We all have heard about personalities being like onions in one way or another. Although the most common way was watching the classic childhood film Shrek. Although, there are many others who would use this metaphor to describe and understand others as well. One person being, Mckayla Couite , she also makes this comparison in her article People are Like Onions.  She brings up some great points, such as nothing is as it seems. We judge a person based on what we perceive, but this can be wrong. We never truly know a person based on the surface level because there is so much more going on inside. She also brings up another great point that while we know ourselves we don’t understand others. You cannot come to a conclusion  based off of watching people, instead you have to talk to them in order to better understand a person.  It is something that we must actively chose to do.

Griffin also brought up some great points about personality and how we understand others. He states that, “… Altman and Taylor believed it’s only by allowing Jon to penetrate well below the surface that Pete can truly draw close to his roommate.” (94). This allows us to understand that we will never know a person based on surface level. We must also open up to allow others to understand us.  Another point made is that, “A relational result has meaning only when we contrast it with other real or imagined possibilities.” (98).  We base our perceptions about people based on how we think we can relate to a person or think we can understand them. A final point is that, “Altman and Taylor’s theory doesn’t speak about the transition from me to we, but that apparently takes place only after an extended process of social penetration.” (103). This means we must be willing to get close to another for an extended period of time to truly understand another.

The first step to understanding one another is being able to talk and open up. By letting someone in, we allow people to understand us better and they can truly see who we are. Rather than them just having this view of us based on outward appearance and personality. Another thing, that is so common is viewing our relationships as transactional. We will only try to form a relationship with another person if we think we can grow close or if it will be positive. Although if we view relationships like a transaction we will never really know a person. Additionally you have to put in the effort to get to know someone, whether it end up being good or bad. Many do not want to form relations with another. Perhaps this is because we think it won’t be as good or fulfilling as those we already have. Furthermore, forming a relationship and understanding another person takes time and effort. You never truly understand a person until you have been close with them for a while. Overall, we as a society tend to assume things about one another. We don’t often take the time out to get to know one another, unless we think that the outcome will be good. At the same time we have to open ourselves up to others so they can understand us.

Politics. The discussion that people can either hate or love to have.  Politics is a very hot topic to discuss especially here in America. This topic is extremely polarized with neither party wanting to compromise or work with the other. This is seen among the people as well. You are either on one side or the other. It makes you wonder how much would change and progress if people held dialogue and conversations with one another. Conversations were we actually listen to the other side even if we disagree with them.

Griffin talks about different studies about dialogue and how we communicate. Some of the points mentioned are important for open dialogue. One of the important topics to having  open dialogue is mindful participants, Griffin states that, “They are participant observers willing to step back and look for places in the conversational flow where they can say or do something that will make the situation better for everyone involved.” (73). Mindfulness is important in order to understand the other side. Another important point is when Griffin mentions that, “For Buber, dialogue “involves remaining in the tension between holding our own perspective while being profoundly open to the other.” (74). This is also important when having discussions where there are opposing view points. A final important point is when, Griffin goes on to mention Buber core belief, “…dialog is a joint achievement that cannot be produced on demand, but occurs among people who seek it and are prepared for it.” (75). ” When having serious and important discussions you must be prepared to speak about it and be ready to have it. Otherwise conversations may not be that great.

All of the points mentioned by Griffin can be applied to conversations about politics in America.  First and foremost we must be very mindful when we talk about it. We need to know when to speak to one another to allow conversation to flow rather than cutting it short when we disagree or disrupting it. Being mindful will actually allow others to communicate freely with one another.  Being mindful during conversations about politics may help with polarization. Furthermore, we can still hold onto our own views we just have to be open to understanding the other side. Just because we disagree with something does not mean that we cannot listen. This would allow people to further understand people with different perspectives. Although with way politics are in America currently, this is difficult to achieve, which brings up the final point. People have to be willing to go and have these conversations. They must  also be prepared to have these discussions. Politics is a tricky conversation to have. Everyone is entitled to their own views, but completely rejecting the other side is what causes polarization. Like in the art there are many on opposite sides of the spectrum that are completely unwilling to even speak to one another. While republican’s and democrat’s will never fully agree with everything being able to listen can lessen the tension and listen to one another. Keeping an open mind, being willing and open to listen and being prepared for conversations about politics could help make the division smaller.

https://othersociologist.com/sociology-of-gender/

Symbolic interactions has a lot to do with how we view the world around us. One thing that can be affected by the meaning we assign things, people or language is gender. Gender is a huge part of society, and our understanding of it has changed a lot. Especially with modern views of gender now.  Throughout history and until not that long ago gender and sex pretty much meant the same thing. If you were born a male then your gender was male, the same thing with being female. In the article linked above she Dr. Zevallos speaks about the sociology of gender. Gender is just a social construct and is actually very fluid.  How gender is viewed is heavily influenced by society, social norms, and attitudes towards what different sexes should do. This includes gender norms that are taught through culture, media and even parent teachings.

Symbolic Interactionism is how we interact with others based off of language, gestures and that how we view and interpret the world and ourselves is by communication.  According to a study mentioned, “Blumer started with the premise that humans act toward people or things on the basis of the meanings they assign people or things.” (54). This relates to the topic because gender is assigned to people or things and that related to how they act towards the person or even object. We see prime examples of what we think of as masculine in superhero’s. Additionally, Griffin also uses an example that is influenced by gender roles, “Since the story contains no reference to the doctors gender, and the majority of surgeons in America are men, we’ll likely assume that the surgeon in the story is male.” (55). This is despite the fact that his colleague’s wife is a doctor and his daughter-in-law is a physician as well. Further more, Griffin goes onto explain that, “The generalized other is an organized set of information that the individual carries in her or his head about what the general expectation and attitudes of the social group are.” (59). We already have preconceived notions of what gender is. To be a woman is feminine or sometimes people think of women as being motherly or as caretakers. This is the same of men being thought of as masculine.

Looking at gender norms is an excellent way to understand symbolic interactions. All of these are taught by how we communicate and our surroundings. We act a certain way towards people based off of meanings we assign to people or things. Based off of cultural norms we are taught we see someone that is biologically a female or looks “feminine” we think they are a woman and assign meanings to that. Like feminine, motherly, or a care taker. When we see someone who is a male we assign things like masculine. When people are outside of gender norms people can automatically assume things about sexuality or think it is weird. This is unless of course, this is something that is normal to them. Concerning the story of the surgeon, we think of males because it is a traditionally male dominated field.  I will even admit when I first read the story I thought that the surgeon was male, despite knowing that there are female surgeons. In addition, these are all generalized views and information that is passed down from families, culture and the media we view. These can all changes how we interpret the world around us and the words we use to communicate can effect it as well.