The Social Problem Of Dorothy Lee - 890 Words

Dorothy Lee, a critical anthropologist, addresses the key social problems in American culture, in her literature piece Individual Autonomy and Social Structure. Lee identifies that in American culture, the definition of individual autonomy varies from other cultures; in American culture, autonomy is defined to be secluded from authority so one does not influence another being, whereas in other cultures their culture as a whole encourages individual autonomy with no influences. This is shown by an observation Marian Smith had of a Sikh family’s display of allowing their child to be expressive without any influences by playing with a toy truck. In the American culture it is hard to balance Individual Autonomy within a Social Structure because the culture influences the way one must be. Other cultures such as Sikhism allow individuals to live according to their own ideas, free from influences upon them. Marian Smith, an Ethnographer visited a Sikh household in British Columbia an d observed when a boy was told to play with his baby brother, he simply gave his brother a toy truck. He did not show his brother how to play with the toy truck, but rather let him explore and decide for himself. Smith comments that the American child would have different actions when asked the same thing; â€Å"Yet, under similar circumstances an American child would probably have told the baby what to look for.† (Dorothy Lee, 5). In the American culture civilians show children how to play and do notShow MoreRelatedSocial Science Essay Dorothy Lee1041 Words   |  5 PagesIn this chapter, Dorothy Lee’s reading gave us a good view of different types of cultures and the personal autonomy of the people .Lee believes that â€Å"the principle of personal autonomy is supported by the cultural framework (lee,5) She explores this by comparing our Western society to several north American aboriginal societies. When we think of our society we are only free to do things to a limit. Whether that limit may be good or bad, otherwise our individual autonomy is restricted in thisRead MoreSelf Culture and Society - Dorothy Lee947 Words   |  4 PagesSelf Culture and Society - Dorothy Lee Individual Autonomy and Social Structure Essay 1 October 2015 Many societies have adopted the notion of following a social structure where there is a type of hierarchy in an organisation based on the relationship between individuals. In the Western culture, a social structure is defined as a system that is based on the establishment of social interactions between diverse relationships such as those between parents and children. In contrast,Read MoreSummary Of Dorothy Lees Individual Autonomy And Social Structure744 Words   |  3 PagesIn Dorothy Lee’s â€Å"Individual Autonomy and Social Structure,† she argues that while individual autonomy and social structures can coexist together in a community, westernized culture tends not to respect individual autonomy. Social structures, in this case, refer to language, child rearing, work, and leadership roles. Language is a main theme that Lee discusses in the article. She specifically looks at the Wintu natives of California because their language has the ability to respect individual autonomyRead MoreCommunity Organization Intensifies Community Stability and Actions656 Words   |  3 Pagesperpetual. Bill Lee (2011) suggests that a pragmatic approach to community organizing intensifies community actions addressing community crises associated with the problem of inequality, environmental degradation and crises, and economic instabilities. This paper intends to explore the influences and effects of â€Å"Pragmatic of Community organization† on innovation and vice versa. Bill Lee identifies community as â€Å"a complex notion of the way people live and connect with each other† (Lee, B., 2011, pRead MoreChild Rearing Practices Within The Society948 Words   |  4 PagesHumans are social beings, living off of interactions. Through these interactions, society is created. Society defines socials norms, taboos, traditions, and so on. Humans also derive certain feelings and beliefs like happiness, love, ethics, and culture from society. Unarguably, society is extremely powerful around the world. It does however alter from place to place. Some societies are based on the individual, while others value community. Not to mention, some societies are integrated and homogeneousRead MoreSummary Of Raymond Bonners Anatomy Of Injustice1546 Words   |  7 Pagesin the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House Inc. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It goes into the profound problems with the Death Penalty in criminal justice. Such as incompet ent lawyers, racial profiling, and wrongful convictions. In particular, the Case of Edward Lee Elmore. In January 1982, a white South Carolina widow named Dorothy Edwards was found dead in the closet of her bedroom in Greenwood. The crime shocked the town, not merely because it happened but becauseRead MoreThe Controversial Issue Of Abortion865 Words   |  4 Pagesunintended. As stated by Dorothy Fadiman in the magazine article â€Å"When abortion was illegal† We are at a juncture in human evolution, where we either must allow individuals to create appropriate alternatives within their own lives and communities, or we re going to destroy ourselves.(Fadimen par.10) In other words, outcomes we are faced with might not always be the result of our own actions, so we must create the best solution or alternatives possible to resolve those problems. Or fall due to the setRead MoreThe Journal Of The Elaine Race Riots980 Words   |  4 PagesJournal of the Elaine Race Riots, I got to know the basic criticism that was for almost all the Race Riots that had taken place. However, the sophisticated social, economic and racial analysis of the Racial Riots was relatively new on the scholarly scene. It was, therefore, not surprising comparatively to work that was been undertaken. The problems the poor Negroes faced during the 1919’s. The Negroes had worke d hard to raise the cotton crops but there was some trouble regarding the settlements forRead MoreCell Phones have become a Part of Everyday Life1002 Words   |  4 PagesIssue Statement. Cell phones have become an everyday part of life. The cell phones original purpose was for mobile verbal communication. Today, there are multiple purposes for cell phones which are verbal communication, email, social media, apps, and text messaging. Verbal communication no longer is the only way to communicate anymore rather text messaging today has become the preferred form of communication among college-aged youth and young adults. Although text messaging has become the most preferredRead MoreEssay on Tender Is the Night Parallels Fitzgerald’s Life1032 Words   |  5 Pagesof Fitzgerald’s ‘Romance’ (as he had originally subtitled the book)† (Fitzgerald ix). Tender Is the Night parallels Fitzgerald’s own struggles with his mentally ill Zelda, and the char acters are carefully constructed from his interactions with the social elite of artists, composers and Hollywood personas on the French Riviera and Rome, among other settings. From the fall of 1925 to the spring of 1934, Fitzgerald revised his fourth novel seventeen times before it was published—he was