Bias

Overall, this week went very well and after a much needed weekend, I feel ready to start yet another Monday. As each of my classes delves deeper into the root of what we are actually studying, I have been able to make even more connections to the real world. Outside of class, I have been making too many trips to Waffle House and not enough to the gym.


One common theme I have observed from all of my classes this week is biases that exist within cultures. In KSU 1111, we explicitly discussed bias and how we are all innately biased, whether we realize it or not. For example, I think that a woman should not be discriminated against just for being a woman. However, that idea is biased because I live in a country where women are generally given the same opportunities as men, and I have grown up seeing strong, independent women in the work force. In other countries like Afghanistan, the bias tends to lean the other way, and many members of society are raised to believe that women deserve no respect. I think this is where culture and norms begins to affect our biases, which is what we are discussing in Sociology. Members of the Taliban believe that women’s rights are a “western concept,” whereas I, along with many other people, would contend that freedom is something all women across the globe are entitled to. To say that women’s rights are a cultural belief rather than a God given right seems absolutely illogical. For some, however, it is the norm.

In BUSA 1000, we discussed a much lighter concept: the do’s and do not’s in Brazil. We read about cultural norms ranging from how to dress properly to how to approach business meetings. Although no aspect of Brazil’s culture seemed too strange, I am looking at their lifestyle from a biased American perspective. I see their ideas as perfectly reasonable and something anyone can adjust to. On the other hand, if I were a member of a culture that required me to be extremely modest like many in the Middle East, I would be appalled at the idea of women walking around wearing clothes that showed their ankles. To me, I see nothing wrong with it, but to others, everything about it is wrong.

The topic of this blog has been one-hundred percent inspired by this article:  http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007238-1,00.html    I think about these women every day, and am continuously in awe of their courage to live in a society that views them as worthless. Even though a large portion of our time is spent focused on Brazil and its relevance in the world, the topics we discuss are meant to be applicable to every facet of society. As I learned in KSU 1111 when we talked about the issue of population growth, Muslim countries are the fastest growing countries in the world, so this topic will only become more relevant in the years to come.

Until next time…

The Beginning

Finally, the week that I believed would never come to an end is over, and I can start to breathe again. My experience thus far has been incredible, and looking back, I do not know what I was ever nervous about to begin with. The Learning Community and the people within it have given me something to fall back on when I am worried about how I going to possibly finish all my homework; knowing that 20 or so other people have the exact same classes and concerns that I do is reassuring.


So far, I think the classes I am taking will be extremely beneficial for the Brazil trip. I love going from class to class, being able to see how business and sociology affect one another and how the future of the globe is affected as well. I had no idea that Brazil is on its way to becoming one of the most powerful countries in the world. Globalization, especially with the outsourcing of jobs to other countries, is something I now take into greater consideration when thinking of the economy, unemployment, and how this country can bounce back from the recession. Because so many jobs are being given to overseas employers for less pay, the United States will inevitably face more unemployment problems. So as American businesses profit from the cheap labor of other countries, American workers lose out on jobs. The long term effects for this compromise could be devastating for the country. It is scary to think that the U.S. could be drastically worse off in 15 years, but it is also exciting to think that other countries will be experiencing huge rewards for the innovative initiatives they are taking today. I have learned all of this information from combining KSU 1111, BUSA 1000, and SOCI 2201, which is something very few people can say about their college classes.

Outside of class, I have been busy managing my life away from my parents and living on campus. I am definitely happy about my choice to live here, especially when there are others in the PEGS program living so close by. Also, the places to play ultimate Frisbee are basically unlimited which is great.

Until next time…