Sociology is the study of societies and human behavior. Within these societies are social institutions that have shaped my experiences in the United States. To be specific – education, employment, and family culture have been the core institutions and structures that have had the most influence in my life. According to King (2016), it is important to know what social institutions to which we belong because it serves as a predictor of outcomes that individuals might face. When I look at my identity as a Filipina immigrant in the context of different institutions, it helps me become aware of what challenges I might face. However, each person is different. By knowing where we are within an institutional structure, we are able to appreciate the
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To me, my symbol of a family is love with close relationship interacting with one another. I am married with three children and come from a significantly large extended family – with over 20 aunts and uncles, and having nearly 70 first cousins. My mother and one of my two brothers currently live with us. Although this is not common in the United States, this living arrangement is seen through most households in the Philippines. Filipino culture prides itself with the characteristic of close family ties. Prioritizing this aspect of my culture and having my current living arrangement gives me peace of mind and allows me to feel secure knowing there will always be someone at home who can help. My family members help me in taking care of my children, not only for their immediate needs but also instilling in them the right values and morals. I know that if I did not have other family members at home who could help me guide my children while I was either at work or school, it is possible that my children would have some behavior problems while growing up. This family structure has allowed us to …show more content…
Although we might be able to predict what our life outcomes could be based on where we stand within these social structures, it allows us to see the challenges that we might face and be able to overcome them. It was once a weakness for me not to be able to speak up for myself. However, with time and learning how to navigate the different spaces I was in, I have learned to be my own best advocate. I now realize that when I speak up for myself, I speak up for my entire family because everything affects them. Lastly, my family makes me who I am today because of the values and morals that we instill in each
To me, my symbol of a family is love with close relationship interacting with one another. I am married with three children and come from a significantly large extended family – with over 20 aunts and uncles, and having nearly 70 first cousins. My mother and one of my two brothers currently live with us. Although this is not common in the United States, this living arrangement is seen through most households in the Philippines. Filipino culture prides itself with the characteristic of close family ties. Prioritizing this aspect of my culture and having my current living arrangement gives me peace of mind and allows me to feel secure knowing there will always be someone at home who can help. My family members help me in taking care of my children, not only for their immediate needs but also instilling in them the right values and morals. I know that if I did not have other family members at home who could help me guide my children while I was either at work or school, it is possible that my children would have some behavior problems while growing up. This family structure has allowed us to …show more content…
Although we might be able to predict what our life outcomes could be based on where we stand within these social structures, it allows us to see the challenges that we might face and be able to overcome them. It was once a weakness for me not to be able to speak up for myself. However, with time and learning how to navigate the different spaces I was in, I have learned to be my own best advocate. I now realize that when I speak up for myself, I speak up for my entire family because everything affects them. Lastly, my family makes me who I am today because of the values and morals that we instill in each