Option 1 - Role Enforcement

While we like to think that we choose to behave the way we do, sociologists argue that much of what we do is the product of various social control mechanisms. The following exercise is designed to provide insights into this phenomena by asking you to uncover the various methods of social control that encourage you to fulfill the expectations of one of your current roles.

1. Identify a specific role you currently occupy that you want to use for the following exercise (e.g. student, girlfriend, employee, worker, son, mother, etc):

Mother

2. Try to identify ALL of the specific "methods of social control" that encourage you to fulfill the norms governing that role, for each of the following general types of control:

a. Internalization of norms: How are you encouraged to believe that you should want to follow norms that you didn't create?

The Bible, Family/Relatives, Friends, Education System, T.V./Media, Radio, Computer, The Medical System

b. Social rewards for obeying norms: Identify all the rewards you receive for behaving consistently with the norms governing the role you chose to analyze.

Having a healthy child, Being thought of as a good Mother, Having people tell me I'm a good Mother, that I have a wonderful son. Having my child give me lots of good appreciation/affection/love: hugs, smiles, I love you's, on a regular basis. Having my husband appreciate me as a good Mom. My parents & siblings recognizing me as a good Mom. My friends appreciating me as a good Mom. Others in the community at large recognizing me as a good Mom.

c. Sanctions or threat of sanctions for disobeying norms: Identify all the sanctions you receive for violating the norms, or threats of sanctions you would receive if you did violate the norms, governing the role you chose to analyze.

Well, for instance, if I decided not to have my child immunized, it would be harder to get my child into the school system. I might be questioned about this decision and have to bear the grief and inconveniences of this decision. If I didn't circumcision my son, other people might not accept this, and take issue with me. If I don't give my child flouride drops, some people may not like this, and take issue with me. If I decided to dress my son in pink & frills all the time and gave him all girl toys to play with etc. I might be questioned by others who think I'm encouraging my son to be girl like and that my son might turn out gay. If I decided to breastfeed my child in a restaurant, some people might be put off or offended and try to pass a law which forbids mothers to nurse their children in public (another mother told me this happened to her, in a restaurant, here in Eugene!)

Our community here in Eugene is great though. I think this community is more accepting of different or alternative yet still good or better ways of raising children. Like, people in this community are supportive and understanding about: circumcision, and flouride issues, and most in this community would not think it unusual for mothers to give their children a safe, tested, known herbal remedy for a cold, instead of a conventional medicine. I think people in this community are more supportive of not genderising babies/children, I don't know to what extent exactly, but more accepting on the whole than many communities. I think this community, even our most conservative, religious right crowds, here in Eugene, is proactive and progressive and that members of this community work together to reach agreements well, and consider safe, reasonable, healthy lifestyles/ways/choices and decisions which may be considered "alternative" but just make good sense. I'm glad this community of people is inclined to work together for the best for everyone and works to be understanding, helpful, and supportive of eachother. People can agree to disagree and have differences in a decent, civil way. People break or modify some norm folkways today in our society sometimes, if one disagrees with a norm folkway, since folkways are sometimes seemingly harmless preferences. I do think that no one in this community or any other in the US supports any ways that threaten our health and safety undeniably like: abuse, negligence etc. These ways which undeniably threaten our health or safety could be considered norm mores. The consequences of breaking these norm mores could be very unpleasant or undesirable to help enforce ways which protect our health and safety, so that people don't threaten our health and safety by breaking norm mores.