'Mommy Blogs' Influence Young Mothers

Matilda Jarvis

Mr. Lutz

English 151

16 November 2011 

'Mommy Blogs' Influence Young Mothers

Retrieved from personal archives

   

      Motherhood. The above picture captures the essence of motherhood, as heartwarming, yet trying on the nerves (the little girl has been taught not to pick her nose, yet she does anyways). That is what parenthood, especially for a mother entails: gratifying moments as well as learning times for both mother and child. I was talking to a friend the other day, who is both a young mother and an avid blog-reader. She mentioned how 'mommy blogs' influence readers. I was struck by this observation. And, yet, it is true; looking at how mother bloggers influence their readers, their blogs have great influence in the readers' lives; but those blogs need to encapsulate the complete, unbiased image of motherhood to be the most persuasive.

     Blogs have come to play a substantial role in today's online world, and Jacobsen further accredits it to have become "an amazing tool for mothers to help and inspire other mothers." Piersall reports on the eMarketer statistics that, in the United States, approximately 3.9 million blogs are written by mothers with children under eighteen; and the number of these blogs is expected to increase to 4.4 million by 2014. The number of blogs has increased drastically, and continues to grow. As the popularity of blogs has increased, so has the persuasive power they have on readers. One contributor to George Mason University's course material, Heidi Lawrence, describes in her research project, "Bless Me Blogger, For I Have Sinned," one reason blog authors are able to persuade readers:

Every possible personal oddity imaginable is confessed over these thousands of blogs. Their readers reply by sympathizing, agreeing, respectfully disagreeing, or reciprocating the confession by relating their own moment of weakness or sin... the use of confession rhetorically...enables the speaker to contribute to and become part of the community of bloggers...by subverting the power structure...—confession does not result in discipline, judgment, or punishment—it engages the reader through further confession, agreement, dissent, or even non sequitur discourse. In short, the confessions result in fostering community through interaction, no matter what the tenor of that interaction might be, because the confession appeals to the reader in a way that persuades the reader to respond. (19)

      Lawrence explains that authors influence readers through a confession the writers make through a blog. Not only do blogs allow a place to vent and share news, but by doing so, they create a connection between the writer and followers; readers feel sympathetic and can immediately respond to posts. Mothers who follow blogs can be characterized by Lawrence's statement. They are drawn to mommy blogs that capture their attention because readers agree or disagree with the author's confessions. Chelsea-Kay, the author of the blog Media in Focus, agrees that the interaction of blogging manages to influence readers on various topics because "blogs have become a vital part of the internet aesthetic." The 'aesthetic' refers to the 'guidelines of the internet' that have sway in how information is presented as the internet grows. As the internet expands, and more and more people follow blogs, blog writers have a stronger influence in shaping readers' opinions. That influence grows as readers learn to trust the writer, based partially on the bond created through confession. 

      Readers are influenced because of what the author writes, as well as the reason they read blogs. In a research experiment, Huang, Chou, and Lin studied blog readers' motives for following blogs. They found three main motives: affective (or emotional) exchanges; information search and entertainment; and fun. They found "readers who focus on affective exchanges tend to believe messages on blogs, interact with bloggers, and spread messages to others...The information search and entertainment [motivated] blog readers who focus on information can find something they trust, and blog readers who read just for fun similarly believe blogs are a trustworthy medium..." (Huang 354). In the study, they found the motivations behind internet users following blogs. Understanding how the younger demographic has stronger ties to the online world, proves how younger mothers are more greatly influenced by blogs, based on the motives that Huang, Chou, and Lin studied in the experiment.

  

      As a report by Krayewski, on the study entitled "Why Y Women?", explains that the rising generation, Gen Y, women were "found to be more influenced by blogs – those written by professionals, as well as those written by people with whom the women can identify." This growing influence of blogs on the rising generation corresponds to the increase in usage of social media networks that allow people to share opinions, information, and gossip, whether it be anonymously or not. Morrison says, "the emotional outlet offered by blogging provides a release unavailable elsewhere" (Morrison 41). This also relates to the growing popularity of the internet as a medium for emotional purges, as the generation Y has come to depend on the technology. And because of the confession aspect of blogs and the reader's motives for reading blogs, a personal bond between the author and reader becomes stronger, which increases the influence the author has as the reader develops trust in the writer.

      Lee-Ann Khoh says, "The blog has enabled more and more ordinary citizens to become "manipulators" of information and the media. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves however they like, whenever they like." While some mothers use blogs as a way to share happy details, or the exciting events that happen, some use blogs as a mode of venting their struggles, worries, and mishaps from the view of a parent. Both types of blogging styles may somewhat manipulate, or influence, readers' opinions about motherhood, but without sharing the encouraging experiences as well as the trying times, blogs prove to not influence as greatly.

Retrieved from personal image archives.

3703pattersonplace.blogspot.com

         How often do you see pictures like that on the left where a child is clearly not enjoying life, as opposed to pictures similar to that below, where a child is all-innocence, completely happy? Some mother bloggers may wish to keep circumstances that are not all 'fine and dandy' to themselves; others don't mind sharing. Negative experiences can help mothers reading the blog learn from them. C. Jane Kendrick gave a presentation on her experiences as a professional blogger. One of the media arts students, David, wrote on his own blog is response, saying, "Mommy blogs that are not an accurate representation of motherhood (either in utopian or dystopian way) are not empowering." He refers to the fact that blogs representing only the good or the bad, fail to influence with the same power because they are ineffectual in illustrating the complete picture of motherhood.

       Meagan Francis, referring to falsely positive blogs, says: "There's always a downside to seeking all that beauty and possibility. When you're drawn to inspiring writing and inspiring people, it's easy to start wondering if you're really good enough, just they way you are..." She says she was influenced by the blogs to feel inadequate. But, she goes on to relate how she "started to realize that a whole lot of [bloggers] weren't exactly the people [she] had wanted to believe they were. You know. Perfect." Francis's experience expresses that the blog could not maintain persuasive power over her because she realized that it lacked all of the frustrating aspects of motherhood, the side of motherhood that would not be described as perfect. Another blogger, Allison, describes her situation as a mother, portraying the gratifying role she plays, without camouflaging any unpleasant details:

Motherhood is a multifaceted job – much like a gemstone that you hold in your hand turning in the light watching the angles and corners and surfaces glimmer and shine different, unexpected ways, only with more poop. As a mom I’m both hero and villain. I’m playmate and disciplinarian, teacher and student, and a bunch of other less glamorous things like...insomniac, bathroom coach...I have more roles than I can list because new ones arise every day. Am I an expert nail cutter, splinter-getter-outer? I am now. And, as a feather in my lovely mom-cap, as one last sexy thing I do, I plunge toilets. Often.

      As she states her role so openly, Allison shares with her audience not the utopian world of motherhood, but her reality, which includes many unfavorable jobs. Because Allison discusses many hardships she faces, her readers will not be influenced into feeling dismal about their own abilities as mothers; but rather, they can take comfort that things do not always happen as planned. Her blog relates blurbs from her everyday life that characterize her family's personality, struggles, and triumphs in a way that does not glamorize her role as a mother, neither does it condemn motherhood, despite ever-present trials. An example of a trying time for a mother is shown in the video below. A mom blogger Katie put together an entertaining video for her blog, showcasing her son and his unwillingness to eat solids, which frustrated Katie. She shows her readers that life is not all-fun-all-the-time, but that raising a child is hard work. However, she does so by connecting to her readers using a comical approach. Perhaps the technique of humor is a way to take her exasperating experience, such as baby Kai's refusal to eat solid foods, and try to make it into a better situation.

 katieandjyri.blogspot.com

   

      During the conversation with my friend, I asked if blogs that depict a seemingly ideal life, affected her as a mother. She laughed and replied, "Life isn't that perfect." This simple response shows that she is not influenced by one-sided views of motherhood, which supports David's statement, as she remained unswayed. I realized that she is now a mother of three, so perhaps she was more influenced when she was starting out as a new mother. She pondered the question and answered that her attentiveness to the 'cheesiness' (as she called the too-cheery impression some blogs give) was not as fine-tuned at first; but, by enduring her own experiences as a parent she came to realize that life is not as flawless as some blogs wold have readers believe.

      By understanding how blog writers influence and 'manipulate' readers, as well as the motives readers have to follow posts, it is evident that mother bloggers influence young mothers. Moreover, blogs that impact mothers the most are the ones that display motherhood in all of its glory and hardship, not burying true, honest insights into motherhood. For those are the blogs that will provide the most guidance and comfort for new mothers, and those are the blogs that truly have a great influence.

Works Cited

Huang, Li-Shia, Yu-Jen Chou, and Che-Hung Lin. "The Influence of Reading Motives on the Responses after Reading Blogs." CyberPsychology & Behavior 11.3 (2008): 351-355. Print.

Morrison, Aimée. "'Suffused by Feeling and Affect': The Intimate Public of Personal
           Mommy Blogging." Biography: An Interdisciplinary Quartely 34.1 (2011): 37-55.
           Print.

Rough Draft Matilda Jarvis

Matilda Jarvis
Mr. Lutz
English 151
28 October, 2011 

Young Mothers Influenced by 'Mommy Bloggers'?

Retrieved from personal archives

   

I was talking to a friend the other day, who is both a young mother and an avid blog-reader. She mentioned how blogs by mothers might impact younger mothers to feel inadequate if they do not have the wonderful life described by the bloggers.I was struck by this observation, and thought about several blogs that I follow; they could fit the statement. In my personal experience, I envied some of the vacations and opportunities some bloggers had, but I found it hard to believe their blogs had such a strong impact. Yet, the matter disturbed me: do blog writers, specifically mothers, have persuasive power over their readers ? If so, is it due to critical views, or carefree, cheerful blogs?

    The matter perplexed me. Seeing how blogs have come to play a substantial role in today's networking, I wanted to find out what others said about blogs' influence. One contributor to George Mason University's course material, Heidi Lawrence, asserts her claim on blog authors' power over their readers:

Every possible personal oddity imaginable is confessed over these thousands of blogs. Their readers reply by sympathizing, agreeing, respectfully disagreeing, or reciprocating the confession by relating their own moment of weakness or sin... the use of confession rhetorically...enables the speaker to contribute to and become part of the community of bloggers...by subverting the power structure...—confession does not result in discipline, judgment, or punishment—it engages the reader through further confession, agreement, dissent, or even non sequitur discourse. In short, the confessions result in fostering community through interaction, no matter what the tenor of that interaction might be, because the confession appeals to the reader in a way that persuades the reader to respond. (19)

     Lawrence explains that the authors influence readers through a confession that the writer makes through a blog. Not only do blogs allow a place to vent and share news, but they create a connection between the writer and followers; readers feel sympathetic and can immediately respond to posts. Chelsea-Kay, the author of the blog Media in Focus, agrees by relating that blog authors manage to influence readers on various topics because "blogs have become a vital part of the internet aesthetic." And as blogs have come to play a leading role in the 'guidelines of the internet', they have a stronger influence in shaping readers' opinions. That influence grows as readers learn to trust the writer. But, what motivates the reader to follow blogs?

     In a research experiment, Huang, Chou, and Lin studied blog readers' motives for following blogs. They found three main motives: affective (or emotional) exchanges; information search and entertainment; and fun. They found "readers who focus on affective exchanges tend to believe messages on blogs, interact with bloggers, and spread messages to others...The information search and entertainment [motivated] blog readers who focus on information can find something they trust, and blog readers who read just for fun similarly believe blogs are a trustworthy medium..." (Huang 354). I understand that reading blogs is like connecting with the author, but I grew up with technology and am more comfortable browsing the web, scanning blogs and becoming acquainted with bloggers' opinions than generations before me may be. Does that gap in age have to do with the confidence younger generations have in the internet and blogs?

     In comparison of how my mother dabbles in the blogging world, and her adept inability to understand much of the new technological capabilities, she spends less time on blogs than Emily P., a new mom. As a report by Krayewski on the study entitled "Why Y Women?" explains that the rising generation, Gen Y, women were "found to be more influenced by blogs – those written by professionals, as well as those written by people with whom the women can identify." This growing influence of blogs on the rising generation corresponds to the increase in usage of social media networks that allow people to share opinions, information, and gossip, whether it be anonymously or not. And because of the confession aspect of blogs, a personal bond between the author and reader becomes stronger, which increases the influence the author has, as the reader develops trust in the writer.

   How then, can mothers impact others by blogging? Lee-Ann Khoh says, "The blog has enabled more and more ordinary citizens to become "manipulators" of information and the media. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves however they like, whenever they like." While some mothers use blogs as a way to share happy details, or the exciting events that happen, some use blogs as a mode of venting their struggles, worries, and mishaps from the view of a parent. Both types of blogging styles may manipulate, or influence, readers' opinions about motherhood, depending on how it is represented in blog posts. 

Retrieved from personal image archives.

3703pattersonplace.blogspot.com

     How often do you see pictures like that on the left where a child is clearly not enjoying life, as opposed to pictures similar to the one on the right, where a child is in all-innocence, completely happy? Some mother bloggers may wish to keep circumstances that are not all 'fine and dandy' to themselves; others don't mind sharing--negative experiences can help mothers reading the blog to learn from them. One mother blogger, Allison, describes her situation without camouflaging any unpleasant aspects of her life:

Motherhood is a multifaceted job – much like a gemstone that you hold in your hand turning in the light watching the angles and corners and surfaces glimmer and shine different, unexpected ways, only with more poop. As a mom I’m both hero and villain. I’m playmate and disciplinarian, teacher and student, and a bunch of other less glamorous things like...insomniac, bathroom coach...I have more roles than I can list because new ones arise every day. Am I an expert nail cutter, splinter-getter-outer? I am now. And, as a feather in my lovely mom-cap, as one last sexy thing I do, I plunge toilets. Often.

     As she states her role so openly, Allison shares with her audience not the wonderful world of motherhood that others should aspire to, but her reality, which includes many unfavorable jobs. Because Allison discusses many hardships she faces, her readers will not be influenced into feeling dismal about their own abilities as mothers; but rather, they can take comfort that things do not always happen as planned. I do not find her blog negative; it relates blurbs from her everyday life that characterize her family's personality, struggles, and triumphs in a way that does not idolize her role as a mother, neither does it condemn motherhood, despite ever-present trials. An example of a trying time for a mother is shown in the video below. A mom blogger Katie, put together an entertaining video for her blog, showcasing her son and his unwillingness to eat solids, which frustrated Katie. She shows her readers that life is not all-fun-all-the-time, but that raising a child is hard work. However, she does so by connecting to her readers using a comical approach. Perhaps the technique of humor is a way to take her exasperating experience, such as baby Kai's refusal to eat solid foods, and try to make it into a better situation.

 katieandjyri.blogspot.com

     Despite what I had learned about blogs and their influence, I was still unsure if 'mommy blogs' truly affect younger mothers. But then I came across the blog of a Media Arts student that reviewed and analyzed a presentation by C. Jane Kendrick. The author of the blog, David, says, "Mommy blogs that are not an accurate representation of motherhood (either in a utopian or dystopian way) are not empowering." What he is saying is that blogs representing only the good or the bad, fail to influence with the same power because they are ineffectual in illustrating the complete picture of motherhood. This was a new idea to me, that, perhaps, 'mommy blogs' need to have the whole story to be influential. 

     During my conversation with my friend, I asked if blogs depict a seemingly ideal life, affected her as a mother. She laughed and replied, "Life isn't that perfect." I agreed with her answer; everybody faces hard times, even if they choose not to broadcast it to the world. And her response supports David's statement, as the blog proved to be unable to influence her. Then I realized that she is now a mother of three, so could it be that she was more influenced when she was starting out as a new mother? She pondered this and responded that her attentiveness to the 'cheesiness' (as she called the too-cheery impression some blogs give) and detecting how the story was embellished to add interest, not influence was not as fine-tuned at first, but that her opinion took time to form, as she gained her own experiences as a parent.

     Throughout the research process, I continually looked to the young moms that I know to give me insights into their blogging world. Many times I grew frustrated as their answers did not match with what I believed was the 'right answer,' that of course the blogs influence them because of either a general negativity in the blogs they read, or a too-perfect world that some bloggers write about. Not until reviewing the scholarly articles with the blogs, as well as these moms' responses, that I realized the blogs with the most impact on mothers are the ones that display motherhood in all its glory and hardships, those that do not bury true insights into motherhood. For those are the blogs that will provide the most guidance and comfort for new mothers, and those are the blogs that will truly have a great influence.

Works Cited

Huang, Li-Shia, Yu-Jen Chou, and Che-Hung Lin. "The Influence of Reading Motives on the Responses after Reading Blogs." CyberPsychology & Behavior 11.3 (2008): 351-355. Print.

Lawrence, Heidi. "Bless Me Blogger, for I Have Sinned: Community and Rhetoric of Confession in the Genre of the Blog." ENG 503: Theory and Practice of Editing class of the English MA program. George Mason University. print.

Blog #15 Matilda Jarvis

I had a really hard time choosing a topic for this assignment, but I have found one that is being debated (though I don't understand why) and I have a strong opinion about: Whether 'Mormons' are Christians or not.

The blog, Mormons ARE Christians looks at the definition of Christians, as well as several aspects of being a Christian versus the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as baptism, the deity of Jesus Christ, and the atonement. The author is a blogger who has several blogs relating to Christian belief. The blog appealed to me because it lays out the evidence in a way that is unbiased, that is not written to criticize or offend anybody. Most articles relating to this issue are very much pro- or anti- mormons as christians.
http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/

The second blog, Diapers and Divinity, is written by a Mormon mother. In the article, she actually interviews her son, an eight-year-old who was recently baptized into the church, to talk about the beliefs of the church. I love that he is being interviewed because everyone can choose whether or not to join the church, and as children, they are taught the principles, and are given the opportunity to decide if they want to join or not. It is nice to have someone outside of politics, or any fired-up adult for that matter, and here it true and simple, from a child.
http://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/10/10/are-mormons-christians/


I chose the third blog, written by a Southern Baptist, because he sort of argues against mormons being christian. He looks at, what he thinks to be, disagreeing principles of christians and mormons, and says that mormons are christians, but that they are...different. I wanted a disagreeing article, and chose this one, even though it is very critical, because I was interested in seeing different perspectives to the issue at hand.
http://journeytoorthodoxy.blogspot.com/2007/09/are-mormons-christians.html

The fourth blog had a video from the most recent General Conference broadcast given by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The speaker is one of the twelve apostles, part of the general authority for the church. He gives a talk as to the confirming mormons of being christians. The author is a member. I chose this because I have heard the talk before, and remembered that it spoke of the issue.
http://i-have-a-testimony.blogspot.com/2011/10/are-mormons-christians-yes.html

Blog #14 Matilda Jarvis

In Everything's a Text, I like how it says that by blogging, and allowing readers to comment that we invite "our readers to join the conversation" (Melzer and Coxwell-Teague 295). I like to think of blogging as a world-wide conversation, since most are open to the public, so sharing opinions is easier. Also, to think of what we blog about as a conversation means that we see different opinions and views to issues, which we may not have thought of ourselves.
Also, I was struck by the sentence, "As with free speech itself, what we say isn't as important as the system that enables us to say it" (Melzer and Coxwell-Teague 297). That's deep. First reading this, I was kind of confused. But thinking about it, I realize it may be true, as well as how we say it; if we say something, whatever it may be, but if it is said in a mean, condescending tone (orally or online) it will not be received well, just like 'free speech.' However, if we share our opinions in a way that is not overbearing, but more conversational through a system that allows many to share their ideas and for the issue to be discussed, that is when some of the best ideas are constructed.

Blog #13 Matilda Jarvis

In chapter five of the Pearson text, I like how it says the focus of an exploratory essay is to "dwell on a problem--and not necessarily to solve that problem...What matters is that you are actively engaged with your problem and demonstrate why it is problematic" (109). Sometimes I feel like I have to get down the bottom of the problem and fix it, whether it be in a paper or in general. This tells me it's okay to not have an answer to everything--problems simply need to be acknowledged before anything can be done to solve them, and an exploratory essay is one way to alert others to the situation. Later in the chapter, Ramage, Bean, and Johnson say "Although you might feel that sentences that show your mind talking its way through your research will sound too informal, they actually work well in exploratory essays to create interest and capture your critical thinking" (115). This is what I struggled with most while writing the exploratory essay. I have gotten so used to formal writing, that using "I" or explaining my research on a personal level was a completely different concept to use for an essay; but once I got into it, I realized how much more interesting (and relatable) my writing was with the technique.

In chapter nine, talking about citation, it says, "An in-text citation and its corresponding Works Cited entry are linked in a chicken-and-egg system: You can't cite a source in the text without first knowing how the source's entry will be alphabetized in the Works Cited list" (Ramage, Bean, and Johnson 222). Well, I mainly thought this was funny, but then I thought about the whole relationship between the source and the citation of it, and it makes sense. When others read an essay, they need to be able to verify where the information comes from, and citing it in the text and works cited is crucial to that proof and support.

I like how in chapter eight, it gives the three ways to incorporate sources: summary, paraphrase, and quotation. For the summary, it highly suggests to keep it as brief as possible (clear and concise) so as to keep the reader focused on your argument (Ramage, Bean, and Johnson 203). I agree with this, because it is important to give the information from your source, and some context as well, but it is perhaps even more crucial for an argument to keep it on-topic, and not relate every single detail from the source--it can be boring. But a clear and concise summary of the information is a step towards a truly awesome essay.

Blog #11 Matilda Jarvis

haha, I thought these two kind of went together. :)

:D These two cartoons show how absolutely reliant people have become on technology.
 We look at the first and think how ridiculous it is; no one would be that obsessed to hurt themselves, but look at the logos--accidents happen everyday when people text and drive, or fall down the stairs because they were focusing on a status update.
Also, they make you think, or do the believing and doubting game: are people really so hooked on, and attached to the cyber world in the palm of their hands? Is the internet replacing human communication?

Blog #10 Double-Entry Matilda Jarvis

 Matilda's Double-Entry Research-Log  --pardon the formatting...it was a pain. (I underlined the main points that I commented on, as the language they use is rather academic). 

“The Air’s Got to be Far Cleaner Here” Journal Entry           

October 2, 2011

Hugh-Jones, Siobhan, and Anna Madill. "'The air's got to be far cleaner here': A discursive analysis of place-identity threat." British Journal of Social Psychology 48.4 (2009): 601-624. Sociological Collection. EBSCO. Web. 2 Oct. 2011.

Article for the British Journal of Social Psychology.

-“Identity is a complex concept encapsulating what is perceived to be unique about a person, (usually thought of as personal or self identity)…Over the last 25 years, there has been a movement away from theorizing identity purely in terms of essential characteristics of the individual and towards more contextualized understandings. In social and environmental psychology, this development has generated numerous constructs that allow exploration of the role of place in the formation and maintenance of identity, for example place-attachment…place identity…and place dependence” (Hugh-Jones and Madill 601-602).

-->I didn't know that place wasn't considered a part of identity until 25 years ago--but I think that place has a very strong impact on identity.

-“[Proshansky et al.] argue that the key characteristics of self-identity will be reflected in place-identity, namely distinctiveness (from others outside that place), continuity (of place in which self is preserved as a specific type of person), self-esteem (where place permits enhancement), and self-efficacy (where the environment facilitates a chosen life-style” (Hugh-Jones and Madill 602).

-->I didn't even think about how efficacy (productiveness, success) could be determined by the identity of an individual in a place, but it makes sense: I am more productive in certain places than I am when I am surrounded by all kinds of distractions. 

-“However, more recent evidence suggest that individuals interact with their environment at a conscious level at certain times… that people actively seek out places that support or reaffirm their sense of self (Manzo, 2003). Similarly, Hormuth (1990) argues that people actively choose environments that are congruent with their self-concept, for example when relocating to mark a new phase in one's life (Twigger-Ross & Uzzell, 1996). Thus, the current perspective on place-identity is that settings permit the conscious, as well as unconscious, maintenance, development, expression, and affirming of identities (Kyle et al,, 2004; Twigger-Ross & Uzzell, 1996). Moreover, as who we are is intimately related to where we are (Barnes, 2000), and hence subject to change, place-identity is viewed increasingly as a dynamic construction (Lefebvre, 1991).” (Hugh-Jones and Madill 602-603).

-->I completely agree with the statement: "who we are is intimately related to where we are." But, is it because of the location or because of certain things we associate with that place, or does it even matter?

Conclusion: This article has to do with how people identify themselves in regards to their environmental location, how they relate to their environment. The experiment had to do with individual's opinion of their area's environmental conditions. The experiment was conducted to show results on a broad level (such as how the people's opinion of their environment related to how they identified with the local area), but the findings can be applied to the more specific question I raised.

Diversity in the person, diversity in the group: Challenges of identity complexity for social perception and social interaction

October 2, 2011

Bodenhausen, GV. "Diversity in the person, diversity in the group: Challenges of identity complexity for social perception and social interaction." European Journal of Social Psychology 40.1 (2010): 1-16. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 2 Oct. 2011.

Journal article, review for European Journal of Social Psychology.

-"In the Roccas and Brewer (2002) model of social identity complexity, compartmentalization represents a more complex form of identification in which different identities come to the fore in different circumstances (see also Amiot et al., 2007). This idea clearly resonates with the main themes of self-categorization theory (Turner et al., 1987). Another research tradition that fits well with the notion of compartmentalization is work on cultural frame-switching in bicultural persons (Hong, Morris, Chiu, & Benet- Martínez, 2000). Here the idea is that bicultural individuals often possess two distinct cultural identities that take turns controlling processes of self-regulation in different contexts, depending on situational cues to the relevance of a given identity. One such cue may be language, and some research suggests that when using different languages, people appear to be expressing different personalities, presumably due to the invocation of different, culturally defined norms for behavior within each group of language users (Ramírez-Esparza, Gosling, Benet-Martínez, Potter, & Pennebaker, 2004)” (Bodenhausen 8).

-->With my bilingual background, I have noticed what is described here: that when I am speaking with my mother in Finnish, I tend to act differently than when I am at school, or around friends speaking in English (it is not intensely noticeable, but because I have picked up on it, I now recognize it better).

“They argued that momentary social identity salience is influenced by a number of variables, including motivational states (such as a desire for distinctiveness or assimilation; see Brewer, 1991), the situational relevance (normative fit) of an identity, the visibility and contextual distinctiveness of a given identity (see Nelson & Miller, 1995), others’ reactions and expectations, etc. Once salient, these categories can then determine which goals and norms are salient as well as guide perceptions of other team members (Early & Mosakowski, 2000; Randel, 2002)” (Bodenhausen 9).

-->Okay, so our social identity is influenced by "others' reactions and expectations." Is that specific to an environment?

“Until identity integration occurs, the distinct identities may be perceived as oppositional, and individuals may feel that their social identities are not valued. Swann, Polzer, Seyle, and Ko (2004) argued that people in groups seek verification of both their personal and their social identities. They report evidence indicating that verification of personal self-views results in better interpersonal dynamics within a group, while verification of social self-views results in greater commitment to the group as a whole.” (Bodenhauser 11).

-->People look for verification of their identities while in a group, an identity personal and unique to themselves, and an identity that makes them a part of the group. So, does this combination of the personal and social identities cause the difference in behavior, or representation of identities, when in different locations, because of the people that define the group that act as an influence?

Conclusion: This article focused on the individual's identity within a group. It has several ideas centered around actors, "using their different self-aspects as a framework for guiding their interactions with the social world" (Bodenhauser 1).

Blog #9

My topic is about how a person's representation of their true identity changes based on where they are. Is this seeming change in personality directly related to the people in specific environments? Do people act differently because it is expected of them to 'fit the mold' of that environment?

Blog #8 "First Writing Since"

    Suheir Hammad shows all of the pain she is carrying in her "First Writing Since." The logos she uses, facts such as when she says, "last night Bush waged war on a man once openly funded by the cia" (Hammad 3.13). The information she includes are relative to the nation, but because of them, there were very personal effects on her own city. Hammad's ethos, or credibility comes from her identity with the city, that she "[has] never felt less american, and more new yorker" (Hammad 4.03). Because she has this connection with the city, her words have more meaning, or credibility to those who are listening, as the images she relates are a part of her emotional struggle.
    Hammad uses, of Aristotle's rhetorical appeals, pathos most profoundly. The emotion in her poem relates the hurt and anger towards racism; the despair and heartache for those who have lost loved ones; and the concern and sympathy for not only the people she knows, but those who are strangers, those who are hurting. She says, "i don't know what to think. but I know for sure who will pay. in the world, it will be women, mostly colored and poor. women will have to bury children, and support themselves through grief. 'either you are with us, or with the terrorists'" (Hammad 3.34). This conveys the awfulness of what mothers have to go through,  to bury their children and endure the agony that comes with it. It also shows that races are treated with prejudice: "one more person assume they know me, or that i represent a people. or that a people represent an evil. or that evil is as simple as a flag and words on a page" (Hammad 2.21).

Homework #8 Matilda Jarvis

     In chapter five, I found three important elements of an exploratory essay: explaining multiple possibilities/angles so the reader is not caught following a single idea; expressing the thinking process that occurs during research; and revise to keep the essay clear and concise, yet interesting.
"The essential move for exploratory thinking and writing is to keep a problem alive through consideration of multiple solutions or points of views...The thinker resists closure--that is, resists settling too soon on a thesis" (Rammage, Bean, and Johnson 107). Following this, readers have the opportunity to come to their own conclusions, while being lead down a thought path that the writer creates. For this reason, it is important for several points of view to be expressed to show the benefits and downfalls of the possibilities.

     Rammage, Bean, and Johnson say,"...the goal when writing with an exploratory aim is to reproduce the research and thinking process, taking the readers on the same intellectual and emotional journey you have just traveled" (Rammage, Bean, and Johnson 113). It is important to show the readers the thought process you go through so they can clearly understand and make connections from one thought to another.


    Lastly, revising makes a phenomenal difference. The essay may be well thought out, and have an emotional appeal, but it might run too long, leaving the readers with a growing detachment and straying thoughts.  Therefore, "when [writers] revise, their major concern is to improve their essay's interest level by keeping it focused and lively. Often drafts need to be pruned to remove the extraneous details and keep the pace moving...achieve the right balance between summarizing sources and showing the evolution of [their] own thinking" (Rammage, Bean, and Johnson 115). 

Homework #7 Matilda Jarvis

     In this chapter from Kimmel's Guyland, he dives into the pressures that males have to conform to a certain way of acting, speaking, and feeling--or rather, not feeling. A former football player, Don comments on his coach's behavior: "He'd completely humiliate us for showing anything but complete toughness. I'm sure he thought he was building up our strength and ability to play, but it wore me out trying to pretend all the time, to suck it up and just take it" (Kimmel 47). This hit me because of its harshness, and I feel that this method is not as 'practiced' as it was in the years past, but then again, I'm not a guy and wouldn't actually know except for what I have heard. But I do understand the pressure that this situation would present--trying to keep this mask of composure while being humiliated with everyone watching.
    Kimmel says, "What these theories fail to account for is the way that masculinity is coerced and policed relentlessly by other guys. If it were biological, it would be as natural as breathing or blinking. In truth, the Guy Code fits as comfortably as a straightjacket" (Kimmel 51). This describes the strain of intimidation that males feel to conform to a designated behavior. Thank goodness these "manly characteristics" are not inherited. Not only would men be insanely unoriginal, but for males to be completely unfeeling would lead to destruction and mayhem.

Homework #6 Matilda Jarvis

   In Tropes vs. Women explores the recurring theme of a 'manic pixie dream girl' that Hollywood uses as a support for the hero. Nathan Rabin defines is as "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures" (Feminist Frequency). Yes, there are cases of this in movies, but I think that it is becoming more common to have a female as the heroine of the story. In such cases, there are male supports, so are they the 'manic pixie dream boys'?
Another point they made was that "the manic pixie perpetuates the myth of women as caregivers at our very core, that we can go fix these lonely, sad men so that they can go fix the world" (Feminist Frequency). Again, maybe women have a more nurturing nature, but that's certainly not all we do, nor does that describe every female, especially in movies.

   Doofy Husbands: Target Women begins by saying, "Being a woman isn't easy: we work, we take care of the house, we raise children, and we do it all without a shred of help from those lumbering man-beasts known as husbands" (Haskins). It's noteworthy that the stay-at-home mom's work is being acknowledged--it's hard work--but staying at home wouldn't be possible, in this case, if the husband weren't bring in an income for her to do so. So, he's not all together such a 'lumbering man-beast.' This video clip then discusses the before and after of husbands: "Remember what he was like in commercials before he was a husband. Just a fun single dude, driving his awesome car or motorcycle...he was so cool. And then he met you and got married. And now he's slightly dumber than a dog" (Haskins). Harsh words. And not true. But the commercial and advertising industry certainly plays on this as a way to target wives to buy their products.

Homework #5 Matilda Jarvis

   Deborah Tannen's There is No Unmarked Woman shows how women are 'marked' in society, but also gives the contradictory side of the argument to say that men are marked instead of women. Though she gives both sides to the problem, Tannen clearly conveys what she believes: "I suddenly wondered why I was scrutinizing only the women. I scanned the eight men at the table. And then I knew why I wasn't studying them. The men's styles were unmarked" (Tannen 141). In my personal experience, I have to agree with this. While men can vary in their styles, the difference is the most noticeable among women. However, Tannen concludes the text with somewhat of a despondent statement: "I felt sad to think that we women didn't have the freedom to be unmarked that the men sitting next to us had. Some days you just want to get dressed and go about your business. But if you're a woman, you can't, because there is no unmarked woman" (Tannen 145). I disagree with this opinion--sure, sometimes it is difficult to be judged by what you wear, but it helps define you as a unique individual, and that is never something to mourn over.

    I found August's Real Men Don't: Anti-Male Bias in English to be overly severe and perhaps exaggerate much of the evidence, though I don't mean to be offensive and speak lightly of the topic. August says, "As Paul Theroux defines it, be a man means: 'Be stupid, be unfeeling, obedient and soldierly, and stop thinking'" (August 134). This is the polar opposite of my experience; the times I have witnessed this usage of this phrase, it has been to encourage a guy to use his brains and think for himself, to use his judgment (which includes feelings), and to be courageous. Even if, like August says the expression means "that the boy is about to suffer something painful or humiliating" (August 134), it does not mean for him to be as described by Theroux, as stupid and obedient, but to use common sense and reason to figure out how to act in a situation. If that means that he will stand by quietly while being mocked, then it is not because he is not thinking and being soldierly, but because that option is better than the alternative, and he has the courage to endure it.

Homework #2 Matilda Jarvis

In chapter one of Everything's a Text, a potent statement stood out which read: "Critical literacy educators argue that an important part of being literate is being aware of the relationship between language and power..." (Melzer and Coxwell-Teague 3). This struck me because it's true; language has an effect on people, whether you are the one speaking (or writing) or the one hearing (or reading) someone else's words. Literacy comes into play as you make the connections, and understand the purpose and meaning of the words.
Another hot spot followed Mos Def's "Dollar Day" when the motivation for message rap was being looked at: "The primary purposes of songs in the subgenre of message rap are to make a political statement by exposing injustices and to persuade the audience to take action" (Melzer and Coxwell-Teague 21). This really shows the power of literacy (awareness of the connection between language and power) as "Dollar Day" explores and provokes thoughts about events that relate to the audience. The rap is a passionate call to its listeners to become more conscious of what is happening, and to inspire them to take action.

In the Pearson text, I realized the way we have been taught in high school to write essays is just fine and dandy for certain situations, but I regret not having the opportunity to write more creative and "less structured" pieces as well. For, "to become a better writer...the most crucial thing is to have 'a good, interesting question'" (Ramage, Bean and Johnson 1). Writing  essays was a pain until I made sure to choose topics (when I could) that I really cared about, and that I wanted to know about enough that researching it would be worth the work. Continuing this subject, the authors say, "By 'thought-provoking,' we mean questions that don't have simple 'right answers' but that invite 'possible answers' supported by different lines of reasoning, speculation, and argument" (Ramage, Bean and Johnson 11). These types of questions are the ones we should have been taught to explore. Sometimes in persuasive writing, especially in high school, it is more difficult to add counter-information because it goes against the thesis; but by exploring the possible answers, readers are able to make their own decisions while learning about the subject and the author's opinion.

Homework #3 Matilda Jarvis

In What's I Got to Do with It?, Hamilton writes emphasizing the role that personal literacy plays in an individual's identity. She borrows quotes from others to showcase the importance of personal literacy. In one such quotation, Shaugnessy remarks on the situation of students entering college in reference to their personal literacies:

College both beckons and threatens them, offering to teach them useful ways of thinking and talking about the world, promising even to improve the quality of their lives, but threatening at the same time to take away from their distinctive ways of interpreting the world, to assimilate them into the culture of academic without acknowledging their experiences as outsiders. (Melzer and Coxwell-Teague 65)

It is a powerful statement; that the exposure to knowledge taught in a certain way actually weakens the individual's power to interpret what they experience. Now, the question: is it true? I think, some students rely heavily on what they are taught--the teacher's way is the only way--especially since that is what the schools have ingrained into their minds from very early years. However, I still do not believe it to be entirely true. Rather, the perspectives in college offer a new light to view the world; and instead of diminishing that unique view, they refine the individual's outlook on the world.

Anzaldúa writes about the significance of variety in society, customs, and lifestyles: "Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity. I am my language" (Melzer and Coxwell-Teague 67). I immediately agreed with her declaration of how ethnic identity corresponding directly to linguistic identity, but the more I think about it, the more I hesitate to support it fully. True, language is one of the key elements to ethnic identity, but as today's world is ever becoming more connected and children, starting in middle school, begin to study a new language, perhaps the statement loses its full potency. For myself, my first language was Finnish, and English my second. Though my linguistic identity holds the two languages, I ethnically identify more readily with one more than the other. So, is it completely true? or is it losing its full meaning as the people in the world begin adding to their linguistic identities?

Homework #4 Matilda Jarvis

     Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" provides examples of open form prose. Already in the second sentence, does this become clear as Tan writes, "I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the English language and its variations in this country or others" (Tan 113). Is this an explicitly stated thesis that tells the reader the argument the essay is making? No, rather this essay explores the idea, or theme, of the English language, based on Tan's experiences. She continues by explaining that she contemplates "...the power of language--the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth" (Tan 113). Her statement supports the fact that this text is uses open form prose as it not only presents an idea, but also offers a human significance as language evokes powerful reactions. Another element found with open form prose is the usage of anecdotes to organize the text. Tan shares several stories from her own experiences to add strength to her writing. In one such example, Tan says, "When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. In this guise, I was forced to ask for information or even complain and yell at people who had been rude to her" (Tan 114). With this anecdote, Tan conveys the emotional struggle she and her mother went through because of language differences.
     I believe this essay is meant for adolescents, those who are outgrowing their childhood, and have felt uncomfortable, or embarrassed, that they were raised with traditions different from "normal." For "Mother Tongue" describes Tan's own discomfort and how she overcame it with the realization that "...[her] mother's English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It's [Tan's] mother tongue" (Tan 114).
     "Mother Tongue" complies with the genre conventions of an essay as it presents an idea, and gives supporting evidence to persuade and evoke from its readers emotions and reflections of situations in their own lives.