14. June 2009 by student.

There are lot of children both boys and girls, infants and older kids, healthy and special needs children available for adoption from all countries. In 2000 and 2001, about 127,000 children were adopted annually in the United States. Once the adopter  have an approved homestudy , they are practically guaranteed a child. In international adoptions, parents and children are matched by either the adoption agency, the country’s adoption committee, or during an in-country visit. The average time frame for the child to be with the new family it can be from 12 to 18 months. Of course, this is just an average. Much depends on the country you choose and any preference you may have expressed regarding the child’s age and gender. The child’s background and family medical history may be unknown. Although the adopter  will get their child’s medical history when they receive a referral, they may not know anything about the health of the birthmother or birthfather. If not knowing the child’s family medical history becomes uncomfortable, the adopter can turn to modern genetic testing to fill in many of the blanks.If the child was in an orphanage, he may experience developmental delays and other problems related to institutionalization. Not all children who spend time in an orphanage are developmentally delayed. Children who do experience delays as a result of institutionalization usually rebound to the norm very quickly once they have a supportive, loving family to attend to their individual needs. When we think of adoption , we think of something positive. A child will get a home with a family that will give lot of love, and what about the feeling of the adopted child, or adult later? For adoptive couple , adoption is wonderful , but for the adoptees could be painful, at least at the first stage of the process. According to a research conducted by Prof Rachel Levy, adopted children feel they were unwanted and unloved by their natural mothers. Many adopted children experience emotional problems, including fear of close relationships, negative ways to be in control, low self-esteem, anger, and immaturity that produce behavior problems, including lying, oppositional behavior, school underacheivement and quick temper.  

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14. June 2009 by student.

Alcohol, Illegal drugs, and cigarettes, these are all very popular addictions, now let’s add another type to the list, credit card. Credit card addiction is on the rise in the United States. This new “addiction” has dire consequences to those who fall prey to its alluring affects. A person simply sees that by buying on credit they get the item instantly, and pay later, never looking to when they actually have to pay. Even the average citizen falls to this problem, the average U.S. citizen owes more than 8,000 dollars in credit card debt (Motley Fool, 2007). The number of credit and debit accounts are on the rise as well. In 2006 there were over 980 million bank-issued Visa and Mastercard accounts created. (Visa USA, Mastercard International). This is issue effects not only the person but society as a whole as well. In terms of a private issue, one can be lured into credit cards, and then slowly begin spending, now  this issue that once was simply financial becomes a problem with health and relationships. Depending on your class this can change too, if you are in lower class, buying on credit could be the only way to get the necessities, and credit card debt is not necessarily created by the person. This also can be a public issue as well. There is a correlation between credit card debt and savings rate (Ritzer, 1998) that would suggest is affecting the public. Also the practiced of credit card companies is a public issue, they are fervent in their attempts to gain credit card holders, and no group is off limits, orientation day of college, credit card companies swarm to college students. The average debt of a college undergraduate in credit cards is over 2,500 dollars. Television adds go after all demographics. This issue is also cultural specific, with a culture that does not know credit cards, such as the Amish. This issue would not exist. However, where this issues does exist, it is a growing problem, and needs to be taken care of.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

14. June 2009 by student.

Panic buying is defined as “the act of people buying unusually large amounts of a product in anticipation of or after a disaster or perceived disaster, or in anticipation of a large price increase or shortage”.  With the exponential increase of our population and the over-civilization of our society, anytime there is an increase in price or the possibility that an item may have a shortage, people decide they need more than enough in order to satisfy themselves or to possibly make a profit, while others may have none or be forced into paying more than they should.  Some of the most recent examples of this social phenomenon would be the food fuel and water shortages during the hurricane season, the worldwide rice shortage, and the most recent, the firearm and ammunition shortages since the election of Barack Obama.  Even the housing bubble that occurred over the past few years can be considered to have been caused by this same phenomenon.  If you think about it, people were buying houses, sometimes multiples because they figured that the price of a house could go nowhere but up and figured they might as well ‘invest’.  Since Obama has taken office, retailers have claimed an increase of 30-50% in firearm and ammunition sales.  Even those who have never owned a firearm up to this point are purchasing firearms and ammunition.  This all goes back the norms and values of our society in the fact that greed and the over-civilization of our society contribute to this situation.  We as a society are so used to our petty luxuries that once we are forced or even threatened with the idea of the inconvenience of having to go without filling up on gas for a day, groceries for a few days, etc., that we are willing to resort to uncivilized greed.    

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 3 Comments »

14. June 2009 by student.

The newest phenomenon arising in this current society often counteracts many human’s beliefs.  Homosexuality causes several controversies in cities around the world. The morality of homosexuality is starting to evenly divide among Americans. In a Gallup Poll posted on www.Gallup.com (June 18, 2008), the percentage of Americans believing homosexuality is morally acceptable is slowly increasing. On the other hand, the percentage of Americans believing homosexuality is NOT morally acceptable is starting to develop a negative slope. Without a doubt, if the same poll was taken this June (2009) the rates would continue to rise/fall as they started to in 2008. Many questions arise in one’s thoughts when debating on the issue of the morality of homosexuality. “Gays”-to some- are seen as outcasts or rebels. Most homosexuals are afraid of ‘coming out’ because society might reject them-because they do not follow society’s regulated norms. As an effect, homosexuals are becoming rather unstable. Nevertheless, someone against homosexuality gains social stability because they are defending their beliefs and position in society.  Homosexuals are impacted by their society and motivated by their surrounding social forces. Unfortunately, society continues to apply a severe pressure on individuals to be ‘straight.’ Homosexuals, also, try to convince society that they are normal heterosexuals-by acting straight. Gays that are open about their homosexuality are said to be committing an act of resistance. In society, homosexuals who don’t uphold the set norms are not seen as “real individuals.” The free will each individual gains-that helps one make decisions about who they are- is referred to as “agency.” Homosexuality is gaining popularity in societies-becoming the key trouble for these individuals. Gays are reaching to a new height in this century-hoping to gain complete equality as a heterosexual automatically holds. The Social Imagination quotes “…is the idea that the individual can understand his own experience and gauge his own fate only by locating himself within his period, that he can known his own life chances in life by becoming aware of those of all individuals in his circumstances.” Heterosexuals often view homosexuals as inferior. Therefore, homosexuals are seen as under the “regulars” on the social ladder. Ethnomethodology is the study of how people make sense of what others do and say by adhering to pre-existing norms. This concept can be used to describe the presented argument on the morality of homosexuality. Pre-existing norms and understandings allow for the everyday interaction among individuals. Homosexuality is relatively becoming its own culture-and its own society. The homosexual society has regulated a set of their own rules they consider norms. These norms are different from those of the ‘normal’ or heterosexual society.  Homosexuals violate the norms of contemporary society. The norms for sexual relationships are expressed between a male and female-not two males or two females. How far will this new phenomenon reach? If a new level is touched in today’s society-what effects will result?

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

14. June 2009 by student.

Should we send our aged parents to a Nursing Home? 

It’s a good question, and many of us will have to face it at some stage in the future.The once casual and carefree relationship we’ve enjoyed with our parents is coming to an end. They’ve grown old and they’re in poor health. And so as we once looked to them for help and support, the tables have turned. They’re looking to us, and it’s our turn to provide the help and support that they need. But now is when the problem arrives, are we doing the correct thing sending them to a Nursing Home or should we keep them with us living all in the same household. According to the 1997 National Nursing Home Survey, there were 1,465,000 residents age 65 and older in nursing homes (about 4.3 percent of the US population age 65 and older in 1997). There are several people that send their parents to a “Home Care” thinking that they will get all the help and support that they need, But is this true? Periodically the media highlights the deplorable absence of care in badly managed nursing homes. This is a horrible thing therefore for those considering the option of sending their parents to this types of institutions should investigate before placing them into it. I said those because in my particular case I don’t picture myself telling my mother that I have decided to send her to a Home Care. I don’t think there is something wrong with it, but would they be happy to hear that they are going to be sent by their children to a Home Care? In my particular case my decision would be influence by my culture and original values and customs. Traditionally in my family adults hardly ever live separate from their parents. In addition to that , in order to send them to a Nursing home or some other similar institutions the family needs to have a pretty decent economic stability . I was reading an article and  the average annual cost of care in a nursing home in 1998 was about $56,000 or $ 153.00 per day. Total national expenditures for nursing home care in 1998 amounted to $78.6 billion. These are very high amount for working class families , but whatever the decision we made what should be important is not to abandon them. They need and want the emotional and spiritual support that only we can provide.  

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14. June 2009 by student.

I define underage marriages as young teens under the age of 18 who marry.  According, to Wikipedia Marriageable age in the United States is 18.Those younger than 18 can marry with parental and/or judicial consent.  My opinion about Underage Marriages is that a person should wait until they know that they are stable with having finished school, having a first-rate job, planning a future, and leaving there old ways behind which means being mature.  I think that a person should finish school, have a high-quality job, and have a good future planned before getting married. 

The good reasons why teens think underage marriage is ideal is because; they desire freedom from their parents, have a strong yearning of being with the person, and longing to have a child.  According to marriage.about.com, half of the teens that are married are likely to be divorced within 15 years. 

They may think that the above are good reasons, but from my point of view, these are bad reasons to get married.  These young age marriages usually result in high divorce rates, children issues, restricted future options, limited time with your friends, and hesitancy to go out in the real world.  Additionally, according to the Center for Law and Social Policy, “Compared to girls who marry later, teenage brides have less schooling, less independence, and less experience of life and work.”  Teen brides are also at more risk for suffering abuse and living at poverty levels. 

          Overall, according to Wikipedia Teen marriage, the rate of teen marriages is decreasing because there are more options available to teens.  “As of the present (2008), teen marriage is not encouraged and has still not received great acceptance in much of the world.  Teen marriage is most prevalent in culturally- geographic isolated parts of the world and it is decreasing where education is the focus of the population.”

we cannot stop young teens  from getting married but we can let them know that marriage is a long time

Commitment  that both party have to agree on.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

14. June 2009 by student.

What is teenage pregnancy? Well for me I think teenage pregnancy is a female who is pregnant between the ages of 13-17. In my own opinion, teenage pregnancy is happening too often in the United States. According Wikipedia Teenage pregnancy, 1996 statistics shows that 55 out of every 1000 women ages 15-19 was pregnant.
The reason why I think teenager are having children is varied. First reason is that it is less pain now than when you get older. Secondly, the pregnancy is plan by some teens because they want children. Third, they are following the example that was set in their own family. Fourth, peer pressure forced so many teens to have children. Lastly, some teens want love in their life that they feel like they have not gotten from their family.
Teen pregnancy effects more than the mother. It also effects the father, family, and of course the child. The impact that the mother have in having a child is drop out of school. Teenage mothers need financial help because the fathers do not always give financial support. Therefore, the mothers turn into the government for support. According to Teenage pregnancy, “The correlation between earlier childbearing and failure to complete high school reduces career opportunities for many young women. One study found that, in 1988, 60% of teenage mothers were impoverished at the time of giving birth. Additional research found that nearly 50% of all adolescent mothers sought social assistance within the first five years of their child’s life.” Another serious impact that a mother go through especially with children is committing suicide. “Teenage women who are pregnant or mothers are seven times more likely to commit suicide than other teenagers.”
Children of teenage mothers suffer behavior issues, developmental disabilities, behavioral issues, affectionate behaviors, trouble with verbal communication, need social support, and usually would suffer academic performances. Female kids born to teenage parents are more likely to become teenage parents themselves. Male born to teenage parents are three times more likely to serve time in prison because they do not have a father figure to guide them through their life.
Some mothers do not get married to the father of their children. “Teenage parents are frequently in a romantic relationship at the time of birth, but many adolescent fathers do not stay with the mother and this often disrupts their relationship with the child. Research has shown that when teenage fathers are included in decision-making during pregnancy and birth, they are more likely to report increased involvement with their children in later years. In the U.S, eight out of ten teenage fathers do not marry their child’s mother.”
When teenage mother has siblings, the pregnancy affects them too. According to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage pregnancy, “One study found that the younger sisters of teen mothers were less likely to emphasizes the importance of education and employment and more likely to accept sexual initiation, parenthood, and marriage at younger ages. Younger brothers, too, were found to be more tolerant of non-marital and early births, in addition to being more susceptible to high-risk behaviors. An additional study discovered that those with an older sibling who is a teen parent often end up babysitting their nieces and nephews and that young girls placed in such a situation have an increased risk of getting pregnant themselves. ”Social workers tend to be involved more frequently with mothers. Their jobs as social workers insure that the child is in a positive environment.

Overall, when becoming a teenage mother there are many responsibilities in taking care of a child. Some teenagers think it is easy but learn the hard way when the child is in their life.  This child is a lifetime commitment and that is not easy.

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