Sociology - Class, Race and Gender - Essay Example

Like the young and educated people of today, I too have developed an awareness of different cultures and respect them; I would like to visit different places to experience these cultures firsthand. However before I travel, I would like to enhance my skills and get a good job. I entered the college as a person in quest of knowledge and open to new ideas. In my life religion holds the greatest importance, I would like to gain a deeper understanding of religion and shape my life according to it. Religion will also help shape my family life in the opinion of Williamson (2003) religion and family life is interlinked and both influence each other. I would also like to maintain strong relations with friends and family as in my opinion a close-knit society is a strong society.

Communities provide a support system to society (Andersen and Taylor, 2007), although the 21st century has brought many changes it has only strengthened the need for a community and has also heightened the ability of people to build it on their own accord. Living alone, away from friends and family creates isolation and detachment that is why I want to be a part of many communities, I want to share my knowledge and culture with them and also gain from their culture, learning, and skills. Communities are building blocks and people with diverse cultures and skills must come together to bring about improvements in society (Andersen and Taylor, 2013).

Class, race, and gender play an important role in shaping societies and the experiences of individuals as they interact with one another (Weber, 1998). 

The power of group membership also creates differences bringing benefits to group members and disadvantages to others (Andersen and Taylor, 2007). These differences come as privileges to some (especially those in power) while restricting others.  Differences such as the color of skin and race have divided people created hatred and brought death and destruction.  Growth and development and economic progress have been slow in regions where inequalities prevail in societies (ILO, 2012).

Even today there have been fights for control in the name of religion.  In the future, we need to overcome these differences to progress.  I am sure that with the education that I have acquired, I will be able to accept diversity in people and accept them with all the differences they come with.  Education helps in creating tolerance for things that are not only different but also deviant (Agboola, & Awolowo, 2011).  In the future, I see myself as an educated man who has respect for diversity in every aspect of human life. I will rise above inequalities and work as a useful member of the community sharing my knowledge with others and learning the skills they bring.

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