Lack of socialization is the cause for Radio's daily behavior before he is taken in by Coach Jones and the students at Hanna High School. Radio would walk around town and along the train tracks in the woods every day with his shopping cart containing his things (most importantly, his radio). He was content to be on his own with his radio; he didn't look up much when he came into contact with others, and he listened much more than he spoke. As a result of his incapability to socialize, Radio was very lonesome but didn't really feel like he was missing anything because solitude was all he really had ever known (especially with his mom at work all the time). Radio was very hesitant to socialize with Coach Jones and the football team at first because he had very little experience with socializing before this time. He was obedient and helpful basically right off the bat, but it took him a while to really warm up to the football team and coaches. The first moment we really see him starting to socialize with Coach Jones and the assistant coach is when the assistant coach offers him a burger and soda. Radio gladly accepts the meal and happily chows down, with the assistant coach's radio right beside him. Both coaches are pleased to see Radio's face light up with a genuine smile. It is not long before we can tell that Radio looks up to both coaches and trusts them; it is also clear that Coach Jones becomes a true father figure to Radio. Radio begins to learns the in's and out's of acceptable behavior at school, on the football field, and in public with the help of Coach Jones and a few misunderstandings here and there. The emergence of socialization in Radio's life wasn't a walk in the park; he was so trusting of the football players and loyal to their wishes that, for example, he once entered the occupied girls' locker room as a result of a specific player's trickery. Coach Jones really gained my admiration especially at this point in the movie when he confronted the boy, who eventually became one of Radio's biggest fans. By the end of the movie, it is evident that Radio has become very socialized, capable of understanding right from wrong, interacting with many different types of individuals, verbalizing and dealing with his emotions and feelings, and winning the hearts of an entire community. I truly enjoyed this film and was inspired by the story. Tears came to my eyes at the very end when the real-life Radio was shown and when he hugged the real-life Coach Jones. It made me so angry to see some of the players blatantly take advantage of Radio's handicap to humiliate him, and Frank's efforts to get rid of Radio infuriated me. The acceptance of the community and the football team is truly admirable and heartwarming; more stories like these need to be heard in order to inspire the rest of us to do something similar for those in need in our communities. Radio was absolutely lovable, and Coach Jones' strength, perseverance, dedication, and compassion really touched me.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Blog #4: Socialization of Gender...Everywhere!
1) While men are expected to be "chivalrous" in various settings and with different behaviors, it seems to me that women are expected to be polite and "ladylike" at a much younger age. I rarely witness girls in the cafeteria eating their lunch without using utensils if appropriate or chewing with their mouths noticeably open. At this age girls are already trained to eat in a ladylike, proper manner and to have table manners in all settings, whereas it seems like that boys at this age do not have much expected of them unless they are at the dinner table with their families. Many boys in the cafeteria do not seem to be paying any mind to what they look like while they are eating, but it is not necessarily looked down upon too much.
2) As an athlete, the ways in which men and women are socialized through sports are very obvious to me. Boys are often brought up to have an interest in sports, starting with the types of things their relatives and families buy them as young as when they are infants. This pressure can continue into the early school years up until high school. An athletic boy is always approved of. Girls, on the other hand, do not face this type of pressure as frequently. Once both boys and girls reach the competitive level of athletics in high school, female athletes, in my opinion, are not always respected as highly as male athletes. No matter how talented a girl is in her sport, there is always a boy who refuses to admit that she can be better than him. Girls will recognize a talented male athlete when they see one. From my observation, competition amongst boys participating in a sport and amongst girls participating in a sport is prevalent and reveals itself in some similar ways as well as some different ones.
3) The ways in which boys and girls are socialized in regards to fashion and appearance are very different. From a young age, most girls are influenced in such a way that they feel they need to maintain a clean, well-kept appearance. This influence--or pressure, as it may be considered--to look nice comes from family, friends, the media, and society itself. Girls comment on each other's clothing, jewelry, shoes, and hair beginning at a very young age, reinforcing the sense that looks truly matter and are important to a girl's character. As girls grow older this sort of awareness about appearance becomes even stronger; now girls are wearing makeup and boys are taking an interest in the "pretty" girls or the girls who wear things that catch their eye. Boys, on the other hand, as a whole do not care as much about the clothes they wear or how they style their hair. Among youth this is for the most part acceptable; most girls do not judge a boy as sloppy or lazy if he wears sweatpants.
4) Women socializing with women tends to be very different from how men socialize with each other. Women can sit down with cups of coffee and talk for hours about anything and everything, from food, TV shows, and men to family life, their jobs, and the weather. Men, on the other hand, tend to not be talkers as much, gossiping and chatting about anything from trivial topics to personal, intimate feelings. Society seems to support this. It becomes different when a man and a woman are in a relationship, but it is common for men to engage themselves in other activities (usually physical) when together.
5) When it comes to the media, it does not take much for a male celebrity to be considered very attractive. For example, a male celebrity who has a toned body and a handsome face possesses qualities that can earn him status as a very attractive star. Even if his face is scruffy, he may be considered ideal. Females, however, must have more going for them to be considered to be at this "attractive" status. Luscious hair, clear skin, shaped eyebrows, plump lips, a proportional nose, long legs, curves yet also thin in the right places--these are all physical qualities that tend to go along with being considered attractive among female celebrities. Then comes the way they present themselves; fashion plays into attractiveness much more among females than males. The rest of society looks up to these celebrities, sees the way the media portrays them, and begins to try to emulate their attractive characteristics as a result.
2) As an athlete, the ways in which men and women are socialized through sports are very obvious to me. Boys are often brought up to have an interest in sports, starting with the types of things their relatives and families buy them as young as when they are infants. This pressure can continue into the early school years up until high school. An athletic boy is always approved of. Girls, on the other hand, do not face this type of pressure as frequently. Once both boys and girls reach the competitive level of athletics in high school, female athletes, in my opinion, are not always respected as highly as male athletes. No matter how talented a girl is in her sport, there is always a boy who refuses to admit that she can be better than him. Girls will recognize a talented male athlete when they see one. From my observation, competition amongst boys participating in a sport and amongst girls participating in a sport is prevalent and reveals itself in some similar ways as well as some different ones.
3) The ways in which boys and girls are socialized in regards to fashion and appearance are very different. From a young age, most girls are influenced in such a way that they feel they need to maintain a clean, well-kept appearance. This influence--or pressure, as it may be considered--to look nice comes from family, friends, the media, and society itself. Girls comment on each other's clothing, jewelry, shoes, and hair beginning at a very young age, reinforcing the sense that looks truly matter and are important to a girl's character. As girls grow older this sort of awareness about appearance becomes even stronger; now girls are wearing makeup and boys are taking an interest in the "pretty" girls or the girls who wear things that catch their eye. Boys, on the other hand, as a whole do not care as much about the clothes they wear or how they style their hair. Among youth this is for the most part acceptable; most girls do not judge a boy as sloppy or lazy if he wears sweatpants.
4) Women socializing with women tends to be very different from how men socialize with each other. Women can sit down with cups of coffee and talk for hours about anything and everything, from food, TV shows, and men to family life, their jobs, and the weather. Men, on the other hand, tend to not be talkers as much, gossiping and chatting about anything from trivial topics to personal, intimate feelings. Society seems to support this. It becomes different when a man and a woman are in a relationship, but it is common for men to engage themselves in other activities (usually physical) when together.
5) When it comes to the media, it does not take much for a male celebrity to be considered very attractive. For example, a male celebrity who has a toned body and a handsome face possesses qualities that can earn him status as a very attractive star. Even if his face is scruffy, he may be considered ideal. Females, however, must have more going for them to be considered to be at this "attractive" status. Luscious hair, clear skin, shaped eyebrows, plump lips, a proportional nose, long legs, curves yet also thin in the right places--these are all physical qualities that tend to go along with being considered attractive among female celebrities. Then comes the way they present themselves; fashion plays into attractiveness much more among females than males. The rest of society looks up to these celebrities, sees the way the media portrays them, and begins to try to emulate their attractive characteristics as a result.
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