The two chosen readings for this report are Country Masculinity by Matthew Desmond and Life as the Maid’s Daughter by Mary Romero, each of which provides an account of cultural diversity from a different perspective. Comparing and contrasting the two readings highlights critical similarities and differences in the way the two authors can bring out their understanding of diversity. One of the key similarities in the texts is that they seek to reflect on some of the critical aspects that play a crucial role in enhancing the construction of personal and societal identities.
Romero (2019) reflects on Teresa’s identity, which has been defined by the social order associated with her position as the daughter of the maid living within a middle-class white family. According to Teresa’s experience, one of the key aspects to note is that regardless of her being considered as a part Smith's family, she was always expected to recognize the social order that would differentiate her from the other children in the house. Throughout her life, Teresa still found herself battling with trying to develop survival strategies that would allow her to maintain her position in the family, which is that of the maid's daughter.
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In that same way, Desmond (2019) brings to the floor a discussion touching on the social identity, which is brought out through the concept of masculinity that is expected of every man in the society. In this text, the worth of a man is defined by a system that prizes available attributes, which include "breadwinning, a hard work ethic, and integrity" (p.90). This means that masculinity is considered as a critical factor that defines one's sociological identity, primarily focusing on the fact that it seeks to create a differentiation between how men can view themselves.
Although the two accounts, in the two readings, seek to create a differentiated avenue through which to define self and society identity, they all try to reflect on the fact that the cultural norms adopted as part of the society play a critical role towards creating identity. Cultural norms are often brought about by the fact that people seek to embrace specific traditions and practices that allow them to behave in one particular way. For example, in the case of Teresa, she was always bound to experience racial and ethnic bias irrespective of the fact that she was treated better than her mother taking into consideration that she was Mexican.
On the other hand, it is essential to take note of the fact that the two readings also present a significant difference focusing on the construction of self and society. The difference can be seen from the fact that they differ in whether people can maintain cultural identity regardless of their experiences that seek to shape their new identities. Romero (2019) indicates that even though Teresa's mother and some of the other Mexican women in the neighbourhood faced racial discrimination, they always maintain a close connection to their Mexican cultural identity.
That can be seen from Teresa's description of the evening activity for the Mexican maids in the neighbourhood, which sought to suggest that they indeed valued their cultural connection to their Mexican roots. Desmond (2019), on the other hand, reflects on the fact that the experiences associated with masculinity often create a significant differentiation in the identity that one would be able to maintain before and after exposure to manhood. The difference arises from the fact that masculine identity is viewed as being essential towards defining how people can project themselves with the focus being on their abilities to be considered as men.
References
Desmond, M. (2019). Country Masculinity. In Readings, Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life , 11 th Edition, edited by D.M. Newman, J. O’Brien, and M. Robertson (pp.86-90). Los Angeles, LA: Sage.
Romero, M. (2019). Life as the Maid’s Daughter. In Readings, Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life , 11 th Edition, edited by D.M. Newman, J. O’Brien, and M. Robertson (pp.101-108). Los Angeles, LA: Sage.
