The Start to A Better World

Everyday as I watch the news my head is bombarded with thoughts and worries. I continuously see helpless people get unfair treatment. I ask myself “Can things get any better here in the United States?” This is such a crucial time for many people to realize the unjust treatment that is going on in our own country and stand up to make a change. Everyday people are born into a “Cycle of Socialization”(Adams p.47). This means that they do not choose where they are born and what group they want to belong to. However, depending on the race or class in which we are born in that will determine the treatment we receive for the rest of our lives. After birth we are then introduced to the people we love and who raise us(Adams p.47). During those socializations we come across norms that are supposed to be followed or a certain expectation we are supposed to meet in the future. For my own example, in my family attending college was a very important expectation we were supposed to meet and was enforced into our heads our entire lives. This which then follows a certain cultural norms we are to follow and if those cultural norms are broken there will more than likely be a punishment(Adams p.49). This plays a major role with those who are afraid to step out of their culture and break the norms. They are very afraid they will get punished or talked bad about. This will result in problems in our own society today. From the moment we are born we are forced into some sort of group or social identity group whether it be inherited or taught. Once we are in that group whether it be a target group, or an agent. There are certain treatment that we will receive and due to that their will be unequal opportunities here in America. However, the oppressions happening today can be changed and many of us can make a difference. According to Adams, there is a Cycle of Liberation that can help “seek new paths” in creating social change in our world(Adams p.618). This process was such a breath of fresh reading it because I felt relief and that I finally had an answer to my question. Yes, it is very possible that things can get better here in the United States. This process first started that we begin to open our eyes and see ourselves differently in the world. I know as a hispanic female there is stigma of race and gender towards my own identity(Goldbach, Amaro, Vega, Walter, 2015, p.6). But once I realize that I am ready to learn more about my own race and gender which can either be done by research or seek out any help that is out there for me to “seek experiences outside”(Adams p.621). Once we start to reach out we start to build our own sense of community with those that may have similar experiences. Also, having conversations with those who may be complete opposites from us can expand our own knowledge of ourselves and the way we see the world. This is very important in order to stop the oppression and have both sides comes together.  Finally, we can come together to create and maintain change. Whether that be influencing a policy or taking risks and then integrating them into our own daily lives. These steps are crucial in the start to our better world. These are the steps everyone from all backgrounds should follow and see the change in our world twenty years from now.

Sources
Goldbach, J. T., Amaro, H., Vega, W., & Walter, M. D. (2015, December). Grand Challenges for            
Social Work Initiative: Vol. 11. The grand challenge of promoting equality by addressing social stigma (Report No. 18).
Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castañeda, C., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zúñiga, X. (Eds.). (2013). Readings for diversity and social justice (3rd ed.). Routledge.