Nickel & Dimed

My first blog is from my assigned reading titled “Nickel & Dimed”. I will be posting more about this reading and share what i think about the book overall.

 

 

1. Yes it did upset me and that book was an experiment of a real life. It showed  how an individual can work so hard for low pay and their low level of lifestyles. It was surprising to me that author herself was disguised character in this book but hardly anyone noticed until the end. I did not find any flaws in her research. I do not believe that anyone can make it if they work hard. Some people work all of their lives just to survive but  yet not enough.

2. I personally believed that it helped her to get job easier throwout the book and she mentioned most of the low level jobs were filled by immigrants and she had the better opportunity to get it for being a white and native english speaker.

3. The first part of the book “Serving in Florida” towards the end where she was scolded by her manger for not doing her job or something her manger didn’t like. This was the part right before she moved out to Maine. Language like this serve disrespect towards others especially for a low worker never treated respectfully.

4. Hands and Knees is very old fashioned especially for Ehrenreich. We are living in 21st century and hands and knees approach seems very old fashioned to me. Reminds me of slavery times back in the day. Gratification may come from the consumers as they see this hands and knees services making it.

5. Maids are in the United States are treated differently those who are in minorities. Mostly maids are minority workers. As a result they come from poverty. Invincibility is the ignorance and unequal view towards them.

6. Ehrenreich talked several times about her dietary is mainly because of lack of unhealthy diets which is not good for nutrition. This book showed how low wage workers eat during the day and work at the same time. Sometimes it may take place while driving. Low wage workers tend to work some unhealthy places as a result they may not have many healthy choices when it comes to food. In addition, use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol supplements it. Ehrenreich  is trying to point out that, low wage workers do not eat healthy and not enough meal for the day compared to hard work they put on their body. It is not sufficient and not healthy.

7.

Dangers of a single story

We are living in a diverse society. People from all over the world lives in the United States as well as different cultures, norms and religions. Even after so many types and cultures, there is always dominant culture or group of people who runs the society. It all started from the founding fathers of this nation who crated this country and make policies and laws. United States did not allowed all the foreigners at first. Europeans started to come in then slowly one after another. Skin color was a big issue as a result,  colored people struggled. Slavery then inequality, cvil war we all ran through with them. Even after so many years stereotypes is a big issue. It may not be visible like it did in the slavery days but it certainly does exists.

Me being a south asian and also being a muslim often encounter embarrassment by people in public. In our community it is an expectation and we know something is about to happen. Ever since the terror attack the view of muslim people changed dramatically, which is completely understandable. I do not blame anyone for thinking like that. However, there is a limit of assuming things. Every time i go through airport security check point, i have asked to stand up aside and check my luggage and double check everything than a normal person should have. Other facts, such as getting denied for a job simply because of my color of my skin or my religion. People give you a hate look on you even though you have not done anything. It is very frustration and i think all the people should have this knowledge not every colored people and muslim person are bad. Not only i have to deal with colored skin issue but also Muslim. Muslim recently added to it. Here is an example of how our society thinks and views muslim and other nation and cultures. Reza Aslan defended his views video below.

http://youtu.be/PzusSqcotDw

Hello to my Readers.

VLUU L200  / Samsung L200

Hello readers!!

This is my first time making blog courtesy of “Social Problems” course i am taking. This is where we as a class making our own personal blogs which will cover basically anything that has to do with social problems. As i said, i have never done any blogs before so this will a good opportunity for me to play around. Through out the semester i will be making post which will relate to social problems as well as class requirement. My blog may cover materials from class notes and lecture and other social problems which are outside of class related.

I hope you guys enjoy my blog and i will try my best to make it more enjoyable reading.

Mass Media & Popular Culture

This blog i am going to write is about social views towards gender. It is becoming norm and expectation for a guy to be masculine and strong whereas a woman can be seductive and pretty. Looking all the magazines and cover photos will tell the exact stories.

Almost all the magazines are displayed for guys, masculinity, strong, leadership, man of the house, bigger body, violence, white mostly and fit shaped sizes. For women, Beauty, sexiness, seductive, lighter skinned colors , thin mostly and perfect sized or model sized.

Males are mostly athletics or body builders, basket ball players  whereas females are shown as model, yoga instructor,makeup body texture, how to stay beautiful, lipsticks, and   something to do with sexiness.

Men's magazine focus on physique, masculinity, and strong

Men’s magazine focus on physique, masculinity, and strong

B-Feb09 C-1

Olivia Wilde cover of Beauty magazine, which talks about anti aging and health related news all tied to beauty.

 

 

Men’s magazine talks about six packs, abs, muscle, manly stuffs. profession wise it talks about successful business man, founder, and icon. Example of David Beckham shown picture above. It focuses on shape, muscle, energy and abs.

Women on the other hand  focuses  on being a beauty and sexiness as picture of Kristen Stewart below. They also focus on motherhood,  weight, being healthy, good diet, and personal care.

Kristen Stewart is simply showing her sexiness and stunning beauty in the cover of Glamour Magazine

Kristen Stewart is simply showing her sexiness and stunning beauty in the cover of Glamour Magazine

They also focus on motherhood, weight, being healthy and fit , good diet, and personal care. Example of Jessica Alba below.

Jessica Alba symbolizing what "fit" means and other benefits of being healthy for women

Jessica Alba symbolizing what “fit” means and other benefits of being healthy for women

Skin care is also most  talked article when it comes to beauty for women

Skin care is also most talked article when it comes to beauty for women

Looking at these pictures above we can clearly see what is our expectation as a society  for Men and Women and media plays a vital role in it.