21. February 2010 by student.

Both sexes are prone to cheating in relationships, whether it’s during the early or late stages of the relationship, it could always happen.  Many reasons could be given for cheating, whether it’s because someone is in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship, or someone is just not attracted to whomever they are dating.  No matter what reasons someone gives that they are cheating, they are always wrong to do it.  If you are in an abusive relationship, then break up with them.  If you are attracted to someone else, break up with your current significant other so you can be with him or her.  That’s always what makes me mad, more then the actual reasoning.  If you don’t care about someone enough that you would cheat on them, why are you with them in the first place?  Many answers could be given to this question, some of which more devious then others.  A few examples for both sexes:

“I cheat on my husband because he is old and horrible at sex.  But he is LOADED so I stay with him.”

“I cheat on my wife because all she does all day is whine and complain all day long.  But she is the mother of my children so I stay with her.”

 ”I cheat on my boyfriend because I am in love with (insert name here), but I stay with him because I also love him.”

 ”I cheat on my girlfriend because I am just that much of an asshole, that I can have as many girls as I want and I know she won’t break up with me because I am a frat boy meat-head.”

 Now maybe your someone who lives under a rock, and is astonished that people would actually cheat on their spouses or significant others, then use these pitiful excuses, but it happens every day.  It’s a world-wide problem that can’t be stopped.  If I had to blame someone or something other then the actual cheater for why they are cheating, my likely suspects would be the media, friends, family, significant others, and college in general, (alcohol included).

Why the media?  Well with shows like Tool Academy and Jersey Shore, Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, and I don’t even know how many senators and house reps., why CAN’T we cheat, right?  If the President of the most powerful country in the world can cheat, why can’t I cheat?  Well, though he was a great President, Bill Clinton was still an idiot for cheating.  Tiger Woods?  Well he’s a great golfer, that’s for sure, but he’s just another idiot cheater.  What about the countless idiots on Laguna Beach and Tool Academy?  Well before they cheated, most of them were already idiots, but they didn’t help their cases by cheating, (on television to, they are so sneaky aren’t they?).  The point is, there are so many bad examples and cheating scenarios on television, as well as presented by the press, that it’s almost become a part of today’s society.

You would think friends and family would be part of the effort to stop cheating, well in many cases they aren’t.  Sometimes parents realize what is going on, yet they do nothing to stop it, thinking that their child will eventually learn their lessons.  Guess what Mom and Dad, your WRONG.  Just like an alcoholic or drug addict, you have to stop it when you see it.  I remember at one point, 2 of my best friends were cheating, (One was a girl and one was a guy, so no sexist comments please), and they would come to the table we eat at every day talking about how they “almost got caught” or something.  It’s disgusting sometimes to know that your own friends do it, and you just can’t bring yourself to stop them.  Your good friends should be there to smack you when your to stupid to realize what your doing is wrong.

College.  Well where to begin with college…Let’s just say college is a breeding ground for cheating.  How many of you who may be reading this right now have girlfriends or boyfriends that don’t go here, and may be out of state?  Now how many are completely faithful to them?  If your answering yes, then congratulations, but I honestly don’t believe you.  Not because of the fact that I may think your a liar, but because of the fact that a lot of people can’t handle long-term relationships.  If you are answering no, then thank you for being honest for once, you idiot.  Parties and new friendships can completely change someone.  In college a girl might accidentally lose her promise ring, or a guy might forget to call his girlfriend.  The point is, before you leave for college whilst in a relationship, you should really go over your relationship as a whole now rather then later when your faced with the decision to cheat or not to cheat.  Yeah it’s hard to break up after a long relationship, but it will be harder when you have to tell him or her that you cheated on them, if you even tell them at all.

 So you THINK your significant other is cheating on you.  What do you do, cheat on them for revenge or break up?  If you would chose cheat, then your an idiot.  If you break up with them, then good job.  The thing is, you should be able to realize when your in a bad relationship, then be strong enough to get out of it.  One of my really good friends was hit by her boyfriend a few times, but she broke up with him almost immediately.  If she had not broken up with him, and she had let the abuse continue, she may very well be an abused wife in a few years.  You need to be strong enough to get out of an abusive relationship.  Stu was responsible enough to realize his wife was emotionally, (and sometimes physically), abusive by the end of the Hangover, so why can’t you?  Don’t cheat on your significant other because the relationship sucks, if that’s the case, JUST END IT.

 Sociologically, people cheating on their significant others are affected by a lot of factors, but the biggest factor affecting their decisions on whether to cheat or not would be their ignorance.  It really sucks to admit that cheating has become an extremely common every-day occurrance.  Now when Mom get’s that scary call from their son or daughter at 3 in the morning, in stead of hearing “I got in a bad accident because I was drunk and stupid,” they hear “I cheated on my girlfriend/boyfriend so they slashed my tires and shattered my car windows.”  How about next time you have some thought of cheating, smack yourself first to save yourself from being smacked by someone else later.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

21. February 2010 by student.

Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Body Image in the Media: 

These days, the media is doing a lot more than just broadcasting the news. It is contributing to people thinking twice about the way they eat, breathe, and live, including the way they look at their self body image. Some believe that when you look good, you feel good, and in this case you will reflect what you’re feeling on the outside towards others. Others disagree and argue that the media has put a negative influence on girls today by pressuring them into believing that you need to look good to “fit in” or be someone. Either way, this debate is bound to go on with each side having a strong opinion about their views.

       The media is believed to be a threat to our society and the way we look at our body image. Some believe that the media, celebrities, etc., should be held responsible for the way our young kids today look at their self images, and for the self-esteem they carry. Studies investigating the media’s impact on body image find that comparing oneself to thin models in the media results in body image disturbance (Bergstrom 264). “Body image may be one of the western world’s ugliest exports (McClelland 41). Thanks to television, magazines, movies and the Internet, rail-thin girls and steroid-built beef-boys are being shoved in the faces of people all over the world” (41).  

     “Experts say that cultures that used to regard bulk as a sign of wealth and success are now succumbing to a narrow western standard of beauty. There are incidences of eating disorders in regions where anorexia and bulimia had never been seen before” (41).

Women who rely on what the media tells them, have a greater chance of comparing their body shape and size with other women, and may feel worse about their weight and body as a result. The media can have a strong affect on the views of most women, especially those who believe you need a great body image to live a happy life.

      This being said, the media can generate an impact on the way our society lives today as well. The way we look in the mirror now, has a whole new different meaning of the term “reflection”, whether it is positive or not. Several studies have concluded that the relationship between viewing thin media images and body image caused a disturbance among female college students. “In these studies, it was proposed that women engage in upward social comparisons with self-evaluative motives, and when they find that they do not “measure up” to the thin models depicted in the media, they feel more negatively about their own weight and body” (Bergstrom 265). The media is believed to create images in our head about what the ideal person should look like. People are influenced by what they see and hear, whether they realize it is negative or not.

       On the other hand, others disagree. The common views of those who believe that when you dress good, or have a good outside appearance, also deem that you will reflect and produce that same feeling on the inside as well. Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Having a good self-esteem can be important because feeling good about yourself can affect actions. “A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more” (Lyness). Having a good self esteem makes those feel better about not only themselves, but their surroundings as well, and can influence how they act on a daily basis.

      According to health and fitness expert and former Olympic pen athlete Van Kiekebelt, there are factors that can help us develop a healthy body image, but that is all up to us (Van Kiekebelt 41). It is okay to confidently accept our bodies and ourselves. If you like what you see and have a positive outlook, you will feel great about yourself and it will show. In addition, talk show host Tyra Banks has given many powerful speeches targeting those who say hurtful things about women’s bodies. Over the years she has fought that you do not need to be skinny as a stick to be beautiful, or to feel good about yourself. “You don’t have to be thin to be a knockout, but women have been led to think they will be happy if they are skinny” (Magee). Some view being healthy and having a great body image different then as others may sight it.

      Some may believe that having a good body image and looking great will make you feel great. It will make you a better person all together. Having a positive feeling about your outward appearance will reflect your inward appearance as well, and how you treat/act towards others. As a member of someone from society, it is apparent that the media influences body image. Without looking good, you are a no body, and non-existent. Instead of this debate becoming restless and going nowhere, there should be a different approach, where a combination of the two can lead to a healthy lifestyle, or make that person became a healthier individual. In this case, beauty really does lie in the eye of the beholder.  

Bergstrom, R., C. Neighbors, and J. Malheim. ”MEDIA COMPARISONS ANDTHREATS TO BODY IMAGE: SEEKING EVIDENCE OF SELF-AFFIRMATION. ” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology  28.2 (2009): 264-280. Research Library, ProQuest. Web.  1 Nov. 2009.D’Arcy Lyness, PhD, . “Body Image and Self-Esteem.” Kids Health. May 2009. The Nemours Foundation, Web. 1 Nov 2009. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/problems/body_image.html#>.

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

21. February 2010 by student.

Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Teenage Suicide: 

    Teenage Suicide seems to be growing into a very serious issue these days. Recently, I have sadly experienced knowing someone from my high school who has committed suicide. What boggles my mind the most however, is the fact that this kid was very happy, always laughing, and was in the top 10 of my graduating class. He eventually went on to Cornell University where he had planned on graduating. Everyone was in shock when they heard the startling news. However, apparently the pressure and stress of school got to him, so he jumped off a bridge and his body was sadly found two days later in a gorge. A note was left as well. According to teensuicide.us, many teenagers have had thoughts of death. Stress can be a result of this.    

      The National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. That means that for every teen suicide that you hear of, there are probably at least 25 suicide attempts made. That is a pretty scary number. There are also many statistics between genders. For example, males are four times more likely to die from suicide then females; however teen girls make more attempts to end their lives than teenage boys. Suicide is known to be the third leading cause of death for teenagers. This issue seems to be rising throughout out world today, and clearly more common than ever in teenagers.   

       It has caused a social change in the sense that teenagers today clearly feel more alone and hopeless, that they feel the need to end their life. In my own personal opinion, ending your life is selfish. There are many ways to get help, and you do not need to result in ending your life forever. There is always therapy, your friends, and family. Committing suicide not only hurts you in the end, but also ends up hurting your family in the long run. The people who care about you the most will be very hurt. When the boy at my high school past away, I have never seen so many people care so much about someone. The way they expressed their love and feelings for him on a Facebook group made for him blew me away. People really did care about this boy, but why he committed this horrific act, we will never fully know, except for the fact he clearly was stressed over life and wanted it to end.   

       Some of the strongest factors of teen suicides and signs include: aggressive behavior, disruptive behavior, substance abuse, depression, and much more. In addition, some other warning signs of teen suicide include a lack or loss of interest in things, behavioral problems, changes in eating habits, emotional distress, sleep changes, etc. If you feel that a loved one or someone close to you is suffering from any of these occurrences, you should seek them help as soon as possible.    Furthermore, there are treatments and steps that can be taken for someone who is having thoughts about suicide. For someone who has either attempted or talked about it, group therapy, family therapy, and hospitalization are three important steps that can bet taken. Also, if people are educated on teen suicide and the warning signs, we can help prevent teens and people who feel the need to end their life and to stop them before it’s too late. Some popular organizations which help in prevention include: The Youth Suicide Prevention Program, The National Institute of Mental Health, and Yellowribbon.org just to name a few.  “Teen Suicide.” 2005. Teen Suicide Prevention. Teensuicide.us. 21 Feb. 2010 http://www.teensuicide.us/articles1.html 

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »