Ethnocentrism (Illustration Assignment #1)
“Ethnocentrism”
Strong feelings of group belongingness and pride in one’s group may lead to ethnocentrism, a belief in the superiority of one’s group, a rather universal phenomenon. Ethnocentrism may cause favouritism to one’s own group and discrimination of the other.
I found this term to be the coolest just because it relates to many of the gang issues that occurring in the lower mainland at the moment. Gangs lure young kids and brainwash them to believe that they are apart of a loyal family. These young kids want to prove their loyalty to the older members, and carry out all their “dirty work” for them. Gangs also believe that their gang is superior to any other one that may be around, so they discriminate towards any rivals which results in shootings, stabbings and deaths.
Members within the same gang look upon themselves as people with whom share a common identity. This concept is looked upon as the “in-group”. Anyone else that is perceived as different or apart from ones “in-group”, would be referred as to the “out group”.
Global Sociological Imagination
“What Have my Cocoa Beans Got to Do with Canada”
After viewing the slideshows it made me realize how interconnected the world really is. The actions and inactions of one can affect many others in a direct or indirect manner. An example being in the video how “Cocoa Beans”, can aid many people in the world with jobs, opportunities and fulfillment of ones desires. Whether this impact the individual in a positive or negative way, it still falls back into the category of global sociological imagination.
My own global sociological imagination would fall back into the roots of my ancestors which would be located in the country of India. Both my parents were born in India and had the opportunity to seek a better life in Canada. It was ambitious attitude of my mother which resulted in her being able to get a student visa to Canada to pursue a life here. Her hard work and devotion to studying, gave me the opportunity to be born and raised in Canada. If my mother was not able to get that student work visa, chances are I would have been born in India and my life would be completely different. I would not have had the education and job opportunities that Canada presents its citizens, compared to India which is a third world country and education is a privilege.
Even though the actions and inactions of others have affected me, I have also affected many others with my own actions. During the summer I work for my Dad’s roofing company. This affects others in the way that if a heavy rain storm were to occur, they would be fully protected with a sturdy roof above their head. Also when I buy the material for the roof from the store, I am affecting and funding those companies who manufacture those goods. Also our roofing company pays many workers, who use that money as their salary and help support their own families. Also many of my physical actions affect many of my younger cousins. If my younger cousins see me studying and working hard, chances are they would want to do the same and also study and work hard. If my cousins were to see me sit around and watch television and be lazy, chances are when they are older they will do the same, because my actions would influence their own.
About Me
Hello, my name is Munpreet Gill and this is currently my second year at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. I started off my post-secondary education by working towards a Associates of Science Degree, but later changed my mind because I found Science courses to be very dreary and dull. I quickly learned my true passion was held within the study of crime, so I changed my major to Criminology. After completing my degree I hope to pursue a career as a Canadian Border Services Officer (CBSA). I was recently accepted to the CBSA student work experience program, so I will be taking off the summer semester to work at the border as a student officer. If that does not work out, a career as a Firefighter is also appealing to me, and would be my back-up plan.
When not studying for school, I enjoy working out, partying with friends and watching sports. My favourite hobby at the moment would be snowboarding. I try my best to go at least once a week to either Cypress, Seymour or Grouse Mountain. I have heard great things about Big White Mountain in Kelowna, and hopefully will organize a trip there in the near future.
To be honest, the only reason I am taking Sociology is, because it is a requirement for my degree. I am not aware of what will be covered in this course, but I am looking forward to what type of material will be learned. My guess would be Sociology is the study of a society and different types of people within it and how they interact with one another. Also the study of peoples reactions towards any change in society. By the end of the semester I am sure my knowledge of Sociology will be more broad and vast.
