Socialization - a summary
In the article "Socialization", the author, O'Neil discusses how children are socialized by their environment in a process called enculturation. As a child is born with barely any culture at all, his/her parents play an important role in shaping his/her behavior, attitudes and values - "personality", as defined by the author - towards certain matters. Subsequently, after a child has grown up and become a parent, he/she will socialize his/her children the same way he/she was socialized. The inheritance of a particular socializing method is observable in the form of a similar pattern within a group in the society.
As members of a particular group are agreeable with the views and norms they share, one who does not conform to these is seen as rebellious or even "mentally ill" (O'Neil, 2006, para 3). In a big-scale society, where different groups exist, O'Neil also points out that members of the existing groups are more tolerant among each other as they have been socialized in, what I would like to call it, a "multi- environment", be it multicultural, multireligious, multiracial and so on.
O'Neil goes further in analyzing the standardization of childhood socialization. This process is usually called education and can be done both formally and informally. In formal education, the government of a nation plays a critical role in standardizing the education system in order to prepare today's generation to face the challenge that may be faced in the future. For instance, the government may want to train as many human resources to prepare highly-qualified labors which can foster the country's economic development. Informal education, on the other hand, is not acquired at a formal institution, rather it can actually be anything outside the school, such as how a mother tells her daughter to behave in a ladylike manner whereas a son may be asked to do otherwise.
Also, a particular culture may view the traditions, attitudes and values of other cultures as inappropriate or even strange. Thus, there is no right or wrong in the process of a childhood socialization. My opinion about this is that we should be open to the diversity of cultures to minimize cultural shocks we may encounter at some point in time of our life, as an old Indonesian saying says, "Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung" (literally means wherever the earth is stepped on, there the sky is burdened; idiomatically means we should be able to adapt to the customs and traditions of the place we live in).
Reference:
O’Neil, D. (2006). Socialization. Retrieved October 10, 2006, from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm
As members of a particular group are agreeable with the views and norms they share, one who does not conform to these is seen as rebellious or even "mentally ill" (O'Neil, 2006, para 3). In a big-scale society, where different groups exist, O'Neil also points out that members of the existing groups are more tolerant among each other as they have been socialized in, what I would like to call it, a "multi- environment", be it multicultural, multireligious, multiracial and so on.
O'Neil goes further in analyzing the standardization of childhood socialization. This process is usually called education and can be done both formally and informally. In formal education, the government of a nation plays a critical role in standardizing the education system in order to prepare today's generation to face the challenge that may be faced in the future. For instance, the government may want to train as many human resources to prepare highly-qualified labors which can foster the country's economic development. Informal education, on the other hand, is not acquired at a formal institution, rather it can actually be anything outside the school, such as how a mother tells her daughter to behave in a ladylike manner whereas a son may be asked to do otherwise.
Also, a particular culture may view the traditions, attitudes and values of other cultures as inappropriate or even strange. Thus, there is no right or wrong in the process of a childhood socialization. My opinion about this is that we should be open to the diversity of cultures to minimize cultural shocks we may encounter at some point in time of our life, as an old Indonesian saying says, "Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung" (literally means wherever the earth is stepped on, there the sky is burdened; idiomatically means we should be able to adapt to the customs and traditions of the place we live in).
Reference:
O’Neil, D. (2006). Socialization. Retrieved October 10, 2006, from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm
posted by Eve at
9:30 PM
2 Comments:
It seems that the summary is a bit long. Suprise to see your opinion in the summary. I appreaciate the work you have done, but it seems that a summay is just to summarize the main idea of the article.
I like the topic you brough up, it is very interesting. After I read the article you gave (socializtion) for small group reading, I found it is very interesting. Especially is the part, where the autor mention about the formal socialization and its effects on the society. I've just realized the important of socialization. Thanks..
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home