How Sociologists Define Human Agency

Agency refers to the thoughts  and actions taken by people that express their individual power. The core challenge at the center of the field of sociology is understanding the relationship  between structure and agency. Structure refers to the complex and interconnected set of social forces, relationships, institutions, and elements of social structure that work together to shape the thought, behavior, experiences, choices, and overall life  courses of people. In contrast, agency is the power people have to think for themselves and act in ways that  shape their experiences and life trajectories. Agency can take individual and collective forms. Relationship Between Social Structure and Agency Sociologists understand the relationship between social structure and agency to be an ever-evolving dialectic. In the simplest sense, a dialectic refers to a relationship between two things, each of which has the ability to influence the other, such that a change in one requires a change in the other. To consider the relationship between structure and agency a dialectical one is to assert that while social structure shapes individuals, individuals (and groups) also shape social structure. After all, society is a social creation -- the creation and maintenance of social order require the cooperation of individuals connected through social relationships. So, while the lives of individuals are shaped by the existing social structure, they none the less have the ability --  the  agency  -- to make decisions and express them in behavior. Reaffirm Social Order or Remake It Individual and collective agency may serve to reaffirm social order by reproducing norms and existing social relationships, or it may serve to challenge and remake social order by going against the status quo to create new norms and relationships. Individually, this might look like rejecting the gendered norms of dress. Collectively, the ongoing civil rights battle to expand the definition of marriage to same-sex couples shows agency expressed through political and legal channels. The Link to Disenfranchised Populations The debate about the relationship between structure and agency often comes up when sociologists study the lives of disenfranchised and oppressed populations. Many people, social scientists included, often slip into the trap of describing such populations as if they have no agency. Because we recognize the power of  social structural elements  like economic class stratification, systemic racism, and patriarchy, to determine life chances and outcomes, we might think that the poor, people of color, and women and girls are universally oppressed by social structure, and thus, have no agency.  When we look at macro trends and longitudinal data, the big picture is read by many as suggesting as much. Agency Is Alive and Well However, when we look sociologically at the everyday lives of people among disenfranchised and oppressed populations, we see that agency is alive and well, and that it takes  many forms. For example, many perceive the life  course of black and Latino boys, especially those who are born into lower socioeconomic classes, as largely predetermined by a raced and classed social structure that corrals poor folks into neighborhoods devoid of employment and resources, pours them into underfunded and understaffed schools, tracks them into remedial classes, and disproportionately polices and punishes them. Yet, despite a social structure that produces such troubling phenomena, sociologists have found that black and Latino boys,  and other disenfranchised and oppressed groups,  exert agency in this social context in a variety of ways. It Takes Many Forms Agency might take the form of demanding respect from teachers and administrators, doing well in school, or even disrespecting teachers, cutting classes, and dropping out. While the latter instances might seem like individual failings, in the context of oppressive social environments, resisting and rejecting authority figures that steward oppressive institutions have been documented as an important form of self-preservation, and thus, as agency. Simultaneously, agency in this context may also take the form of staying in school and working to excel, despite the social structural forces that work to impede such success.

Women and Police Brutality - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1819 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/03/29 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Police Brutality Essay Did you like this example? Police brutality is one of several forms of police misconduct, which involves undue violence by police officers. It seems to happen in several countries, but very often in the United States against African-Americans. Studies show that the US police kill more in days than other countries do in years. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Women and Police Brutality" essay for you Create order (The Guardian, 2018). Generally, when individuals discuss police violence against African-Americans; recurring names such as Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner continuously appear in broadcast media. It is very rare that police violence against women is brought to the publics attention. My conclusion is that there may be more women victims of police violence than there are men. The 2016 Census stated that 58.3% of the U.S. population was women (Census Quickfacts, 2016). This percentage could correlate to women having more incidents of police brutality than men. These statistics, based on research, are not currently studied, so we would not know. The lack of official definition of brutality could lead to instances of police brutality that are not categorized as such. Police brutality against women should not be silenced and should be brought to societys attention. Kimberle Crenshaw is a civil rights advocate, and a leading scholar of the race theory (Law UCLA). She is also a professor of law at UCLA and Columbia Law School. Crenshaw has worked on a variety of issues pertaining to gender and race in the domestic violence literature. Some examples include violence against women, systematic racial discrimination, and affirmative action. She also the creator of the say her name movement. Which is a movement is a social movement that seeks to raise awareness for black female victims of police brutality and anti-black violence in the United States. ( Why Kimberle Crenshaw is fighting for forgotten women). Kimberle Crenshaw has contributed many good deeds to the women community. By Crenshaw creating the movement, she brought exposure to the discriminatory experiences by women of color. More than 70 black women have died at the hands of the police in the past three years( The Guardian, 2016). Yes, the familiar Sandra Bland case that went worldwide. The event that took place with Sandra Bland she was pulled over for failing to signal while changing lanes. Eventually, Bland was arrested and found hanged in her cell. Her death still goes unsolved ( Sandra Bland: behind a poignant documentary of her life and death). Sandra Bland shined little light on women battling police brutality. But unfortunately, her case was unsolved and played a part in the tabloids for a short period of time. There are women of all ages from 7 to 93 years old killed by police violence. For Instance, 7-year-old Aiyana Jones, she was sleeping in her home on the east side of Detroit on the night of May 16, 2010, when officers barged into the home (Abbey-Lambertz). They were conducting a pol ice raid in search of a murder suspect who lived at that address when Officer Joseph Weekley accidentally fired his gun the shot, unfortunately, killed Aiyana. The reasoning for Weekley firing his gun is still a matter of dispute. Aiyanna was burned by the explosive and struck by a police bullet shot from outside the home. In addition to that, May 12, 2014, 93-year-old Pearlie Golden was fatally shot and killed by a police officer (The Guardian, 2014). According to The Guardian resources, Roy Jones told KBTX-TV he had taken Golden, his aunt, to renew her drivers license on that Tuesday, but she was denied after failing her test. As Jones took his aunt back to her home, he could tell she was upset. Jones said he was later sitting with his aunt on her front porch when Golden demanded her keys back. He refused, then Golden went into the house and got her 38-caliber handgun. Jones ran into the house and called the police, he told the station. Jones says Goldens soon fired two shots into the ground when an officer told her to drop her gun. Hearne police said in a statement that Golden brandished a gun when officer Stem arrived. A preliminary autopsy showed Golden was shot twice and grazed by a third bullet, the Robertson County district attorney, Coty Siegert, has said. Golden having a handgun is very cruci al, however, she was elderly and didnt deserve to get gunned down. As an officer, he is physically capable of taking Golden down. Instead of trying to get the gun off of her he immediately reverted to a shooting. Its also important that viewers keep in mind that Golden was African-American. Although there is no current evidence that race was playing a role. Society still has to consider that implicit bias can always play a role. There have been women with mental illnesses as well, victims of police violence. Somali Refugee was killed by the North Fulton police. Refugee suffered from a bipolar disorder. (Mcgee and Elassar 2018). When Refugee was gunned down by two Johns Creek police officers, she apparently was wielding a knife near the intersection of Abbots Bridge and Sweet Creek roads. The officers opened fire after tasers and a foam impact round failed to make her drop the knife. She later died of her injuries at Emory Johns Creek Hospital (Mcgee and Elassar). This took place early to 2018 and not many people are aware of Somali Story. Refugee family has questioned police training when dealing with mental health patients. Equally important, the police training should be taken into consideration. How is it that American police officers have such a higher rate of shootings compared to most countries (The Guardian, 2018). New incoming officers are taught, what is widely known as the first rule of law enforcement( Stoughton, 2014). The first rule of law enforcement is police typically are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities. (Police Law Enforcement). Understanding the matter of being an officer is dangerous, but people who are trained to instantly fear the community can be problematic. If people get the idea they should fear the community they are more than likely to act off impulse. There is no proof of my statement, yet that how it is portrayed from an outsider looking in. According to Stoughton In most police shootings, officers dont shoot out of anger or frustration or hatred. They shoot because they a re afraid. And they are afraid because they are constantly barraged with the message that they should be afraid, that their survival depends on it.( Stoughton, 2014). He also explains that Officers arent just told about the risks they face. They are shown painfully vivid, heart-wrenching dash-cam footage of officers being beaten, disarmed, or gunned down after a moment of inattention or hesitation. They are told that the primary culprit isnt the felon on the video, it is the officers lack of vigilance. These officers are now worried about staying alive or possibly think that will never let event as such happen to them. ( Stoughton). The officer are not the only people to blame, the system has to take responsibility as well. Between facing systematic oppression, fighting for the right to vote, unequally pay, and amongst many other barriers. Being a woman appears challenging already. In addition to that these women are African-American. Which makes it more difficult; because being a black woman today is an extra barrier to overcome. Here now we have these women being discriminated against for multiple things. What are these women supposed to do? They no longer have someone to call for help. If our collective outrage around cases of police violence is meant to serve as a warning to the state that its police cannot kill without consequences. Then our silence around the cases of black women, and girls send the message that certain deaths do not need any repercussions. Black women are substantially helpless. Police officers are supposed to be people we call for protection. However, these women are not able to do that. It is devastating the future could be young black girls having to be trained to understand w hat to do when interacting with a police officer. Because of the matter, young girls live are being taken away by them. Everyone deserves to be treated as if he or she is human. However, the way police handle these women it is if they are animals. For this reason, the movement called say her name created by Kimberle Crenshaw should be pushed more by the public. They say her name movement responds to the increasing calls for attention to police violence against black women. By offering a resource to help ensure that black womens stories are integrated into demand for justice, police responses to violence, and media representations of victims of police brutality. There are not many people who know about the say her name movement. Women and men all over the world to attend should support #SayHerName campaign. It can start by a simple hashtag on the media saying say her name. By honoring these women on a specific month and day of the year. There has already been a womans march for #SayHerName In January 2017. Hopefully, the march keeps it going every year in the month of January. If the movement keeps moving, it can result to these ladies names with being recognized and honored the right way in the next two years. In the meantime, there are many obstacles to face, so that we can get to this point. People may not agree and give negative feedback. However, that should not be the reason from letting these women be known. This is why it is very important that the organization comes to the public attention through the media letting these victims family tell their stories. It can contribute as a major eye-opener to people. Displaying how crucial the issue is, and it may help people to jump on board. It has been overshadowed enough; it is now time these women deserve a stand. Society should no longer be capable to overlook this controversy. Marches, networking, and broadcasting are a great way to bring to their attention, however, they need more. People should start engaging communities in conversation, and advocacy around black womens experiences of police violence. As been noted hopefully that these women will get some recognition, any person victimized by police brutality get justice and police brutality comes to an end. Realistically speaking, all those things may not ever happen at once. On the other hand, say her name movement can be something that can be big in the future. In the meantime hopefully, these women can receive justice and they will be given the awareness they deserve. There are several future changes that need to make. This can be a start. By people simply making awareness can cause change. Change doesnt happen overnight, but little progress will matter. The most important thing is making people have an epiphany that police violence against amiss towards anyone it happens too. These black women should not be excluded.

The Changing Role Of Fathers In The Last Thirty Years Free Essays

The world is dynamic and has witnessed major changes over the past decades. Lifestyles have changed and so have priorities. The role of fathers has not been left behind too; in the past three decades fathers have changed greatly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Changing Role Of Fathers In The Last Thirty Years or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is an evolution that has been necessitated by the changes occurring in the various aspects of human lives and relations. Nothing would exemplify this change in roles than taking a critical look at the image and responsibilities of fathers in the 1970s. By then fathers were highly authoritative and much of their time was spent working. They were expected to be the sole beneficiaries in the family. Fathers took care of the financial obligations such as school fees, bills, rent and others. Mothers were expected to play good housewives and take care of the children and the house. Respect and reverence characterized the father’s image; they were hard to understand and were looked upon by everyone in the house. This is a role that would slowly and gradually start changing on the 1980’s probably as feminism became institutionalized in almost all modern societies. Women were no longer wiling to stay indoors watching the house and children. They were taking up more challenging tasks that priory were a preserve of the men. This newfound competition would force men to adapt and start spending more time with their children. Fathers started being more responsible and nurturing to their children, playing a visible role in their upbringing. Men at this time were no longer the sole breadwinners; women were chipping in and meeting some of the costs of running the family and thus spending more time away from home. Men hence were forced to make concessions and play an active role with the children. Nothing has seen a rapid evolution during the past three decades than the father involvement in their children’s lives. A study conducted by Levine and Pleck amongst others operationalizes the above fact. The study revealed that over the last recent decades, fathers were able to spend more time than before with an increase of over 10 percent. It is also this period that saw fathers watching over their children at home when their mothers are out working.  (Levine, James and Pittnsky T. , 1997). The image of father across the 70’s and the 80 changed considerably, but it is the late 90s and the last years of this millennium that has almost accorded modern fathers completely new roles that would have been unimaginable thirty years ago. It is not in question that fathers are no longer the breadwinners and the authoritative figures of the past. Parents are supporting each other financially, emotionally and in other essential cores of raising the families. Today’s fathers are looking for their children and changing their diapers. They are taking the children to school and helping them with homework at home. They are even raising the children single handedly in case of death, separation or divorce of a spouse and doing a commendable job out of it. There are those that are divorced and granted periodic visitations, a new role that many are still grappling with. Being a good father is no longer defined along economic lines only, it is a composite product of responsibility at home and being there fore the children. Fathers are playing an important role and being more close to their children than before, their satisfaction according to surveys, emanates from spending more time with their families. Indeed the roles have changed. Men of today are supposed and expected by the society to take up more roles than before. They are no longer inhabited by the societal traditional norms that could see them present a macho figure. In today’s world, they are playing an active role bringing up the kids rather than sticking to the financial obligations alone. How to cite The Changing Role Of Fathers In The Last Thirty Years, Papers

Reformed Episcopal Seminary Essay Example For Students

Reformed Episcopal Seminary Essay Problems in Living9/13/2004Class ScriptureIsaiah 42:3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he notquench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. When you working with someone who is wounded, the heart has been damaged. So, when you work with this person, you must know how to love them and notbreak them. You find a way to structure them and contain them and notbreak them. 1. Psychiatry means medical therefore you use the medical model. a. The medical model does not fit when applied with scripture. b. The medical model uses a disease format. c. Any problem has to be labeled as a disease. i. e. alcoholism islabeled as a disease. 2. Four Layers of Psycho Pathologya. The brain layer the context with the brain layer is the brain asan organ. i. This is where the medical and disease model fits. ii. Brain as an organ is the territory of the neurologist. iii. Conditions where we can see (MRI) damage. iv. It is measurable brain pathology. v. Some people put ADHD at this level. vi. Alzheimers is at this level. b. Rhythm Layer (Systems) The body has drive states (appetites). i. Sleeping, eating, sex are rhythms. ii. Bi-polar disorder is a rhythmic thing. iii. Eating and sex additions (process addictions) you carry thedrug in your head. iv. ADHD technically belongs here. c. Character Driven Character is the same as personality. i. Personality is the sum of all your experiences. ii. It s how you thoughts, behaviors and emotions are organized. d. Constitution This is the technical term. i. This is your personal store what is unique to you. ii. Your personal story creates a psychological constitution. iii. Things at this level are easier to treat, because its mainlyenvironmental. Reformed Episcopal SeminaryProblems in Living9/20/04Christainpsych.org this is the website for the Society for ChristianPsychology. Direct Care You minister to people directly. Soul Care There is a spiritual side. We are concerned about orthodothcy(right beliefs) as well as how to bring that into practical living. 1. Personality Theory. There are ten personality disorders. 2. Four Layers of Psycho Pathologya. The brain layer the context with the brain layer is the brain asan organ. i. This is where the medical and disease model fits. ii. Brain as an organ is the territory of the neurologist. iii. Conditions where we can see (MRI) damage. iv. It is measurable brain pathology. v. Some people put ADHD at this level. vi. Alzheimers is at this level. b. Rhythm Layer (Systems) The body has drive states (appetites). i. Sleeping, eating and sex are rhythms. ii. Bi-polar disorder is a rhythmic thing. iii. Eating and sex additions (process addictions) you carry thedrug in your head. iv. ADHD technically belongs here. c. Character Driven Character is the same as personality. i. Personality is the sum of all your experiences. ii. It s how you thoughts, behaviors and emotions are organized. d. Constitution/Narrative This is the technical term. i. This is your personal store what is unique to you. ii. Your personal story creates a psychological constitution. iii. Things at this level are easier to treat, because its mainlyenvironmental. e. A person can have depression/anxiety form all four. 3. There are difference kids of depression. a. Bi-polar is different from narrsitist depression. 4. DSMa. It developed as a way of common language. 5. Your style processes emotions. .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 , .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .postImageUrl , .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 , .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:hover , .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:visited , .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:active { border:0!important; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:active , .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2 .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2c84bbcb92d90d128c9b62f8b1762af2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: History of mental illness Essaya. If your personality organizes how you process, how people hear youis largely determined by their organized personality. 6. Ten Personalitya. Avoidance Fear rejection: this person will not get oncommittees, unless invited. Belief systems: Im not okay, butyoure okay and you have the power to reject me. b. Dependent They are anxiously driven: this person will greet youright after the sermon they will cling: Belief system: Im notokay, but you have the power to love me. Read DSM. If they let go,they will die. When the show up, they are not motivated by loveand giving. They are unable to give, they are takers. 7. Four Personality Types Must Prevalent. a. Narcisstic The language