Observation
I recently visited a farmer’s market in my community to observe the various individuals participating in the activities that usually take place there. The farmers generally sell a variety of foods to consumers such as fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, and even prepared beverages and foods. It is an area where consumers can virtually get any food they desire. I went there in the afternoon mainly because many people tend to go to the farmer’s market at around that time. Therefore, I would get the opportunity to observe the behaviors and interactions of many people. The lighting was perfect as the sun was shining . H ence , it was easy for people to identify commodities. Also, there was energy in the air at the market. There was a sensory explosion of scents, color, music, and even community pride that is almost impossible to describe in words. The people at the market were full of vibrant energy as they stroll around sipping coffee while, at the same time, filling their baskets with local produce. In addition to energy , there were a lot of sounds ranging from music to farmers loudly advertising their commodities to attract customers. Most people were mainly of Hispanic or African American origins. However, there were a few whites as well. Besides race, most individuals appeared to be millennials, that is, between the ages of 18 and 34 years old. Further, there were a lot of women compared to men. When it comes to socioeconomic status, a majority of them appeared to be middle class.
Norms
There were several norms that people engaged in the farmers market. First, it was evident that people engaged in gender norms. For example, it was clear that women were the ones in charge of shopping for produce. You could see them engaging with the farmers to acquire fresh food . The men hardly did anything; they mainly strolled around. Secondly, individuals made direct eye contact when speaking. For example, consumers ensured that they made direct eye contact with the farmers when they were talking to them.
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Concepts
Ideally, the gender norms observed in the market fit with the idea of gender roles as well as sociological theories such as functionalist, symbolic interactionist, and conflict theories. For the most part, gender roles are usually socially constructed primarily regarding masculinity and femininity. Simply put, gender roles means how we are expected to act, behave, and speak based upon our assigned sex. In the market area, the women mostly picked out produce as that is their gender role based on their sex. Also, through social interaction and socialization, we learn that making direct eye contact is vital during conversations hence, people at the market naturally adhered to making eye contacts.
Reflection
This observation was different as I was able to observe people based on my knowledge of human behavior and hence, it was easy for me to understand and interpret human interactions. A sociologist can essentially bring the perspective of understanding society, group and cultures in understanding human behavior as those perspectives influence human behavior.
Active Forum Engagement
In one of the peer posts, the observer failed to mention one important norm which asserts that if there is a line, one should go back of the line rather than going straight to the front. Also, the post did not mention education as a socio-demographic characteristic . In the second peer post, the observer failed to mention the norm of not talking with food in your mouth. Also, there was no mention of emotional labor which is evident in such public places. In response to the comment on my post, I admit I forgot to mention socialization as the concept helps us learn how to behave in public areas .
