Sociological and Personal reflection

by | Nov 1, 2023 | sociology

 

Seperate into sections: Sociological, Personal, Questions.
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Sociological: Write original journal reflection. Use the following questions as your guide: Sociological: Connect the pieces to our wider class topics.(chapter 1-7 of “Gender ideas, interactions…”) How does this relate to the bigger topic of the week(Ch7)? What did you find to be the most important general points from across the readings for this discussion? What were the major “takeaways” from the material? Did anything challenge or support some of the concepts or topics we’ve been learning about?
Personal: Relate something from the readings to some current social event or issue. The point of doing this is to foster development of sociological thinking; recognizing the relevance of what you are reading, and being able to relate/apply the information to original examples in your own life and our current historical moment. It may be useful to reflect on the following: What was most meaningful and why? Did it remind you of or resonate with anything or anyone in your own life? How or why? How does it relate to the current social world and your place in it?
Questions/Confusions: Create a few questions using the sources given on the content. sources, including these links:

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Sociological Reflection

In analyzing the connection between the readings from chapters 1-7 of “Gender ideas, interactions…” and the broader topics covered in our class, I found that they provided a comprehensive understanding of how gender operates as a social construct. These readings delved into various aspects of gender, including its social construction, intersectionality, and the impact of gender on different social institutions.

One major takeaway from these readings is the idea that gender is not biologically determined but is socially constructed. Society assigns certain roles, behaviors, and expectations to individuals based on their gender. This concept challenges the notion that gender is a fixed and inherent characteristic of individuals. Instead, it emphasizes the role of socialization in shaping our understanding and performance of gender.

Another important point highlighted in these readings is the intersectionality of gender with other social categories such as race, class, and sexuality. Gender does not operate in isolation but intersects with other identities to create unique experiences and inequalities. This intersectional perspective helps us understand how different forms of oppression and privilege intersect and compound each other.

Furthermore, these readings shed light on the influence of gender on various social institutions, including family, education, and work. They discussed how gender norms and expectations shape family dynamics, educational opportunities, and career prospects. This analysis highlighted the ways in which gender inequalities are reproduced and reinforced through these institutions.

Overall, these readings challenged my preconceived notions about gender and provided me with a deeper understanding of its social construction, intersectionality, and impact on different social institutions.

Personal Reflection

One aspect of the readings that particularly resonated with me was the discussion on gender stereotypes and their impact on individuals’ self-perception and behavior. It reminded me of a recent incident I witnessed at my workplace. A female colleague was hesitant to speak up during a team meeting, even though she had valuable insights to contribute. After the meeting, I approached her privately to understand her hesitation. She confided in me that she feared being perceived as too aggressive or bossy if she spoke up assertively.

This incident made me realize the detrimental effects of gender stereotypes on women’s confidence and self-expression. It also highlighted the importance of creating inclusive environments where individuals feel comfortable expressing their ideas without fear of being judged based on their gender.

This reflection also connects to the current social world, where discussions around gender equality and women’s empowerment are gaining momentum. It reminds us that despite progress in challenging traditional gender norms, there are still pervasive stereotypes that hinder women’s full participation and advancement in various spheres of life.

Questions/Confusions

In the video “How Gender Stereotypes Warp Our View of Men”, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses how rigid gender roles limit both men and women. How can we challenge these stereotypes and create a more inclusive society that allows individuals to express themselves authentically?

The documentary “The Mask You Live In” explores the harmful impact of toxic masculinity on boys’ emotional well-being. How can we address toxic masculinity to promote healthier notions of masculinity? What role can education play in challenging these harmful norms?

The video “The Nature of Gender” raises the question of whether gender identity is solely a social construct or if there are biological factors at play. How can we reconcile the biological aspects of gender with the understanding that it is primarily a social construct?

 

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