I don't really have a big group of friends at SJSU but I do see norms all over campus, and they seem to repeat themselves as I look back at my recent school years (high school, junior college). Of course there is a lot of generalizations going on here, but I see girls hanging with girls, cheerleader types hanging with jock types, asian kids hanging with other asians, history nerds hanging with other history nerds, etc.
In my group of friends at home we certainly have norms too. We make fun of each other without getting offended, we use foul language, we make really bad jokes, we talk about work (a lot), etc.
These norms can all be identified by repetition and remembering what happened when someone gets out of line or doesn't fit in. For instance if you are shy you will not fit in the group. If you want to talk about school all the time or sound pompous and correct grammar or word usage, you won't fit in the group. It's kind of loose, and that is the norm.
At SJSU, if you dress a certain way you probably will or won't fit into certain groups.
Hi Happy Waiter! There is a certain level of intimacy involved in groups such as your family dynamic which allows for more uncensored dialogue to occur. While people outside of your group may find it offensive, it is certainly anything but a negative piece of your dynamic. The solidity of your group and mutual understandings that take place create a light-hearted nature to the environment. The family's unique understandings of each other create a more comfortable, personal envorinment that is mutually understood by its members. Mutuality and understanding may be two of the most important keys in creating positive and meaningful group interactions as you do with your family, especially because with family you can be yourself. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI definitely see your point that there are several groups on campus that tend to hang out with each other such as jocks, cheerleaders, certain ethnic groups, etc. However, I think that is mostly the case with every aspect of one's life. Meaning that we tend to associate with people who are similar to us rather than completely opposite. For instance, I don't think I would have too much in common with engineering majors but I'm not completely opposed to the idea of making friends with them. I think the college setting is a lot easier to try and make friends because people are more open-minded, especially in general ed classes where their are students from every major. I think by adapting to different norms we are not used to, we can meet more people and become friends with them.
ReplyDeleteI think across the board everyones going to ahve a similar example for this question. No doubt about it anywhere you go, school, work, a club ect. there are always going to be your clicks and I think our culture is mainly to blame for such things. We as humans judge people, if we want to admit it or not from the second we meet them. How they dress, look, interest, labels all come into account when we see or meet someone. It takes a very confedent person to branch out and meet others in seperate groups and break the norms we have set in our culture.
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