Socialization Is the Process by Which We Term Paper

socialization is the process by which we learn to live in a given culture, and the practice of "resocialization."

Resocialization." There is something about the term that sounds just a bit "Big Brotherish." While there may be some instances where this practice is valuable, such as in the case of habitual violent criminals, it seems like a practice that should be avoided for most of society. The implications of this process are many. For example, who is ultimately to say that one set of beliefs and values is "wrong" and must be resocialized with a new set of "right" beliefs and values. Who decides what is right and what is wrong? Who has the ultimate power to make those life-changing decisions? The ethics of this practice clearly come into question, as do the methods. How do we judge the effectiveness of this practice, and how do we choose who is resocialized and who is not? Frankly, this practice seems frightening. It gives too much power to some, and does not consider a person's rights. Resocialization may seem like a good idea, but in reality, it is more of a socialist and domineering practice than a democratic one.

That being said, the practice of socialization is a common one in America, and one that most Americans happily submit to on a daily basis.We are socialized as consumers from a very young age. Advertising has long catered to the young, the powerful, and those with the most dollars to spend. America is a land of consumers, and when they cannot afford to buy what they want, they steal it, as the recent happenings during and after hurricane Katrina clearly show. People were stealing to live, but they were also stealing because they could. It was not only food and liquor stores that were looted. People stole televisions, furniture, and broke into empty houses. Consumerism is accepted and even applauded in America. It is what our country is based on. Children learn about it as soon as they can sit in front of a television set and view shows geared to their age groups. There are ads for food, drink, toys, and even clothing that….....