27. February 2011 by student.

Texting and driving has affected many people in around the world including me. People text and drive everyday, and they are risking their life as well as the lives of other. Cell phones are involved in 1.6 million accidents a year, causing half a million injuries and 6,000 deaths, according to the Department of Education. Many families are hurt because a loved one’s life was taken by a texter.

Texting, also known for short message service, is increasing from 9.8 billion message in December 2005 to 110.4 billion in December 2008 (CDIII). This is a huge increase in a matter of only 3 years. It’s ridiculous. I’m pretty sure a text message can wait until you get to your designated area. Nothing can be so important that you have to risk your life as well as others. A study by Virginia Tech Driving Institute tells us that those who have to text while driving are 23 time more likely to meet with an accident.

Texting while driving should be out of the question for states all over the country. We would have a much safer world, and people would be paying more attention to the road. More than half of our country has banned texting and driving, and I believe that all the states should ban it. 

Posted in Social Problems | 1 Comment »

24. February 2011 by student.

Teen pregnancy is a big problem in the world today. Most teenagers do not plan their pregnancy. The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the US $7 billion a year.

34% of women under the age of 20 become pregnant at least once, that’s about 820,000 women a year. Eight out of 10 of these pregnancies are unintended and 79% of them are to unmarried teens.

Most teen mothers are less likely to complete high school. Only 1/3 of teen moms receive a high school diploma and about 1.5% has a college degree by 30yrs old. Only 20% of teen moms marry the father of the child.

I recently found out that a 16 year old girl and a 18 year old boy that I know got engaged at the beginning of December. I just found out today that the girl is pregnant and due in August. With the statistics that I have just read and knowing how this girl and boy are. I can tell that they will both drop out of high school, she will never get her diploma or GED. They will not get married. Its sad to think that this child will be brought into the world and not have the good life he/she deserves because the parents were not smart enough to be safe while have sex.

The children born to teen mothers also don’t have the best future ahead of them. Only 77% of children born to teen mom’s graduate high school, where 89% of children born to older parents graduate. Children born to teen moms have more health problems. They are also 10 times more likely to live in poverty.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

23. February 2011 by student.

Capital punishment is widely used by American parents.  According to Straus and Stewart in 1999, 94 % of U.S. parents of 3 and 4 years old used corporal punishment. Corporal punishment is defined as a kind of physical punishment with the intention of causing a child to experience pain, but not injury, for the purpose of disciplining or deterring attitudes or behavior deemed unacceptable. Corporal punishment includes spanking with a hand, slapping, pinching and threatening.

But, is it ok to use corporal punishment or is it detrimental?

There are lots of researches out, some of them suggest is ok, and other contend it is not. A study published in 2009 by psychologist Marjorie Gunnoe from Calvin College found that corporal punishment forms more “well-adjusted” people later in life. Kids who remembered being spanked did better in school, did more volunteer work and were more confident than others who were not corporally disciplined.

Nevertheless, there is a large body of evidence from other studies that suggest corporal punishment is damaging and should be abstained from.  In 2009 a study conducted by Dr. Lisa Berlin from the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University concluded that that spanking 1 year olds led to more aggressive behaviors in the next 2 years.

I decided to write a blog about this issue, because I watched a program on corporal punishment. A mother was asking for help on how to discipline her kid. Her current strategies included using cold showers and the use of hot sauce.

Beliefs on spanking differ across countries. According to a study from UNICEF from 37 countries there is a high proportion of children from 2-14 years that experience both physical and psychological punishment; there is no difference in the use of violent discipline between boys and girls, and between the poorest and richest households.  To check for interesting statistics visit http://www.childinfo.org/discipline.html

I come from a different country where there are no arguments if spanking is ok or not.  My brothers and I were spanked as children and learned very well from this practice. What do you think?

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mas2/CP36.pdf

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/01/is_spanking_children_ok_calvin.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915100941.htm

http://www.childinfo.org/discipline.html

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

23. February 2011 by student.

Filicide is when a parent kills/murders their own son or daughter. I recently read a story in a British newspaper called The Sun. A young woman stabbed her daughter several times and then tried to take her own life my drinking poison. Unfortunately the little girl died but the mother is still alive.

Its people like her that really make me mad. I don’t know how anyone can kill their own flesh and blood, I mean she carried this little girl for 9 months, gave birth to her and raised her for 4 years and then decided to take her life by painfully stabbing her but for herself she just poisoned herself.

To me, anyone who can take their life and an innocent child’s life is a coward. This poor child was born to a mother who couldn’t handle the stress of life so she brutally took her daughter’s life and tried to take her own but did it more cowardly.

Statistics show that there are about 1000 filicides every year. 42% of children under the age of 5 are involved in filicide. Studies show that most parents who do this have some sort of mental illness or severe depression. As a society we don’t help these people enough. If we did more to help them get through any depression then innocent children would not be killed.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

22. February 2011 by student.

A social problem that affects around 40% of people in around the world is poverty.  At some point in their life, these 40% of people will be below the poverty line within a lifespan of 10 years.  Living in the world’s wealthiest nation, we should not have 13% of people living under the poverty line. Poverty is the lack of basic human needs, such as clean water, nutrition health care, education, clothing and shelter, because of the inability to afford them.

As an American, and coming from a well off family, I have never experienced what poverty is really like. With that said, being short a few dollars when I want something to eat really gets under my skin, therefore, I could not imagine what it would be like to be a few dollars short throughout my whole life.

My friend who graduated college decided to move to North Carolina and live under the poverty level for one year. He gets a certain amount of money per month and from this money he has to use it to keep himself alive by living under the poverty level. Not being able to speak to him, it’s hard to understand how he is doing and what he spends his money on. I believe doing an activity like this would allow each American to gain the appreciation of what people go through and how hard their life is with minimum basic needs.

Most Americans (51.4 percent) will live in poverty at some point before age 65 (Poverty- U.S. Census Bureau). Throughout the world Latinos are the minority group that struggle with poverty. Over the years, poverty has fluctuated throughout the 1900s. In the 1950s poverty was around 22.4% for Americans living under the poverty level. In 1960s, poverty drastically dropped to 11.1%. During the 1980s a steady rise in poverty began to rise to 15.2% (National Poverty Center). Poverty strikes the highest in families with single mothers, and particularly if they are black of Hispanic.

Mason Weisberg

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19. February 2011 by student.

Some people  believe it is “okay” for victims of rape to obtain an abortion, but not those who just “decide” to go out and have sex. According to a previous post, “You can not decide to get knocked up, and just kill what you have created.” I wonder how this person came to the belief that it is his or her right to decide when it is okay for this embryo to be “killed”, or not “killed”. Does this embryo have a voice, or not? Some of the common  pregnancy prevention methods, such as progesterone pills, the Depo Provera shot, the Norplant implants cause abortifacient (meaning a human life has begun, however cannot continue to develop without the nourishment provided through the mother’s uterine wall). These pregnancy prevention methods cause the mothers uterine wall to thin, prohibiting the proper nourishment, thus preventing the continued pregnancy.

In 1880 abortion was banned in most states, in an effort to confine women to their traditional childbearing role, and also minimize the demand for mid-wives thus allowing the medical professions to control women’s health care. Between the1890’s and 1930’s, there was between 1-2 million illegal abortions performed in the US annually. Out of these illegal abortions several dangerous methods were used, including inserting sharp objects into the vagina and uterus, douching with dangerous solutions, and drinking poisonous chemicals. This resulted in at least five thousand of these women dying from botched attempts.

Today there are an estimated 1.37 million legal abortions performed in the US each year. 1% of these abortions occur because of rape, 7% as a result of incest, and 93% for social reasons. If you consider yourself a pro-lifer/ pro-birth control advocate including the methods mentioned earlier, take a moment to reflect on your reasons behind your beliefs. How many of you will reconsider, knowing the effects of these methods. There are birth control methods such as the condom which do not cause abortifacient. I for one am pro-birth control, pro-abortion, any method, any reason. It is my body and my choice. Some people have no business pro-creating; however, that is their choice.

http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html

http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/excerpt.asp?id=27

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

16. February 2011 by student.

A major social problem that has occurred and is still occurring in the United States today is Domestic violence. Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Domestic violence can fall into different types of abuse that can occur. Emotional, physical, verbal, sexual and psychological are all different types of abuse that can lead to domestic violence. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone(National Domestic Violence). Domestic violence can affect anyone at any age no matter your economic social class.

Women ages 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence
(Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. 1993-2004, 2006.) Women of all races and ethnicities are equally vulnerable of receiving domestic violence upon their partner. Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence

As a male I would never put my hands on a women ever. Seeing the loving and caring relationship that my mother and father have, has served as a positive influence on me on how I treat women.  No matter if you are a women or a man, domestic violence can happen to either one. The common misconception is that domestic violence always happens to women, but there are incidents were domestic violence happens to a man. 300,000 to 400,000 men are treated violently by their wife or girl friend (Domestic Violence against Men).

There are many reasons why domestic violence among men have not been reported such as nothing has been done to encourage men to report abuse. Men have the a strong, masculine image therefore reporting domestic abuse would not fall under the manly image. Also, The idea that men could be victims of domestic abuse and violence is so unthinkable to most people that many men will not even attempt to report the situation (Domestic Violence against Men).

Overall, domestic violence should never be accepted in society whether its upon a male or female. Abuse is always abuse. Abuse does not set limits upon different genders in which it is considered less important than the other. All abuse is important and should be reported immediately. 

-Mason Weisberg

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15. February 2011 by student.

There has been many disputes about abortion in the world today. Abortions happen everyday, whether the community thinks its a good thing or not. ”Worldwide, there is approxmitely 115,000 abortions, and annually there is approxmitly 42 million abortions. This is an outrageous number. In the United States only, there is approxmitately 3,700 abortions, and annually there is approxmitately 1.37 abortions” (abortionno.org).

“52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%. 1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons” (abortionno.org).

I believe that aboriton is okay in certain types of situation. For example, if you got raped, I believe it is okay for you to get an abortion. You did not go out in the world asking for sex. However, if you decided to have a sex, and you ended up pregnant, that is your problem. You decided to go out there and have sex, so you must suffer the consequences. You can not decide to get knocked up, and just kill what you have created.

This problem has been a huge issue in the world for quite some time now. It has ruined families, friends, and even a person’s reputation. Women who have to decide what they would like to do may feel alone, helpless, and depress. They are judged on what they choose to do.

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14. February 2011 by student.

Postpartum DepressionPPD Definition, Description, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention Tips.Postpartum depression is classified as a mood disorder that begins after   child birth and usually lasts beyond six weeks or up to a year if not treated on time. It affects approximately 15% of all childbearing women and it is often divided into two types; early onset (mild) and late onset. (Ford-Martin and Wells).The early onset is usually associated with the “blues”; a mild brief experience that last days or only a few weeks. According to statistics “Baby Blues” is a period of extra sensitivity and affects 80 % to 85% of women during the first week after delivery and it is considered a normal reaction. Throughout this period common symptoms are irritability, change in mood, and anxiety, which normally disappears within two weeks and doesn’t require treatment. (Ford-Martin and Wells).Late onset occurs several weeks after delivery and symptoms include a feeling of sadness that tends to increase with the time.The cause of PPD has been extensively studied but expert can’t still find specific answer. Sometimes they relate it with the sudden hormonal changes during pregnancy that affects emotions or to a number of risk factors that varies according to each individual. (Doermann and Davidson).Some of these risk factors can be; family history of depression needs of health care and young age at the time of delivery, low self esteem. Economic problems can be another factor of depression after child birth, poor relationship with husband or boyfriend, stress, and lack of sleep and support from family members.Postpartum Depression can be differentiated from other types of depression but also can lead into suicide. Some depressed mothers do maintain good interaction with their infants, and these infants tends to have better emotional regulation than other infants of depressed mothers. (qtd. in Papalia, Olds, Feldman. Tenth Edition pg 212). Been a mother is one of the hardest jobs anyone can do. As a mother of one, based on my own experience I can say that the first weeks after giving birth are crucial for both, the baby and the mother. It is harder if you become a mother for the first time, because with the baby comes a package of responsibility and obligations that we never experienced before. During this period of time you are getting to know each other and the baby is adapting his body to the new environments.  The 24-hour responsibility for a newborn infant represents a major psychological and lifestyle adjustment for most mothers. It also involves a lot of stress due to the inadequate rest until the baby’s routine stabilizes.In my specific case I have to say that I experienced Postpartum Depression symptoms after my first baby. The reason was very clear to me, I got pregnant, at the same time my husband lost his job, I had to work full time and go to school,  and as crazy as it sounded I had to start dealing and preparing myself for new obligations. Even thought I received a lot of support from my family it was still a hard process. Sometimes I felt like I couldn’t handle the situation no more, the lack of sleep and stress was killing me. I was taking care of the baby twenty four hours a day, seven days of the week, sounds easy but involves a lot of work and dedication, especially if you have to keep working as I did and going to school at the same time.  Based on the research I have done on this topic, there is no specific test performed to diagnose PPD, however it is important to understand that it is a real illness.  Treatment should begin as soon as the diagnosis is established; there are a lot of choices that includes medication, psychotherapy, counseling, or support strategies. It all depends on the woman’s need. If is not treated promptly, it may have negative impact on the way a mother interacts with her baby and on the child’s future cognitive and emotional development. (qtd.in Papalia, Olds, Feldman. Tenth edition pg 212).Other alternative treatment such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and western herbs can also help women return to an estate of balance. It is impossible to predict who will develop postpartum depression. All women are vulnerable to PPD regardless of age, marital status, educational level or socioeconomic status. (Ford-Martin and Wells).The best prevention method for this disorder is through education. My advice is to look for help when symptoms continually increase beyond 6 weeks postpartum over 2-3 weeks period and are interfering with daily life. Professional help is very significant. If you don’t get the response you need don’t give up. Get support, medication, education or others.    Exercise can also help enhance a new mother’s emotional well-being, and with support from friends and family mild postpartum depression usually disappears quickly. It is important for family members to understand that the greater the support and help they provide to the mother the faster the recovery process will be.  Other techniques that may help improve depressed mother’s mood include listening to music, visual imaginary, aerobics, relaxation, and massage therapy. Massage can also help depressed babies. (qtd. in Papalia, Olds and Feldman. Tenth Edition pg 212). Interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy have been found effective; however doctors insist that the best treatment for postpartum depression is an environment full of love, tolerance, and cooperative.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

14. February 2011 by student.

 Healthy Foods for Better LearningInvented foods that are high in sodium, fat and sugar have become first choice of lunches in schools, unlike healthy foods.  Expert says these unhealthy school lunches are a contributing factor to the child hood obesity (Cooper). “It is important to keep children aware of what a healthy lunch is”. Nutritious food is vitamins and minerals needed for healthy bodies. Whole fruits and veggies are much more enjoyable than vitamins supplements and pills. It’s just some of the healthy requirements you need every day.             Less fating food may sound more expensive to principle Tom Young of

Edwardsville
High School, but it is also healthier than the options he is serving now. There is a ton of ways you could figure out how to spend less and eat healthier. There are many lunches’ ideas for schools that can be thought about and planned, and implement successfully (Cooper).  I’m sure neither him nor Sally the school nutritionist did much research on less expensive healthy food for the kids. Keeping the after school athletics intramural programs is no “good” if you don’t eat healthy. Those kids cannot stay fit and in shape if they are not keeping up with what a healthy meal is. He is partially right when he says, “we provide a choice. I don’t think it’s the schools job to regulate what kids eat. That’s their parent’s jobs.” But when a student is out of the house and into school grounds, that’s their job to keep them safe, so I would think it is also their job to keep them eating healthy. Giving them the option of junk food everyday is their fault, not the parents. “Offering and encouraging for healthy meals both at home and school, obesity or other related medical issues can be less dramatic”.            Most schools try to provide notorious foods for all students in the cafeteria, but mostly that’s not true. You see on a daily bases that mostly all the food you child is served was previously frozen or its just bare junk. A healthy lunch may keep your child on track to learn on regular bases. Sugar and junk run out fast, so with an empty stomach no child can focus on learning the necessary skills. Research shows that students who eat a nutritious meal daily have better standards of test scores, behavior and are less hyper active then children who eat fast food like; pizza, candy, French fries and other poor quality foods.  Research as well shows that a young mind that starts to eat well food grows up to continue that routine, unfortunately the opposite is also quiet true; overweight children pass on to be overweight as adults. If you set the example and limits to a child, he/she would learn to stay on track to a healthy eating habit. Congress wants to create healthier standards for all foods served in our nation’s school. According to legislature more healthier foods will be made available to the kids, typical cafeteria foods such as pizza and hamburgers would be made healthier, not eliminated all together (Brondou).            Food portions are also important. It doesn’t matter if you’re eating healthy, if you eat too much of it. Many people eat healthy food in big over sized portion and aren’t doing much; it is as if you were eating junk. Your body only needs a certain amount of food and liquid do to your size and weight, if you over doze that; then you aren’t doing anything but hurting yourself. High cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes could be some of the less dramatic effect that could be cause by non-healthy healthy. Eating unhealthy is just like putting the wrong fuel in your car, you might run out of energy very quickly. Additional research from 2010 has shown the many ways that school nutrition programs are working to further improve the nutritional quality of schools meals. 95% of schools are increasing offering of whole grain products, 69 % are reducing or eliminating sodium foods and 51 % are increasing vegetarian options. (
Warren)Keeping an all healthy lunch menu at school is expensive, but keeping it at least two or three times a week could be just as if you would give junk food all week. Persuading schools to change lunch menus may take a lot of effort, and hard work; but it’s not impossible. But there are other things you as a principle could do to improve healthy foods in a very simple way like; serving more milks and water rather than sodas and G2. You can also teach students about healthy foods, encourage them to bring a fresh meal cooked from home or even simple healthy snacks.When choosing what to eat for lunch, making a healthy choice is greatly important. Eating a variety of healthy foods give you energy to do stuff, helps you grow the way you should and keep you from getting sick. I as a principle would take into consideration, changing little things to help my students. More kids will do more activities if eating healthy because they would feel stronger and better. Changing little things won’t affect the budget immensely .I highly recommend a few changes to the menu, because the minor things you change, could save a kid from obesity.           Perhaps what I really think is needed is a complete change in the American diet and our education about food.

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