When Mr. Salituro asked for a volunteer today and everyone pretty much just sat there, I thought "what the heck I'll take one for the team". What I didn't expect was to be asked to spit in a little dixie cup. Would I be known the rest of the year as the gross girl who spit during sociology class? I was even a little disgusted when he started offering it to other students in the class and then pouring it out into a trash can, and it was my own spit! But why? We all have saliva so why is it unacceptable for it to leave our mouths? Because the social construction of reality tells us this. Everything we do or feel is unconsciously based off of social norms in our own cultures.
For example, 5 years ago I was at a cousin's wedding in Israel. Before the ceremony started, there was a spread of food and drinks in the general area that the ceremony would be held. People were talking, eating and having a good time. It all seemed pretty normal. But then the ceremony started and the guests continued to socialize, eat and not even turn their heads toward the bride proceeding down the aisle! I was shocked. My first thought was these guests are totally rude and have no respect for the bride and groom. I looked around and no one else seemed alarmed. The families of the couple were smiling and happy. I didn't get this, could this possibly be normal? In turns out the answer is yes. The social contruction of reality has taught us as Americans that this is disrespectful, but doing the same thing in Israel is completely normal.
I agree that everything with do is subconsciously based off of social norms in our own culture. It is weird to think that at a wedding, people can pay no attention to the bride and groom, which is the whole reason why they are there.
ReplyDeletePs. I don't think you will be remembered as the gross girl who spit in sociology class... hopefully.