ipl-logo

Symbolic Interactionism In Dead White Men And Other Important People

1453 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Sociological perspective of homelessness

What if I told you that we have more in common than we think, like how we all speak a universal language? You may think that’s impossible. Symbolic Interactionism focuses interactions and communicating we have developed with common symbols and shared meanings. Ethnomethodology tells us how and why. Shining a light on the symbolic meanings that are connected to homelessness in California gives a window into their perspectives and the social phenomenon around homelessness. In the book, Dead White Men and Other Important People, the scene in Chapter 7 the main character Mila is riding around the city in a taxi with the window down, lights flashing, traffic beaming, people interacting, while the world passes by. Mila is witnessing many shocking …show more content…

For example, a student is called out in class and the professor ask you a thought provoking question that makes you ponder and analyze, the interpretation of the question influences the students response and how they present themselves while address the question. All of these interactions are common practices between us. Homeless people have similar and varying unique interactions that are common to their circumstances. The bond and support they build within their own community is connected, they share information on resources, they provide emotional support to one another and help each other in day to day life struggles, they relate and share common ground. Some of them engage in begging and panhandling to survive, this involves also engaging with those in public. This engagement in particular is what can lead to interactions with the law. The homeless community engages more with the police or public service officers more than those that are housed. This symbolic interaction is influenced by the power dynamics there is a lack of interpretation to each others needs or meaning to symbols or response. Endomethodoly helps us understand how and why. Caliifonia Police are trained to protect and serve all communities. Some homeless view the police as a safety source and protection, someone to rely on for …show more content…

There is a sense of classism that unhoused people are less than. This instances are far off from the truth, as I noticed during 2020 the increase in population of homeless people on the street of LA, majority of the increase was due to the significant rise in unemployment and lack of affordable housing, i. With endless time and resourses, I could not just couldn’t sleep at night knowing they were now completely shut out from the world with the virus lurking and them at the bottom of the resource list. I felt the need to supply healthy nutrition to them along with a social distanced smile. I gathered all of my connections within my business colleagues as well as family and friends to assemble and help cook and we all went out to feed over 4000 homeless people all over LA over the course of 2020 and 2022. Locally I went to children’s and mental hospitals and sponsored a vegan ice cream days, partnered together with a brand who focused on organic healthy goodness packed with nutrients and antioxidants, we helped donate to over 40 hospitals across the USA. Looking back at that time where I had nothing but time to give back, I learned that when you embrace compassion and respect for community it creates healthy relationships, it uplifts and supports everyone in society including those who are unhoused. I believe in community

Show More
Related
1082 Words | 5 Pages

Although it is clear that so many U.S. citizens are suffering, the government has little to no efforts in decreasing the homeless population. The lack of initiative for the betterment of the homeless prevents them from becoming richer because their resources are extremely limited. Furthermore, it is more difficult for a homeless child to receive and education than it is for a child raised in a wealthy family. Homeless people are not provided with many opportunities, even though they need them more. “Connections with universities, employers and government will make sure you have access to many more opportunities.

Read More
740 Words | 3 Pages

Almost everyone has seen a man or woman begging for money at the corner of a highway intersection. A sign usually reads “homeless, need food,” but what brings so many of these people to the corner of a street is quite a controversial topic. Middle-class citizens may lose their job and their home. Similarly, a hardworking citizen may lose his or her apartment due to a new owner who enforces a higher rent. Homelessness can affect anyone, even the middle-class, without the need for drugs and alcohol.

Read More
680 Words | 3 Pages

Homeless people are viewed as the rats and inferior people in society; often ignored and looked down upon, homeless people have the deficit of not being able to have many of the comforts in life that we may have. This is not only hurting our society morally, but it also helps us economically since there are people that aren’t buying/selling things or working. This is a major issue, since in the meanwhile, we as a society are throwing away things that still have worth or can be used. This is elaborately described in Eighner’s essay “On Dumpster Diving,” where he narrates his life of homelessness, detailing the struggling and analytical life of homelessness. During his narration, he emphasizes the fact that he has been able to survive due to

Read More
1566 Words | 7 Pages

According to Aykanian and Lee (2016) individuals who are homeless are often “common targets of policing when their behavior, especially behavior performed in public spaces, is viewed as offensive and deviant” (p. 184). A related point to consider is that some who experience homelessness do engage in criminal activities, but one shall not combine all members in a generalization. Hence, the image of having individuals who are homeless is not ideal for the people in communities, but it does not take into account people who are experiencing

Read More
922 Words | 4 Pages

The homeless are faced with a continuing need to satisfy a set of basic needs that are shared not only amongst themselves, but with the domiciled public as well. These require including income, food, shelter, and elimination. Homeless street people, although, must satisfy these needs in the absence of both the privacy and conventional supports available to the domiciled public. As a result, institutional and political responses that affect on the means to satisfy the needs create considerable barriers that the homeless must conquer, creating their survival strategies and, thus, their public

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

While being homeless is not a crime, police officers need to know how to handle a situation properly when they are facing a homeless person. “The Seattle Police Department uses community service officers (CSOs) to handle many of the homeless-related situations.” It is basically their job to help homeless people seek shelters, or send them to a drug or alcohol rehab program. I think that having community service officers in the departments are beneficial but I also believe that every officer should have appropriate training on how to handle homeless people or mentally ill people.

Read More
741 Words | 3 Pages

These are people who are unemployed, have little occupational skills or education, and depend on public assistance (Marger 160). In contrast with the working poor, those who are homeless exhibit chronic poverty, in addition to social and economic isolation. As Group 5 mentioned in their presentation, the homeless are often seen through the lens of the culture of poverty and therefore are homeless because of their personal norms and values. These include having a present orientation, instant gratification, lack of value for education and family, substance abuse, and frequently resorting to violence. Additionally, the homeless experience significant negative-image framing, as the homeless are often depicted as lazy and deviant, and welfare is shown to create dependency and undermine families.

Read More
797 Words | 4 Pages

The least we can do is to take notice, so that they do not feel alone. De Jesus 4 In conclusion, I think people should be more sensitive to homelessness. Many of us complain on how we have been eating the same type of food , wearing the same kind of clothes, when there are some people who does not have anything to eat, clothes to wear and a place to live. There are some people who would do everything for a hot meal and not eat off a garbage can.

Read More
1636 Words | 7 Pages

Unemployment rates are reported to be low and many are making profitable investments in today’s society Yet, it is still estimated that there are 3.5 million people in the United States who would fall under the category of homeless each year. (Alter, Stile, Doherty, Greenberg, pg. 3) Homelessness is a major issue and yet many of us don't even realize it. Society often misinterprets the cause of homelessness.

Read More
1376 Words | 6 Pages

In all fairness, I had those same ideas too. Many people have driven or walked past a group of homeless people and ignored them or gone out of their way to not make contact. It’s just part of our culture. Homeless people are shunned and looked down upon. Over time, the word homeless has taken on a very negative connotation, and those labels such as, criminal, lazy and addict have taken over our perception of who homeless people are.

Read More
1225 Words | 5 Pages

It is indiscriminate and has no concern for one’s status, race, ethnicity, background, religion, and so on. Therefore the fear of homelessness is the fact that it can happen at any time.. As a result of the United States economic situation, there is a lack of jobs and livable wages provided for growing communities. The insufficient provision of financial aid is among the factors that cause homelessness. Unable to be financially independent, the homeless tend to meet their financial needs through illegal avenues. These avenues involve the interaction with drugs and

Read More
1256 Words | 6 Pages

The issue of homelessness in America has been evident since the early 1600’s. Across the country men, women and children spend their nights on the streets not knowing when or if they will ever find a permanent home. States and federal officials or city councils have tried to alleviate or at least reduce the number of homeless over the last several decades at a city, state or national level but it continues to be an ongoing problem. There is a multitude of factors that account for the growing homeless population that affects each state in the country differently. Though there are many contributing factors that contribute to the amount of people living on the street at any given night in the U.S.

Read More
916 Words | 4 Pages

“The homeless should be considered just as important as the richest of the rich.” This quote by Lauren Daigle, analyzes that homeless people should be considered just as valuable and important as the rich. Even though, others may disagree, it is clear that both texts articulate the fact that homeless people are similar to everyone else, are misinterpreted, and have stories to tell. To begin, homeless people shouldn’t be ignored and stereotyped because most have knowledge and have stories to tell. In the text, “What Do Fish Have To Do With Anything?”

Read More
422 Words | 2 Pages

Homelessness is not simply a lack of private property, absence of access to housing, or living without a roof over one’s head. Experiencing homelessness is subject to a unique form of inferiority and vulnerability to the power of others. Homeless people must rely on others to temporarily benefit from the basic interests that others continually enjoy: security, privacy, and ultimately substantive equality. When we talk about people experiencing homelessness and crime, there may be a tendency to assume these individuals are the ones committing crime. Yet, what the research shows is that people who experience homelessness are at greatly increased risk of being the victims of crime, in large part because they are socially excluded and pushed into

Read More
864 Words | 4 Pages

Homeless are often set up for failure by these things so they end up getting into trouble and in jail by not being able to pay for such unreasonable things. Police are already viewed pretty negatively by the homeless and by doing this it just adds to the negativity. So, homeless become even more less susceptible to come to the police for help. Homeless that fining effects are often put in a position where they have no place to go because shelters are either to fall or too violent and sleeping in your car or the streets is criminalized. To conclude I think this solution to getting homeless off the street is moving in the opposite direction.

Read More

More about Symbolic Interactionism In Dead White Men And Other Important People

Related Topics

Open Document