Portfolio Part 2

American Flag

Dove computer on Photoshop to make models and actors look better than they really are and give people a false expectation of what they should look like

Plastic Surgery

Because people feel like they need to look like they are not aging and they do not have any imperfections they try to alter who they really are

Women in the workplace

This is more common now after many movements that men and women are in the same. Women are often the ones in the workplace just as much if not more than men now.

Families eating out more often

Increasing divorce rates

New Family Dynamics

Teen Pregnancy

Drug Use

Technology over family/social situations

Elevator social norms

Commercials about food are becoming sexual

People like their personal space

Social norm to wear shoes in public

separate restrooms

All speaking the same language

Another social norm

More Homeless

Reality TV Shows

Wedding ring is social norms

As I was reviewing the artifacts I collected on our culture I was surprised by all of our symbols, laws and social norms. I would not have thought of symbols and laws especially as something that would be specific to our culture. As I was talking about this assignment with my parents I learned that things are very different now than they were when my parents were growing up. Many things in our culture stay the same but there are a lot of things that slowly change over time such as fashion, social norms, what is considered beautiful and how society views our personal values. I was most troubled with the way that people especially women are led to view themselves today and what they believe is normal. Not only are they told they need to be taller, skinnier and prettier but they are led to believe they have to act like sexual objects for men like the Carl's Junior commercial above displays.
I think that our culture helps in a school setting because we have a lot of pride in our country and with the shift on men and women gender roles there are more people interested in taking the FACS classes that I teach which includes cooking, sewing, and child care. Also because of the FACS program there is a class called Teen Living  and Adult Roles that teaches the students consequences and promotes them to continue their education. It is hindering in a school setting because the students are learning false expectations of what it is like to be in or raise a family or what their role in society is. Another thing that could be both a help and hindrance in our schools is the use of technology. It is good if the teacher knows how to control the uses of it but now there are a lot of students texting in class or surfing the web instead of paying attention to the lessons.