6 Jun 2022

343

The Construction of Self and Society

Format: APA

Academic level: High School

Paper type: Assignment

Words: 570

Pages: 2

Downloads: 0

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.

It’s time to jumpstart your paper!

Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.

Get custom essay

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.

Illustration
Cite this page

Select style:

Reference

StudyBounty. (2023, September 14). The Construction of Self and Society.
https://studybounty.com/the-construction-of-self-and-society-assignment

illustration

Related essays

We post free essay examples for college on a regular basis. Stay in the know!

17 Sep 2023
Sociology

Group Facilitation: Engagement and Authority

PART1 This was a part of the first group therapy session of a group of individuals. The group had both men and women of different backgrounds and personalities. The observation parameters that govern this sort...

Words: 883

Pages: 3

Views: 123

17 Sep 2023
Sociology

Micro Client System

Discussion 1 In my career as a social worker, I have worked with client systems of all sizes. In their career and daily work, social workers interact with all client systems in assisting individuals suffering...

Words: 789

Pages: 3

Views: 177

17 Sep 2023
Sociology

Food Policy and Habits

The survival of human being depends on the food. Globally, food is known to be more than a source of nutrients and energy for human well-being. The food we eat, how we eat, who we eat with, when we eat, and what we...

Words: 382

Pages: 1

Views: 148

17 Sep 2023
Sociology

Culture, Ethnocentrism, and Cultural Relativism

Since the middle Stone Age, human beings are considered as social creatures, from those days people have identified and associated with each other as a community to live and survive. Common behavior and habits unite...

Words: 1321

Pages: 5

Views: 72

17 Sep 2023
Sociology

Client Population and Problem Addressed by the Program

A considerable number of Americans are not consuming the right amount of vegetables and fruits. As of 2013, about 13% of the entire USA population was consuming the required daily intake of fruits (one and a half to...

Words: 1367

Pages: 4

Views: 155

17 Sep 2023
Sociology

Community Observation: How to Get Started

The meeting attended was a legislative meeting of the Board of Directors of the School District of Cheltenham Township. The meeting was held on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at 7:16p.m in the Administration Building,...

Words: 1513

Pages: 5

Views: 115

illustration

Running out of time?

Entrust your assignment to proficient writers and receive TOP-quality paper before the deadline is over.

Illustration