Sociology http://www.socyberty.com/Sociology/index.587 New posts in Sociology Unusual Parenting Arrangements: Positive Outcomes http://www.socyberty.com/Sociology/Unusual-Parenting-Arrangements-Positive-Outcomes.342275 One thing that makes all families different are the parents or guardians. Some families have two parents, while others only have one. There are families with two same-sex parents, in which both parents are homosexual. While some people may think that this is awkward arrangement, it actually assists in the development process of a young child. Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children because having a homosexual parent can give a child a sense of respect for different kinds of people, homosexuals are just as qualified to raise children has heterosexuals, it is love not sexual orientation that makes a family, having a homosexual parent does not negatively impact a person in a way that one with a heterosexual parent wouldn't experience, and others can be inspired to respect homosexuals as well as other types of people.

Sense Of Respect

Although today there are several different types of people, there are still some who discriminate those who are different. A child with one or more homosexual parents has an excellent opportunity to develop a sense of respect and acceptance that others in this world do not have. There are millions of people in this world who view homosexuals as abnormal, and when a child has family that is different from the norm living with them, they learn to get along with them and to realize that they are truly no different than they are aside from sexual orientation. According to a 17-year old boy, he feels that the best part of having a gay dad is that he is now "much more open-minded" and also "more at peace" and "a good listener." Living with a gay dad has made him much more open-minded, more at peace, and a good listener. This boy will take these valuable traits with him into adulthood, making him a much better person. He has learned how to be more respectful towards all kinds of people, regardless of orientation, gender, age, and whatever may make them different from others.

Qualifications To Raise Children

There are some people that are not mature or responsible enough to care for young ones. As stated on an online article, "There is no evidence to suggest that lesbians and gay men are unfit to be parents." This statement remains to be true, even to this day. It is not sexual orientation that will predict how a lesbian or a gay man will treat his child, but it is mental status. Even straight people can be mentally ill or have corrupted views. Some may argue that a homosexual has more of a chance to rape or molest a young person. This is a statement that is completely untrue, for sexual orientation does not cloud one's judgment. There is an equal chance that either a homosexual or a heterosexual can sexually abuse a child, for it is unfair to judge someone because of their sexual orientation. Another common argument is that a child needs the love of both a mother and a father while being raised. Should this argument is proven to be reliable, than homosexual and single parents would be unfit to raise children. In an online study on Families.com, it stated, "In 2002, the United Stated Census determined that three out of every ten children being raised in America are living in single parent homes. Unfortunately, the number of single parent homes is growing." If the homosexual and single parents are truly not qualified to raise children, millions of children will be sent to the orphanages and foster homes.

What Makes A Family

In an online article from CNN, Rob Calhoun, a gay man with two adopted children, stated, "Love makes a family, not biology or gender." This is a wise statement by him. There are dozens of types of families out there, not only in the US, but in the entire world. Some have only one mother, or one father, or even an aunt or an uncle. There are as many different types of families as there are different types of people. The only thing that a family needs to stay together is love. Some children are adopted by heterosexual couples, and a lot of those families love each other. Why can't homosexuals adopt children, even if they love them? Love is the main foundation in a family. It is not about history, or sexual orientation, or personality, or talent, or any of those things about a single person. It is love, which is the same thing that the founders of America had for this country.

Impact On A Child

Some people would say that having a homosexual parent would traumatize a child and ruin their social life. Those two arguments are indeed true. Although one should think: couldn't a child also have their social life shattered and be traumatized while having a heterosexual parent? The only difference between gay people and straight people is the people that they like. There is nothing more, but also nothing less of a difference. Both gay and straight parents can abuse their child, and the history and status of gay and straight parents can be the cause of the wreckage of the social life of a young person. There is no proof whatsoever that homosexuals are worse than heterosexuals.

Inspired Respect

As a child of a homosexual learns to respect different groups of people, so do those that they interact with. A 13-year old girl says, "At school, everyone's cool with my two moms; it's not an issue." Another girl that is 20 years old witnessing a divorce between her father and lesbian mother says, "Most of the time I talked with my friends. They were very supportive and, most important, just listened to what was going on in my life; listening, at times, was something neither of my parents did." This shows that everyone has a chance to grow up and learn to accept people as they are, and not judge them by their differences. Having gay or lesbian parents can be a beacon of inspiration for everyone to change and see the good things in others instead of the different or bad things. Acceptance is a trait that all people in this world should have, for it is a key to be a light for others.

Conclusion

Although it is not normal for young children to have homosexual parents, an arrangement of such sort holds a key element in the development and transition into adulthood: respect and acceptance towards all people. As one gets older, they will encounter and have to interact with people that are different from them. Being able to respect those different people is a needed skill, whatever job one may have. If we all could just learn to be kind to one another, this world might become a more peaceful place to live in.

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:11:51 PST 10 Things Women Do Better Than Men http://www.socyberty.com/Sociology/10-Things-Women-Do-Better-Than-Men.120270

  • Women drive better than men.

    Well this reverses a social myth - that women are bad drivers. Carnegie Mellon University researchers found after analyzing a lot of traffic data in 2007 that men are 77% more likely to die in a car accident than women, keeping the miles driven constant. So next time when your husband asks you to hand over the car keys, just give him this article.

  • Women remember appearances better than men.

    Some would say, “Why not? Don't women pay all their attention to appearances?” Well, say what you may, but only a loser complains about somebody for being better than him! Terrence Horgan, research fellow in psychology at Ohio State University, and her co-researchers found in a study that women are more accurate in describing appearances after seeing people once. The study was published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

  • Women cooperate better than men.

    We can see this everywhere, but still if you want a citation, here it is. A study by Rolf Kuemmerli and other researchers at Edinburgh and Lausanne universities indicated that women cooperate better than men. In the research, based on games played by 100 Swiss students, women cooperated with others almost twice as much as men did.

  • Women eat better than men.

     This is probably not so obvious, for rarely do we notice gender differences in eating habits. A survey involving 14000 Americans, conducted by University of Minnesota, revealed that men are more likely to eat frozen pizza and meat, whereas women are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables.

  • Women perform better than men in timed tests.

     So if time is precious, women are better at preserving it than men. A study by Vanderbilt University researchers in 2006 found that women score better in timed intelligence tests than men. The study, published in the May-June issue of the journal Intelligence, didn't find much difference in un-timed tests, which meant women had a quicker mind.

  • Women perceive their relationships better than men.

    Talk about relationships and most men will frown. Now you know why - they know so little about their relationships! A Hebrew University of Jerusalem study, after surveying 97 couples in the United States, found that women are more perceptive than men in describing their relationships. The study, published in ScienceDaily, reported that women were much more accurate in describing the perception of their partners than men.

  • Women communicate better than men.

    This is now scientifically proven and acknowledged. Louann Brizendine, neuro-pyschiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco, found in a study that women can process 20000 words a day compared to men's 7000 words (Louann Brizendine,The Female Brain, Morgan Road Books). This difference, as per Brizendine's study, is more biological than social, which starts as early as the fetal stage.

  • Women learn better than men.

    That is why girls get better grades in school on an average than boys in many parts of the world. Dr Simone Kruger of Edge Hill University, UK, found in her research based on remote learners that women learners were more successful in sharing ideas and experiences with each other, and hence learnt more efficiently than men.

  • Women invest better than men.

     You don't believe it, do you? We all know fewer women invest in stocks than men do, but the few women who invest in shares do better than their male counterparts. A study by the National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) for the University of California found that women earn on an average 1.4% more than men in their share portfolios.

  • Women cope with stress better than men.

    A study at the University of California, Los Angeles, published in the July 2000 issue of Psychological Review, found some biological and behavioral differences in the ways men and women cope with stress. It found that women tend to seek contact with others and social support when they are under stress, which is a psychologically much better way of coping with stress than the “fight-or-flight” approach of men.

    • Of course, there are other studies which indicate men are better than women in various skills. The point I want to make is not that women are better than men in everything, but that men should stop underestimating women after being proven wrong time and again.

    ]]>     Tue, 06 May 2008 06:25:07 PST     Making Disgusting Gestures to Half the World http://www.socyberty.com/Sociology/Making-Disgusting-Gestures-to-Half-the-World.105973 In USA and UK we take the "thumbs up" sign to be an indication of approval. It is used in many different scenarios including the "thumbs up" made famous by the Stumbleupon social network site.

    The thumbs up sign was originally used by the ancient Romans to decide the fate of Christians in the arena. The thumbs up (pollice verso) sign meant "kill him" and the thumbs down, or hidden (pollice compresso) sign meant "spare him". In the film "Spartacus" the directors actually got this the wrong way round.

    In most of the world it's quite acceptable to offer the thumbs up to people but if you are traveling in Afghanistan, Iran, Nigeria, or parts of Italy and Greece, take care. In these countries it is considered extremely rude and insulting. In Sardinia it is seen as particularly offensive and a hitch hiker thumbing a lift is more likely to be run down, than offered a ride.

    Roughly speaking, in these countries, this hand signal is the equivalent to the "middle finger" salute which is common in USA and UK.

    The term "thumbs up" is now used in English speech. For example, "The director gave me the thumbs up." In formal circumstances that phrase is acceptable where actually giving the thumbs up sign might not be.

    So, it pays to research the customs of any country you might be visiting before you use the "thumbs up" or any other type of hand signal. It just keep you out of trouble, or at least improve your chances of thumbing a lift in Sardinia.

    ]]>     Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:35:20 PST