Japantown and Tenderloin in San Francisco - Essay Example

Comparison, Japantown in San Francisco vs. Tenderloin in San Francisco Japantown refers to a town situated in the Western Addition region of San Francisco, California, which comprises of roughly six square city blocks (Brands 30). This town is the largest, as well as the oldest town, with regards to its Ethnic enclave in the United States (Brands 30). Ethnic enclave, in sociology, is a physical space with high tribal concentration; therefore these spaces are ethnically different from the bigger receiving society. Tenderloin, on the other hand, is a region in downtown San Francisco, California, in the low areas on the southern slope of Nob Hill, positioned between the Civic Center district office to the southwest and the Union Square district shopping to the northeast (Brands 34). It comprises of roughly 50 square blocks, as well as a conservative description, which is bounded by Geary Street on the north, by Mason Street on the east, by Market Street on the south and by Van Ness Avenue on the west. The northern border with Lower Nob Hill, in the past, has been set at Geary Street (Brands 35). The social culture of Japantown and Tenderloin is directly related to the social culture of the United States, all together. Nevertheless, there are aspects, which are exceptional to these two towns. Incorporating roots from various cultures such as Spain, Mexico, Japanese and the culture of the eastern U.S., Japantown and Tenderloin incorporates languages, foods, as well as traditions from various parts of the world. With regards to this, this paper will discuss how symbols affect behavior and social interaction in these two towns. It will also discuss how such factors as cultures, lifestyle, age, education, occupation, mode of travel and residence among others influence how people perceive their city along with the interaction of others. Finally, the paper will discuss how events from the past connect to current phenomenon in these neighborhoods. The eight new terms that this paper will incorporate include labeling, the looking glass self, social norms, social consensus, social institution, dramaturgical perspective, ethnic enclave and agency. The two sociological thinkers that this paper will use include Charles Horton Cooley and Goffman. Below is a brief description of these terms. The definitions of the words are put in their sociological contexts. How Symbols Affect Behavior and Social Interaction in These Two Towns In Japantown, a number of aspects are adopted from the Japanese culture. According to citizens in this town, gods show human emotions such as anger and love (Jofuku 23). Symbols like uniforms, banners, songs, as well as names, identify the people as distinctive from others both to strangers and to those in the group. Involvement in community activities, whether official or unofficial, is a sign that a person wants to be deemed as part of the group (Goffman 54). Therefore, “after-work bar hopping”, in Japantown, offers not just instrumental chances for the exchange of information, in addition to discharge of social tensions, but also chances nonverbally to convey a need for continued affiliation. Such a factor forms the dramaturgical perspective of the town in that the town viewpoints start from symbolic interactionism (Goffman 54). Dramaturgy refers to a sociological viewpoint beginning from symbolic interactionism and normally used in microsociological contexts of social relations in day-to-day life. In Tenderloin, working in groups agitates for the creation of successful channels of communication, which highlight group interdependence, as well as a feeling of distinction from people who are not affiliates of the group (Brands 60). Nevertheless, social interaction outside that which happens with individuals with whom one works and lives with is a need in Tenderloin. If the exchange is short and fairly irrelevant such as purchasing a newspaper, then secrecy will be sustained (Brands 60). However, if the relationship is anticipated to go on over a long time, whether in marriage, business and neighborhood or employment, then great care is most likely to be invested in creating and sustaining proper relationships. This is a social norm, which is expected from everyone in the town as to how they should behave. A norm, in sociology, on the other hand, is a group-related belief on how members of the groups should act in a given context (Denzin 5). Tenderloin also has a homeless culture. The town is mainly an African American community they use a lot of drugs even during daytime. People wear dirty clothes and are always asking for money from anyone who passes near them. When I pass by tenderloin street, I am always in feel fear and afraid they might harm me for my money. This town is not welcoming to anyone. Factors Different Influence How People Perceive Their City Along With the Interaction of Others Japantown signals the continuation Californian Dream. This is because the Californian Dream was dominated by mass migration of other cultures into California and Japantown, in San Francisco was formed as a result (Jofuku 23). Its settlers considered the town as a place of new beginnings. Some of the major buildings in the town adapted their themes from the Japanese culture (Brands 63). Researchers report a widespread stereotyped perception, which citizens are happier in Japantown. This view is anchored in the perceived power of the Japantown social institution and the climate, which is enjoyed all over California (Jofuku 23). A social institution is a cluster of people tied together for universal purposes (Denzin 5). The common aims include having rights, liabilities, privileges, goals or objectives, separate and independent from those of lone rangers. People in this town support Cooley’s Looking-glass Self concept where you live as to how people perceive you (Cohen 98). A number of the citizens are actors of the major Hollywood movie business. The “looking-glass self” concept is a social psychological theory stating that an individual’s self grows from the society's interpersonal interactions, as well as the awareness of others. The above photo depicts Japanese people sailing to California, and the place they settled came to be known as Japantown. Japantown also holds the cherry blossom festival each year and festival is getting popular among young anime cosplay people. Also, they have Taiko concert for older generation. Also, they invite children to celebrate Halloween at the Japan center. By looking at 3 festivals, Japantown community is welcoming all generations and also adopting the American culture. Citizens of Tenderloin, on the other hand, like their town because of the bicycle culture they incorporate (Kamiya 40). In 2009, it was passed that the whole of San Francisco would be a bike town; that the state government of California would work to ensure that bikers of the town would be able easily to cruise around their towns with their bikes (Kamiya 40). The town that would benefit most is Tenderloin, which enjoys the best tarmac road in the whole of San Francisco. Citizens can cruise to work with their bikes, which is an effort made by their social institutions to create a unique tradition of the town, which is also an Ethnic enclave (Brands 67). How Events from the Past Connect To Current Phenomenon in These Neighborhoods The Gold Rush period of 1848-49 caused a vast influx of immigrants into San Francisco, Japanese into what is currently known as Japantown. The city grew quickly and its populace boomed. It became the largest city on the West Coast after the development of towns such as Japantown and Tenderloin. During World War II, citizens of Japantown were relocated to Internment Camps because the Japan was responsible for the Pearl Harbor bombing. Some households were displaced ultimately (Jofuku 23). The San Francisco Renaissance, which took place during the 50s, was a time of cultural development incited by the Beat Poetry movement. Major festivals have been held in Japantown to celebrate this movement. The town also became one of the major centers of the counter-culture in the United States. Citizens of the town were labeled as labeled as the popular pop culture during the 50’s. Labeling is utilized more as a metaphor, than a solid word in sociology. It represents a way of identifying and distinguishing people, which is regarded by many as a type of discrimination and prejudice (Denzin 5). Tenderloin played a leading role in the gay and lesbian rights movement of the 1970s. Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man elected into public office from San Francisco. He was killed (assassinated) in 1978. Today, a popular lesbian television series (L-Word), shot in Los Angeles, California, depicts some of its major scenes around Tenderloin, San Francisco. Some of the leading characters claim to have lived in Tenderloin, San Francisco, when they were young. Another event in San Francisco, which affected Tenderloin, is the dot-com bubble (Kamiya 44). The dot-com boom of the late 1990s brought technological companies to the city. The dot-com bubble burst in 2001, causing many of those companies to go out of business. Such a matter can be considered as a Social consensus whereby the people accept to live in homosexuality. Social consensus is the concurrence on fundamental social values by affiliates of a society or group. Consensus is a joint decision-making procedure where the views of all the affiliates are considered. It is concerned with discussing and deciding a decision. According to Goffman (98), once someone gives an affirmative self-image of him or herself to other people, that person feels an urge to uphold and always match that image. On my opinion, this is someone what they citizens of Japantown and Tenderloin, were experiencing. However, it is as if the two towns have accepted the “laid back”, easy life. The citizens of Tenderloin seem economical since they opt to use their bikes to work instead of driving. Considering the town is on a slope, it might be tiresome to ride the bike to work not unless someone is riding down the hill. Finally, the citizens of Tenderloin seem maybe to fall into the gay and lesbian trap because that is what the general society perceives them. They were born hearing chants that the town is full of gay affiliates and that it why maybe they opt to become gay. Conclusion This paper has compared towns, Japantown and Tenderloin, both in San Francisco. Japantown has is rooted in the Japanese culture, but Tenderloin is rooted in the general American culture. This is what sets the two urban centers apart. A social institution that stands out is the Japantown since the town has been able to maintain its people supporting their norms, as well as agency of the citizens. In sociology, agency is the capacity of people to act autonomously and to make their own decisions (Denzin 5). If much was to be said about Tenderloin is that the town is filled with individuals trying to chase the American dream and living an immoral life. However, because of the limited literature with regards to the topic of this paper, this paper is very helpful to those willing to research on the socio-cultural aspects of these two towns. Further research is advised on this topic. Works Cited Brands, Hands. The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream. California: California University Press, 2003. Print. Cohen, Marshall J. Charles Horton Cooley and the Social Self in American Thought. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 2009. Print. Denzin, Norman K. Symbolic Interactionism and Cultural Studies: The Politics of Interpretation. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Print. Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life Paperback. 5th edition. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre, 2002. Print. Jofuku, Linda. "Preserving Japantown is about people, not just property". The San Francisco Chronicle, 31 August 2005 p. 23. Print. Kamiya, Gary. Arise, Tenderloin. California: California University Press, 2013. Print. Read More