You're damn right you didn't build that. It is about time someone pointed that out. It is ridiculous that President Obama is being vilified for speaking a fundamental truth! I would be curious to know if these people who are posting these messages have built anything without any government subsidy along the way! I am not sure that person exists. How many of you right wingers received a public education: college or high school? How many of you use the roadways? How many of you rely on a defense budget? How many of you have used the court systems? I am curious! How many of you rely on the fire department? Put out your own damn fires! How many of you rely on the police department? Don't bitch the next time they don't respond to your problem. How many of you use the Internet to conduct your business. You built all those things, right? The list goes on and on. Socialism is a nice thing when it benefits right wingers!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Wait, Workers Deserve Rights?
1. What is the main thesis of this film?
This is an interesting question because I see more than one thesis for this film. One, the women on the show are trying to show how sex workers are not deviant, but rather they are simply providing a service. Two, society demonizes women who work in the sex industry and looks upon them as scum. Three, it is very hard to beat the power structure. Finally, this is simply a job. It is a way for women to make money. It is not “fun” as the management tried to portray.
2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
Some of the main arguments in support of the thesis in the documentary were the fact that the women would not back down from forming a union. They found it very hard to form a union as people did not want to represent sex workers since our society oftentimes views them as pariahs. The women, however, showed complete solidarity and continued to fight. The women went on strike and did not back down. After months of fighting, they finally were able to negotiate a reasonable contract. After the women in San Francisco had won, they had sex workers from all over the country trying to find a way to unionize. Some other things that were appalling were the working conditions. The women were treated poorly, and their working conditions were horrible. They were treated poorly because of what they did for their employment.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
This is an interesting question because I see more than one thesis for this film. One, the women on the show are trying to show how sex workers are not deviant, but rather they are simply providing a service. Two, society demonizes women who work in the sex industry and looks upon them as scum. Three, it is very hard to beat the power structure. Finally, this is simply a job. It is a way for women to make money. It is not “fun” as the management tried to portray.
2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
Some of the main arguments in support of the thesis in the documentary were the fact that the women would not back down from forming a union. They found it very hard to form a union as people did not want to represent sex workers since our society oftentimes views them as pariahs. The women, however, showed complete solidarity and continued to fight. The women went on strike and did not back down. After months of fighting, they finally were able to negotiate a reasonable contract. After the women in San Francisco had won, they had sex workers from all over the country trying to find a way to unionize. Some other things that were appalling were the working conditions. The women were treated poorly, and their working conditions were horrible. They were treated poorly because of what they did for their employment.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
This relates to the course as people view these women as deviant. They are considered pariahs in our society. They are considered so deviant that the Labor wouldn’t help them and the police were always slow to respond to their needs. The upper management also thought they could take advantage of these women by providing them subpar working conditions and firing them without just cause. Generally people who are considered deviant find themselves as easier targets for “mainstream” society. People in our society can become deviants when they find themselves as outsiders, which clearly these women were when the police will not respond to their needs, management doesn’t provide them with a safe working environment, and the head of the labor board refuses to help them. According to Alexander B. Smith and Harriet Pollack (2000) in “Deviance as Crime, Sin, and Poor Taste,” Howard Becker defines deviants as outsiders. Clearly these women were outsiders.
4. Which arguments/points did you find the most convincing?
Some of the most convincing things were the fact that women across the country wanted to unionize. These girls were fired once they made too much money. They would lose part of their hourly rate for minor infractions. Women of color were treated as subhuman. They would get fewer shifts, and they were not allowed to work in this V.I.P. room. Men would videotape the women against their will. The women were not allowed sick days. The women had to pay a stage fee, which meant they had to pay to dance. The women also lost part of their tips to upper management. A few other things that were convincing would be the fact that the Labor board refused to help these women achieve their basic rights. Another point is the fact that the police were absolutely worthless. They would never respond to a call quickly. According to the documentary, they either showed up seconds after the troublemaker left or hours after the fact. The women were not treated as valued members of society because of the work they engaged in. Finally, the fact that Julia hid her life from her own mother, who spends her life fighting for sex workers health, was sad, but this clearly showed that Julia recognized the stigmatism involved with being labeled a sex worker. Jennifer L. Dunn (2010) writes about how stigmas affect people in her article “‘Everyone Knows Who the Sluts Are’: How Young Women Get Around the Stigma” when she states, “people with a stigma have a ‘spoiled identity,’ because we have discovered that they are not who they claim to be or they act in ways contrary to how we think people like them should act.” When Julia decided to tell her Mom of her choice to work as a stripper, her Mom clearly could not handle it and Julia was clearly stigmatized by her mother.
5. Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?
5. Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?
I usually have quite a bit to say here, but I find myself feeling great sympathy for these women. I consider myself a labor activist, and I try to participate in protests when I can. I have rallied with the occupy Portland movement and engaged in other labor protests throughout my life, so that said, I am not going to take issue with anything in this documentary. I find it to be a great success.
6. Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
I would like to know how many women even know they can unionize and fight the power structure. I would like to hit the streets and talk to women working in the industry. Find out if they like their job and if they know they have options. I want to know if they realize they can fight the establishment. While the show clearly paved the way, I cannot help but think millions of women have no clue their rights are being trampled upon by the upper class. I would love to help these women fight their employers to ensure they are treated fairly.
6. Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
I would like to know how many women even know they can unionize and fight the power structure. I would like to hit the streets and talk to women working in the industry. Find out if they like their job and if they know they have options. I want to know if they realize they can fight the establishment. While the show clearly paved the way, I cannot help but think millions of women have no clue their rights are being trampled upon by the upper class. I would love to help these women fight their employers to ensure they are treated fairly.
Alexander P. Smith and Harriet Pollack. (2000). Deviance as Crime, Sin, and Poor Taste. In Patricia A. Adler, and Peter Adler (Eds.), Constructions of Deviance: Social Power, Context, and Interaction (pp. 19-28). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Jennifer L. Dunn. (2010). “Everyone Knows Who the Sluts Are”: How Young Women Get Around the Stigma. In Alex Thio, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers (Eds.), Readings in Deviant Behavior (pp. 207-210). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Drag Show
Oh No, That man Is Wearing Women’s Clothes!
This was my first time ever attending a drag show. It was quite interesting to say the least, and after leaving the event 35 dollars lighter, I think it was a great experience. As I was leaving the event, I turned to my wife and asked her what she thought, to which she replied, “We have to go to that next year.” This event exceeded all expectations. I did not have much expectations going in because I had never been to a drag show, but it was amazing. The individuals who performed were all amazing, but Kendra’s three acts were definitely the standout performances. I also thought J Diesel’s poetry slam was simply amazing. It is something that everyone should read. J Diesel should perform read that to everyone campus wide, and maybe, just maybe, our campus might embrace a little more diversity.
As I pondered how drag is a response to our social constructions, I came to the conclusion that it stands as a major response to our society’s gender roles. It is a way of showing society that there happens to be various genders. Just because a doctor declares that someone is boy or girl does not make it so. Drag is a way of showing society that certain people do not fall into the category of social norms and clearly that category needs to be expanded. Drag also shows that some people refuse to conform to what society tells them. Individuals who wear drag are showing that they will not be put into a box. They will fight against social constructions.
With regards to is drag deviant, I say the HELL with people who say it is because they are idiots. Now, with that said, drag would be considered deviant if we are going to define deviance as anything outside of the norm. Working under that definition I would have to say that drag is in fact deviant. However, if individuals from society actually attended a drag show, they would find it quite entertaining. Drag shows embrace diversity, which in and of itself could be viewed as deviant in our society as diversity asks people to be excepting of different cultures and individuals. Drag questions how people define gender in our society, and that would clearly be deviant by the people who make the rules. This semester we have been looking at what is and what is not deviant, and based on the definitions offered up in class, regrettably, I have to say that drag is indeed deviant. In order to change that though, society needs to be more accepting and redefine what is deviant or normal. Once society is able to do that, many things will no longer be viewed as deviant, and we might finally be able to embrace all forms of diversity.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
What Was the Name of This Paper? I’m Told I Have ADHD.
What Was the Name of This Paper? I’m Told I Have ADHD.
Johnny Davison is entering the third grade with a renewed excitement. He is looking forward to hanging out with his friends and starting a new school year. Johnny excels in school. He is considered an above average student. Unfortunately for Johnny, he has a hard time sitting still. He fidgets. He does not listen to his teachers. He does not organize his tasks. He is easily distracted, and he is forgetful in his daily activities. His teacher decides to schedule an appointment with his parents regarding his disruptive behavior. At the meeting, the teacher expresses her concerns with Johnny’s parents as she believes that Johnny might suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She wants Johnny to see the school psychiatrist. Johnny’s parents are a little reluctant, but they agree to have the psychiatrist visit with their son. Today, many parents are faced with this prognosis as children continue to be diagnosed with ADHD, and this has resulted in approximately 2.5 million children taking drugs to offset the symptoms of ADHD.1 This diagnosis has become one of the overreaching answers to hyperactive children. While the debate continues as to whether or not ADHD is an actual disorder, the reality is ADHD is nothing new as kids have always been active, and this new disorder is simply a way for drug companies to make record setting profits at the expense of unsuspecting members of society.
Today, hyperactive children are being diagnosed with ADHD. It has become the answer for helping children overcome their overactive minds and bodies. According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV (DSM), children can be diagnosed with ADHD if they present with six or more of the following problems. Some of those problems are:
(a) often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities (b) often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities (c) often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly … (e) often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities… (g) often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools) (i) is often forgetful in daily activities.2
These are the diagnostic tools doctors use to figure out who suffers from ADHD. If children demonstrate some of these markers, doctors are quick to recommend medicating the children, which generously benefits the doctors and the drug companies as they stand to make millions with these types of diagnoses. Thus, doctors and the drug companies have a great deal to gain by children being diagnosed with these illnesses. Today, ten million children are taking psychiatric drugs,3 and this is only possible because the DSM recognizes behaviors like hyperactivity as a disease, and because the DSM recognizes ADHD as a disease, it allows insurance companies to make money when people receive this diagnosis.
The use of medicine in American society has exploded since the 1990s when drug companies began targeting children, and now children are medicated at an alarming rate, which has resulted in record profits for drug companies. The drug companies target children and adults to convince them that they need medication. According to the documentary Generation RX, the United States is the last developed nation in the world to allow drug companies to advertise on television.4 These drug companies use the media to entice people to use drugs in order to solve their problems as these drug companies claim they can provide people with a quick fix for all their problems, and according to the Generation RX documentary, this media campaign has resulted in the residents of United States using five times more drugs than people throughout the rest of the world.5 This targeted media campaign has helped companies make record setting profits. According to Generation RX, people spend sixty-nine billion dollars per year on psychiatric drugs, which equates to one hundred thirty thousand dollars a second spent on drugs.6 Drug companies, thus, stand to make a significant amount of money with the recognition of illnesses like ADHD by the DSM.
While the DSM may recognize ADHD as a problem, other explanations have been used to explain why some children are more active than others. In an article by published National Public Radio (NPR), researchers suggest that diet may have more to do with why kids are active. According to NPR, a recent study published in the Lancent Journal validated that kids who were diagnosed with ADHD performed better when their diet was restricted.7 According to Dr. Lidy Pelsser, the author of the article in the Lancent Journal, ADHD is a “disorder [that] is triggered in many cases by external factors — and those can be treated through changes to one's environment.”8 Dr. Pelsser’s study states that “64 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD are actually experiencing a hypersensitivity to food.”9 However, by suggesting that food may be the cause of ADHD, Dr. Pelsser has put herself at odds with the medical community as a change in diet would result in millions of dollars lost for drug companies.
While diet may be one cause of hyperactive children, another study, published in the Journal of Health Economics, suggests that some kids are simply diagnosed with ADHD because they are too young for their grade.9 The study demonstrated that younger children had a significantly higher chance of being diagnosed with ADHD; children too young for their grade were diagnosed at twice the rate of children age appropriate for their grade.10 Since these children are not prepared for class, they are told they may suffer from ADHD. While some people may disagree with these possible explanations for children being diagnosed with ADHD, a panel of well renowned experts who diagnose ADHD could not provide an answer to the simple question, “What does ADHD look like in children?” In 1998 a panel of experts met together at the National Institutes of Health to discuss ADHD, and when asked what the disease looked like in children, the expert called on to answer the questioned stammered over his words and could not provide the audience with a definition.12 If a so called expert in the field cannot provide an adequate answer to the simple question of how ADHD presents itself, it would stand to reason that this disease may not be a disease after all.
The media campaign by drug companies to target kids is simply a way to make money while creating an underclass of people throughout society. Children on medication are now seen as deviant and they are considered to have something wrong with them. They are put in a special category, and this is especially true for the poor and disadvantaged. According to Generation RX, children in foster homes are more likely to be treated with psychiatric drugs. Furthermore, children who have been in trouble with the law or kids who have been labeled delinquent by society are often forced to take psychiatric drugs whether they choose to take them or not.13 Children who do not have people to advocate on their behalf are being targeted by drug companies as delinquent, thus, creating an underclass within society. This is a simple process undertaken by the drug companies and psychiatrists whereby people become inferior by receiving labels, thus, creating a new deviant underclass in society.
In today’s society, ADHD seems to be catch all for kids who are hyperactive. People want to medicate children instead of accepting that some kids simply have more energy than others or there may simply be other reasons that contribute to why kids are hyperactive, which helps to explain why Johnny was overactive in class. Johnny’s parents returned to the school after Johnny met with the school psychiatrist. The psychiatrist concluded that Johnny did in fact have the markers of ADHD. When Johnny’s dad inquired what the markers were, the psychiatrists started listing the markers. When Johnny’s dad inquired if Johnny’s behavior could be explained instead by the fact that he was simply an energetic child, the psychiatrist did not have an answer and began to stumble on his words. Johnny’s dad quickly concluded that his son did not in fact suffer from ADHD, and he sought a second opinion from a different doctor. After meeting with Johnny, the new doctor concluded that Johnny did not suffer from ADHD, but rather he was bored in class because he was not being challenged by the teacher. Johnny needed to be in the fourth grade, not medicated.
Word Count 1406
1. Are some ADHD-labeled kids just young for their grade?,” Scientific American, 17 August, 2010, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/08/17/are-some-adhd-labeled-kids-just-young-for-their-grade/. 2012
1. Are some ADHD-labeled kids just young for their grade?,” Scientific American, 17 August, 2010, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/08/17/are-some-adhd-labeled-kids-just-young-for-their-grade/. 2012
2. “ADHD & ADD DSM-IV Diagnosis,” Abacus News, 2011, http://www.abacus-news.co.uk/adhd/adhd-dsm-iv-diagnosis.php.
3. Generation RX, DVD, Kevin P. Miller, (2008; Vancouver B.C.: Common Radius Films).
4. Generation RX, DVD, Kevin P. Miller, (2008; Vancouver B.C.: Common Radius Films).
5. Generation RX, DVD, Kevin P. Miller, (2008; Vancouver B.C.: Common Radius Films).
6. Generation RX, DVD, Kevin P. Miller, (2008; Vancouver B.C.: Common Radius Films).
7. NPR Staff, “Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs,” National Public Radio, 2012, http://www.npr.org/2011/03/12/134456594/study-diet-may-help-adhd-kids-more-than-drugs?sc=fb&cc=fp.
8. NPR Staff, “Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs,” National Public Radio, 2012, http://www.npr.org/2011/03/12/134456594/study-diet-may-help-adhd-kids-more-than-drugs?sc=fb&cc=fp.
9. NPR Staff, “Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs,” National Public Radio, 2012, http://www.npr.org/2011/03/12/134456594/study-diet-may-help-adhd-kids-more-than-drugs?sc=fb&cc=fp.
10. Are some ADHD-labeled kids just young for their grade?,” Scientific American, 17 August, 2010, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/08/17/are-some-adhd-labeled-kids-just-young-for-their-grade/. 2012
11. Are some ADHD-labeled kids just young for their grade?,” Scientific American, 17 August, 2010, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/08/17/are-some-adhd-labeled-kids-just-young-for-their-grade/. 2012
12. Generation RX, DVD, Kevin P. Miller, (2008; Vancouver B.C.: Common Radius Films).
13. Generation RX, DVD, Kevin P. Miller, (2008; Vancouver B.C.: Common Radius Films).
Friday, March 9, 2012
ADHD, I'm Not Buying!
What is the main thesis of this film?
For me thesis of this film revolves around drug companies and the FDA, which are both corrupt entities. The movie portrayed these entities as corrupt, and these entities were allowed to target kids to create a new market for drugs. Regardless of the side effects, the drug companies continued to push their drugs on kids while creating a new demographic, and doctors continued to diagnose kids with problems to fund the drug companies.
2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
The main arguments that supported the thesis were two things: the numbers, and the doctor who couldn’t describe what the symptoms of ADHD consist of. Some of the numbers behind the drugs are, ten million kids are taking drugs today, sixty-nine billion dollars are being spent annually on drug in the United States, which equates to one hundred thirty nine dollars a second, forty million people are on Prozac, there has been a four hundred percent rise in antipsychotic drugs in teens and children, eight out of thirteen kids involved in school shootings were on psychotic drugs, Ritalin use is up by seven hundred forty percent in the 1990s, and twenty-eight thousand people experienced adverse effects to Prozac in four years. The other point that really validated the thesis came when a panel of Doctors could not describe what a child with ADHD looks like.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
For me thesis of this film revolves around drug companies and the FDA, which are both corrupt entities. The movie portrayed these entities as corrupt, and these entities were allowed to target kids to create a new market for drugs. Regardless of the side effects, the drug companies continued to push their drugs on kids while creating a new demographic, and doctors continued to diagnose kids with problems to fund the drug companies.
2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
The main arguments that supported the thesis were two things: the numbers, and the doctor who couldn’t describe what the symptoms of ADHD consist of. Some of the numbers behind the drugs are, ten million kids are taking drugs today, sixty-nine billion dollars are being spent annually on drug in the United States, which equates to one hundred thirty nine dollars a second, forty million people are on Prozac, there has been a four hundred percent rise in antipsychotic drugs in teens and children, eight out of thirteen kids involved in school shootings were on psychotic drugs, Ritalin use is up by seven hundred forty percent in the 1990s, and twenty-eight thousand people experienced adverse effects to Prozac in four years. The other point that really validated the thesis came when a panel of Doctors could not describe what a child with ADHD looks like.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
This film directly relates to the overall themes of the course as the drug companies are creating a deviant class. In sociological terms, deviance can be defined as anything out of the norm;1 however, as more and more kids become hooked on drugs, the deviant class will be the kids who do not take antipsychotic drugs. The kids on these drugs are oftentimes outsiders, which is one of the ways Howard Becker describes deviance.2 This films directly corresponds to the course.
4. Which arguments/points did you find the most convincing?
For me, the most convincing parts of this film revolved around the numbers, and the panel of doctors who could not describe what the symptoms of ADHD.
5. Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?
I did not find any part of this movie to have flaws. It was very convincing throughout. I have been arguing for years that the idiots who are diagnosing ADHD are doing nothing more than condemning kids for being kids.
6. Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
6. Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
I would like to study the whole ADHD epidemic. It has clearly become a moral panic in our society. I would like to take kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD and to the best of my ability have a controlled study by seeing how kids on some form of medication perform in school versus kids without medication. I would have them all in the same class, with the same teacher, and make them all do the same work. I would like to see how these kids perform. I have a feeling it results would make for an interesting report.
Alex Heckert and Druann Maria Heckert. (2010). A New Typology of Deviance: Integrating and Reactivist Definitions of Deviance. In Alex Thio, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers (Eds.), Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Howard S. Becker. (1963). Group from Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. In Alex Thio, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers (Eds.), Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tough People All Around!
What is the main thesis of this film?
The main thesis of this film is men are supposed to fit into a specific masculine identity, and in today’s society, men are supposed to be even more masculine than ever before. Men are supposed to conform to the masculine standards set by society or men run the risk of being classified as deviant.
2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
For me, some of the most convincing arguments came when the dolls were presented. I was shocked at how much bigger the dolls were than twenty years ago. It was a shocker. I also found it really interesting when African American masculinity was said to be rooted in Mafia culture as well as a way of mimicking white male masculinity. The other thing that was not only convincing but disgusting was listening to Howard Stern when he was talking about the Columbine incident. He actually made the comment that the boys shooting people “should have had some sex.” These things clearly show how male masculinity has evolved.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
The main thesis of this film is men are supposed to fit into a specific masculine identity, and in today’s society, men are supposed to be even more masculine than ever before. Men are supposed to conform to the masculine standards set by society or men run the risk of being classified as deviant.
2. What were the main arguments in support of this thesis?
For me, some of the most convincing arguments came when the dolls were presented. I was shocked at how much bigger the dolls were than twenty years ago. It was a shocker. I also found it really interesting when African American masculinity was said to be rooted in Mafia culture as well as a way of mimicking white male masculinity. The other thing that was not only convincing but disgusting was listening to Howard Stern when he was talking about the Columbine incident. He actually made the comment that the boys shooting people “should have had some sex.” These things clearly show how male masculinity has evolved.
3. How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?
This fits with the overall theme of the class because males in our society are expected to fit the role masculinity. If they do not conform to society’s ideas of masculinity, they run the risk of being deviant since deviance is anything outside of the norm,1 and according to Howard Becker deviance can be defined as people who are outsiders,2 which would clearly be a male who does not fit the societal idea of masculinity.
4. Which arguments/points did you find the most convincing?
The most convincing points of this movie were the male dolls and the loud mouth Howard Stern. Those things were very convincing.
5. Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?
I did not find any part of this movie to have flaws. It was very convincing all the way around.
6. Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
6. Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you from the film. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.
I would like to study how women fit into this equation. I want to know how women view male masculinity and if they believe in the same trends. I would do this by interviewing women and showing them various pictures of men and asking hem questions about what is attractive and what their thoughts are.
Alex Heckert and Druann Maria Heckert. (2010). A New Typology of Deviance: Integrating and Reactivist Definitions of Deviance. In Alex Thio, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers (Eds.), Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Howard S. Becker. (1963). Group from Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. In Alex Thio, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers (Eds.), Readings in Deviant Behavior. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
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