Poverty (Micro, Mezzo and Macro Perspective of Ones Life) - Case Study Example

? POVERTY (Micro, Mezzo and Macro Perspective of Ones Life) Introduction We have three different levels in sociology namely micro; mezzo and macro. These levels represent groups within a society. The method of sociology to be used is affected by whether one is dealing with a micro, mezzo or macro level of groupings (Smith, L. (2010). Micro level Micro level indicates the smallest of the levels in the society. They are known to be intimate since most people will first identify it. These include the family, schools and church groups. This level deals with day to day activities and interactions of people in the society. It outlines the roles that we take in the society as well as how we perceive it. In this level, the level of focus is on how individual think and not on how they behave. This level outlines the ideas of how a society should be, the behaviors, and norms that enables it to be recognized. Indicators such as socialization, sanctions, rituals, and segregation of activities are just examples on how an individual should interact in the society since they give the directions on what is expected. Mezzo level Mezzo level does not deal with large societies. This is the middle ground of both the micro and macro like communities and neighbors. It also deals with the segmentation within the society. This segmentation can be carried out on basis such as income, ethnicity. This level includes certain institutions such as jail, smaller sets of people with various guidelines for organization. Mezzo level is also called total institution. Macro level Macro level refers to the largest of the groupings. It studies the society as a whole. This level looks on how the given institutions within a huge population affect the crowd, for instance religion, economy, and structure of the government. It is in this level that society problems begin and hence the interest (Allen, 1970). Analysis of the family from the video From the video, we have a family that resides in Ohio and each member of the family has a unique character and these play an important role in the set up of the family. First from the micro point that is the family, three sons and a mother. The elder son Matt Heid has a strong personality, controls his emotions well; this is evidenced by how he responds to his mother hunger when she doesn’t get things going on her way. For instance after the son has cleaned the house and rearranges the household items, his mother will come and not get happy for the rearrangements. Tammy has a positive mental health because he knows what he wants in life. His younger brothers admire him for what he has achieved in the family. In this story it is very evident that despite the fact that they are going through tough times yet one can see a positive attitude in all family members. This to us indicates that the poverty issue is not about lack of money, neither does it show that its lack of values, but is a chronic mind or body condition influenced by the negative, synergistic effects of multiple, adverse, economic risk factors (Marshall& Keough, 2004). In the mezzo level, the children have got friends, family relationship, the mother is a restaurant attendant and hence do meet various customers, this is evident in the video where she was mopping the floor. There is also the aspect of relationship with her employer, workmates in the immediate environment. Mrs. Tamm also wakes up does the house chores, dresses up and start to walk to her working station. During this time, she comes into contact with some of her neighbors who are also going for their own businesses and they both greet each other. In her compound is a vehicle which is supposed to be repaired, that’s according to her. In the video, she says that the vehicle was broken down and needs repair and on the other hand she claims that her driving license is expired. Despite all these she still finds strength to walk to her work place and attend to her daily duties. In the macro environment, being an employee in a restaurant means that she has to pay taxes to the authority and that’s the government. She is also obligated to meet her daily basic needs such as shelter, clothing’s and food and besides this being a mother, she has to ensure that her children gets the best in life. This is possible through provision of education, taking them to social places such as watching soccer, good food and clothing’s. All these activities are only possible in a macro environment. Disconnect in relationship takes control, this is because in the Tammy family I noticed there they have fewer friends and this is normally contributed to lower acceptance among the peers (Roenfeid, Richman and bowen). Unfortunately, children from poverty are much more likely than their counterparts to have impaired relationships. These in turn affect their self esteem, self actualization and even affect their everyday choices of those whom they’d like to have as friends. Chronic stress is a key factor and increases likelihood of inappropriate attachments. This creates vicious cycle where poor kids lack the grounded strong quality home relationships (Katz, 1983). Element of diversity in the family Hope turns out to be a critical factor in turning poor people into high achievers. This is because it triggers change through enhanced metabolic states like physical activity and by influencing gene expression which changes the brain, this is evidenced in the boys and especially the one who wants to be like Matt Heid, the elder son. Hopeful kids are more optimistic, work harder and persist longer and ultimately succeed. Schools also provide many ways including relevant curriculum and quality relationship. Schools being the most important part in these boys’ lives, it will help drive the seven most important factors that drive positive change in their mind. They include novel complete learning, physical activity, hope, managed stress levels and a supportive, hopeful social climate. Each factor feeds off another. The diversity brought out in Tammy’s story is lack of the father figure. Throughout the story one realizes that the children have been raised without their dad. As a boy one is identified by the presence of their dad. An absent Dad has got some effects on the child for instance, the boy feels that he is worthless, nothing to inherit when he grow up, nobody to teach him on the roles of a father since one day he will be a dad somewhere and the most important thing is that the boy has no identity. Stresses of the family The mother as much as she cares for them, will not be in a position to give them fatherly love that they miss. The environment in which they are brought up by their mum will change everything in terms of how they act, think, relate with other people and in the long run such children are known to end up as street children, thugs, drug addicts in the society. This is because society has it that for a child to fully grow up with good morals he should be parented by both parents. Concerning the individual’s strength, the elder son is more optimistic in life, appreciates her mother so much and also helps her to take care of the house; His major weakness is that he doesn’t want his friends to know their place since he is uncomfortable with that. Their mother do not appreciate whatever she has but spends her time on things that she doesn’t have for example when she says that I do not have a fun but would want to have one someday. She is also lazy when it comes to looking for things inside the house. Her strength outweighs her weaknesses because in real sense she is the main bread winner in her family and hence works hard and this is seen in her sons appreciating her. Another weakness of the family is that they have left the compound untidy and nobody seems to care about. As a concerned party it is good for the family to clean their surrounding and this will help them to prevent diseases that can be caused through the dirty environment. I think that each individual in the video has their own way of coping with stress, for example the mother talks too much when she is upset while the first son normally lowers his voice, that is he shows his emotions and the rest of the individuals doesn’t show any sign of stress There is also importance of studying attitude of each character in the video, this will attribute poverty to personal failings than socioeconomic barriers .Attitude plays an important role in an individual life and mostly it is the difference between success and failure. A wrong attitude portrays a failure in life while a positive attitude brings determination, resilience and success and so the four children have to change. For instance in the case of the mother, we notice that she portrays a positive attitude when working in the restaurant. This is attributed to paying attention to what she is doing, her facial expression also suggest that she enjoys her work. On the other hand the younger son when asked what he can do to improve the hygiene of the environment ,one can easily observe the facial expression telling he is not comfortable doing the job. The older son Matt has a positive attitude because you can see how he approaches issues. This include how he responds to his mother when she is upset in the house , other siblings also admire him. Conclusion In my own opinion the mother has to help the boys to improve on their self esteem by allowing them to bring their friends in the house. The children should also be taught on how to take good care of the environment since their mother is the main bread winner. Through this they will develop more in terms of friendship among them and also responsible people in the world. Advice to them is that each person should approach life with positive mind and hence they will succeed unlike only basing on what you don’t have such as fun, driving license, good shelter as for the first born. Reference Jensen, E. (2009). teaching with poverty in mind. new york: ASCD. Allen, V. L. (1970). Psychological factors in poverty. Chicago: Markham Pub. Co.. Smith, L. (2010). Psychology, poverty, and the end of social exclusion: putting our practice to work. New York: Teachers College Press Marshall, K., & Keough, L. (2004). Mind, heart, and soul in the fight against poverty. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Katz, M. B. (1983). Poverty and policy in American history. New York: Academic Press. Read More