Socialization never ends

Submitted by Curtis Jarvis

Socialization Never ends

            Although I feel that I am not yet worthy enough or educated enough to do justice to this topic that I had chosen during my introduction to sociology, I request your indulgence as I do my best to relay my understanding so far.

            Although socialization came first, I must discuss sociology first. Sociology is the greatest science of them all. It has the greatest potential for the greatest good. All other sciences are a predictable result of socialization. There is no debate that the human being is the most intelligent, complex and miraculous organism on the planet. Mans consciousness and his ability to reason has made him master of everything except life and death, which he continues to explore and manipulate and may conquer one day. But if those who are enlightened by sociology do not reach out and educate the societies with the proven theories that can create a balance and harmony that can transcend bigotry and greed then we are doomed to repeat our tragic history.

            I have been charged, no, neither like a battery nor a repeat offender, but as a Knight with a mission and a directive from the fair Queen of Watts. She commands me to read on in the compilations of Sir Richard Schaefer and to gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding from all of the trailblazers of this most essential science. I was struck in awe and taken aback by the first two paragraphs on page fourteen in this Fifth Edition. I questioned how this group of luminaries came to be quenched within their effective burgeoning light. I reasoned there must have been a powerful political force with bias in their hearts and opinions akin to those of Herbert Spenser. His philosophy is a major influence in the construction and maintenance of many of society’s hamster wheels.  He believed that a person cannot change his or her station in life that they were born a victim of circumstance and all were subject to the law of natural selection. We are all products of socialization. What and how we learn based on where and how we were raised. Of course socialization can be defined by many generalizations and interpretations based on actions and interactions preformed by a specific group in a specific location during a specific period of time.

 

            Eureka, socialization is so much more than that which I have aforementioned. A case in point is the article, “Code of the streets” by Elijah Anderson in which he suggests that a certain subculture has a direct effect on socialization. Also socialization can be influenced by ethnocentrism and relativism, and what about self realization and the agents of socialization. Wow, how about the understanding of your social location and all these other elements in early childhood education. I believe sociology can influence socialization no matter what period of time it is understood in a person’s life. The cerebral immersion into the study of this science will awaken in us all that which makes us all remarkable; reasoning, the spark that ignites understanding, and with that understanding; inspiration, which should promote positive social interactions.       

This then is my battle cry, gird up with the wisdom of those proven sociological theories which enlighten with understanding. Seek out the darkness of ignorance and with the strength of truth spread the knowledge and solutions with passion, compassion and empathy. I would hope that all sociology majors and minors spread the wisdom that not only does sociology matter but that it must rule.  

Everyone is invited to "Imagine" with Sir John Lennon. Maybe this is what he meant when he asked everyone to come and join us. These are the implications of more and more people using their sociological imaginations, which is just the begining of understanding.