The Three Types of Obstacles

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Esther McDowell
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disidentification process. (577) The Three Types of Obstacles 1. Existential obstacles Who am I now? marked to unmarked 2. International obstacles deserter complex vs. reverse stigmatization 3.

1 Where we left off: Obstacles to Leaving the Label Key? where do self-conceptions begin and end? Interviews with people who left For most, however, this identity exit is fraught with intra- and interpersonal conflicts that make the process emotionally difficult, thus posing obstacles to the disidentification process. (577) The Three Types of Obstacles 1. Existential obstacles Who am I now? marked to unmarked 2. International obstacles deserter complex vs. reverse stigmatization 3. Cultural obstacles psychologization of social life Who benefits, and at whose expense? Madness is what society labeled unacceptable behaviors. In the 19th century there was a rise in asylums to house those with mental orders and those said to be deviant. These asylums were a source of social control, and the asylums reaped the benefits. Pharmaceuticals also benefit. The medication given to those who are diagnosed with mental disorders or deviant behavior is an attempt to control the behavior in such a way that society accepts it. Tanisha Leaving the Label Behind When you think of gamblers and alcoholics or those with an eating disorder, usually it is in terms of life long recovery-"once and addict, always an addict" or recovering alcoholic, not former alcoholic. I guess I never considered that after 10+ years being sober, you might get tired of being labeled by something you no longer do. --Elaine 1

Our Trust and Faith in Science Our trust in genetics Increased geneticization of human behavior (Phelan) Her main argument?

Upon a historical examination, the capacity for humans to irrationally discriminate is immense.

Some people will be viewed as fundamentally and irrevocably, "different," "serious," "persistent," nuisances.

2 Our Trust and Faith in Science Our trust in genetics Increased geneticization of human behavior (Phelan) Her main argument? People come to view genetics as absolutes, as bumpers that keep a person inevitable paths. I see this dangerous and unfortunate progression with unsure but theoretically abhorrent consequences. Upon a historical examination, the capacity for humans to irrationally discriminate is immense. People have discriminated, that is committed genocide for less reason, with less evidence, and even on rumors. As faith in science spreads, notions of genetic superiority among some may grow. Some people will be viewed as fundamentally and irrevocably, "different," "serious," "persistent," nuisances. The justification for this prejudice will echo the religious and cultural justifications before it. --Tom Medicalization & Geneticization Parallel processes Press is complicit Sociology is complicit as well Can you think of any examples? A genetic turn in sociology? Are we examining life in the wrong direction? (Science Times example) The train has already left the station (Molly Martin) Something to think about: If social factors are important (and obviously, we all think they are), how do we make the bridge with genetics? Writeshare #6: Authority of Medicine, Science, and Genetics Let s talk about trust of doctors, and medicine more generally how much you trust what your doctors say? How much do you follow their directives? What about news articles explaining what causes cancer or obesity, or alzheimers, etc. How much do you listen to these? Do your background and/or health experiences have anything to do with this? Sociological Issues in mental illness: stigma Remember Goffman s types of stigma? 1. External / Overt 2. Personal traits 3. Tribal 2

3 Sociological Issues in Mental Illness: Stigma Sociological Issues in Mental Illness: Stigma Sociological Issues in Mental Illness: Stigma Casual Stigma casual Stigma Sociological Issues in mental illness: social production of knowledge Overly Attached Girlfriend data courtesy of Haley Price 3

bodily deviance What s up? The readings changes (look online!

knowledge The treatment can tell us not only about the disease itself, but

Issues in mental illness: social Production of knowledge 5 hypotheses: 1.

4 bodily deviance What s up? The readings changes (look online!) ~5 minutes to talk about the presentations what are you doing? Questions, comments, show & tells? down to go week eleven, part two Where We Left Off Social production of knowledge The treatment can tell us not only about the disease itself, but also about the sociology of the way knowledge is produced Sociological Issues in mental illness: social Production of knowledge 5 hypotheses: 1. more sophisticated 2. $ 3. Rationalization 4. Social context 5. Grassroots What do you think? Sociological Issues in mental illness: Racialization of mental illness Sociological Issues in mental illness: Inequality correlates with poor mental health outcomes Data from Wilkinson & Pickett

5 Bodily Deviance, more broadly Organizing ideas: The body is socially created The ways bodily deviance is ideologically constructed is a means through which institutions mobilize raced, gendered, and classed concerns about threats to the social order Thinness as a part of culture Obesity has turned into an "epidemic" in the words of the press but what lies behind this is the stereotyping of what is thin. We don't realize how entrenched thinness is in our society. The article about anorexia and bulimia discussed product names and advertising. I really didn't think about it before but there are many products out there that use thin as a tool to sell. For example, Miller Lite or ultra slim lipstick. The pressure of thinness is invisibly entrenched into products, advertising and tv. Janel What do you think? Can we make a list of items marketed as being thinner, lighter, or smaller, as being somehow sexier? What about things marketed as being bigger, thicker, or heavier? Are those things marketed as sexy too, or in some other way? Fat identity Fatness sits at the intersection of 2 social lines: medicine culture Remember Mills sociological imagination? in process, determine appropriate interventions So, What s It Like? Media Ask So, What s It Like? Sociology Asks Degher & Hughes article Spoiled identity (Goffman) STATUS CUES Master status? (Becker) 2 sequential cognitive processes leading to new status: Recognizing and Placing 5

Picking Up on Cues What do you think? In elementary school I was chunky, but was fine with it.

Then someone called me fat one day and that is when I began to adopt that identity.

takes active cues in order to realize it. After that active cue I became very aware of the passive cues.

6 Picking Up on Cues What do you think? In elementary school I was chunky, but was fine with it. I had a lot of friends and was getting along fine. Then someone called me fat one day and that is when I began to adopt that identity. The article seems accurate in the fact that if you are less self evident of the characteristics of a certain identity that it takes active cues in order to realize it. After that active cue I became very aware of the passive cues. - Julie Can you think of any other social situations where a deviant group deals with passive cues putting them in their place, or being subtly undermined through actions that, to an outsider, may seem completely innocent? Onion Skewers Media Treatment Headless fat people: The Blame Frame 6

obesity men Google search starving child Google search Dull-Eyed Starving Children : The Pity frame Frame: themes that persist across time, through

Writeshare #7 Step 1: go somewhere with a computer and look up news stories of a couple different issues of social deviance that have to do with the

Step 2: Choose a couple representational websites and email me links (angelabarian@gmail.com).

Describe what you see: Is there a trend to the representational images? What representational frame would you call it? Shame? Pity? Something else? Why?

7 obesity men Google search starving child Google search Dull-Eyed Starving Children : The Pity frame Frame: themes that persist across time, through texts Different relationship to the stigma Who is at fault? Who is a victim? Writeshare #7 Step 1: go somewhere with a computer and look up news stories of a couple different issues of social deviance that have to do with the body. Look at the way the people in the photos are represented, and take notes on trends. Step 2: Choose a couple representational websites and me links (angelabarian@gmail.com). For the discussion part, I ll pull up your sites from your and you can talk using these images as a guide. Step 3: Write. Describe what you see: Is there a trend to the representational images? What representational frame would you call it? Shame? Pity? Something else? Why? What about the images point to that analysis? 10 minutes to search and , 10 minutes to write, and then we talk. The Obesity Epidemic 40% of Americans have had BMIs placing them in the overweight range since at least the 1960s, BUT 90s epidemic label The Historical Starting Point: BMI Quetelet s link to mathematics Prediction of human behavior French & Scottish enlistees 7

8 A normal distribution (bell curve) What do you think? When you think about your own weight, do you tend to think first in terms of health, or in terms of looks? Why do you think that is? 8

9 9

10 Guess who s obese? What do you think? Let s get into small groups and discuss What do you think of the photos in the BMI project? What were your reactions? What does it make you think about your own body? How do stereotypes of fat people depend upon the medicalization of the fat body? 10

Society made me do that! What?

Society made me do that! What? SOC F100X-F71, INDIVIDUAL, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE Summer 2013, M,T,W,TH, 2:00-3:50 Dr.G.S.Berman, gsberman@alaska.edu Office hours M,W, 4:00-5:00 or by arrangement I. Course Description Society made me do