic leaders sell the resources to wealthy nations and keep much of the income from these sales for themselves” (The Nature and Extent of Global Stratification 302). The same would apply to the poorest sections in the country, but the poor rely heavily on agriculture and without their crops, the people will not have food to feed their families. They live in poor economic conditions as they are perpetually on the verge of starvation, they lack electricity, plumbing and also have no medical assistance whatsoever. Families who are lower class are stripped of the essentials because of the exploitation from upper-classes. In addition, some people in the low economic classes go through a process known as the poverty cycle where families go through generations of continuous poverty. Unlike upper-classes, lower classes do not have the same opportunities to achieve a higher education and that is what keeps them in the cycle previously mentioned. Without education, poor families aren’t able to liberate themselves from their tough circumstances. School is important as it allows people to socialize. When attending school, you get to interact with different people and are able to learn from them. For example, at school, you are open to diverse cultures and there you can have an insight into other people’s ideologies that could potentially benefit you. Besides the socialization people receive through schooling, they also learn important skills that are beneficial in today’s workforce. Throughout the years more jobs require professional education and to be able to handle machinery. Since poor families are oftentimes not exposed to education through, they don’t have the ability to gain the knowledge needed to move forward.
The mentioned social factor and the agent of socialization of social class and schooling, respectively, have played an important role in my life. Both of these components have made me the person I am today. First starters, I was born into the bottom of the social system—lower-class. It was difficult seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet and the fact that they didn’t have sufficient opportunities due to their citizenship status made it much more arduous. This social factor at times would cause embarrassment since I didn’t have “the finer things” that other kids my age did. As I grew up, my perspective changed, and I embrace my socioeconomic status. The conditions I was in made me appreciate what I do have and to strive for more. My lovely parents didn’t have the same chances I did, so I figured I’d take advantage of them. Instead of viewing my situation as a barrier in life, as most people do, I see it as fuel to go above and beyond. Growing up incredibly poor was a massive struggle, but it only filled me with motivation to succeed. This is where the social factor and socialization agent intertwine. Because of my socioeconomic status, I was aware that through schooling I would be able to remove myself from that strenuous position. School made sure I wouldn’t lose my focus. In the third grade, I had a teacher that put great emphasis on students receiving higher education by going to college. I hadn’t been explicitly told that education was the way to better my life until that moment. Then and there I began to work exceptionally hard in my academics and because of that, I am right here—at UCLA.
In conclusion, it is important to note that without either, a social factor or an agent of socialization, we wouldn’t be the person that we are. Our environment influences our morals, beliefs, goals, behaviors and many other things. What we are exposed to throughout our lifetime shape our personalities and the way we end up as human beings. It is important to be involved with our surroundings and interact with others as it helps us have a better understanding of ourselves and others.