Culture, Class, and Inequality COLLAPSE Explain mechanisms of social class reproduction by providing an example and applying sociological concepts such as values, norms (mores and folkways), structure, agency, habitus, and cultural capital

I have immigrant parents who came here for a better life. Long story short, neither my mom nor dad went to college. I have three siblings and my two older sisters did not go to college either so when it was my turn I lacked all motivation and desire. My parents did not have money to send me off to college like my friend’s parents so community college was my only option and that didn’t appeal to me. At the time, like 8 years ago, I should have been applying for scholarships and doing whatever I could to get into the school that I wanted but no one around me was ever doing that so I did not even think me going off to college was even a possibility. Though I had the free will to make things happen, due to my family’s class I did not even try. It was the norm to not go off to college. We still value education, but due to the structure we didn’t choose to make certain decisions. The habitus for me was no one in my family went off to college so it was unrealistic for me to think that I could go. I had the cultural capital to believe in myself about being accepted into a university (good grades, mannerisms and technology) but I didn’t put it to use because of the social class reproduction that was passed down to me. I’ve obviously gotten past that and created my own goals that I will achieve and will hopefully get accepted into UMD next fall, but it takes the agency to get yourself out of the generational mindset.

Subculture

COLLAPSE

One very important ethnic subculture to me would be Latinos/Latinas. My love for dancing Hispanic music has a huge role in that too. I love to dance to "Bachata, Merengue, Salsa" etc. which are all different kinds of music that make up a part of our culture. I love to hang around people who have the same interests as me, such as family and friends who love to dance to my cultures types of music as well. Bonding with these groups of people, who are just like me, make me feel welcomed and very at home. Almost as I am just so very comfortable with them. It is definitely one of my happy places to be or favorite people to socialize around with. Latinos/Latinas is a very important ethnic subculture to me because I grew up around this culture. I have seen how hard people from my culture have worked for the things they have and accomplished over time. My parents came to this country at a very young age to strive and work hard for their citizenships and work hard overall for their future daughters, who became my sisters & I. They have given us so much, I could never thank them so much for all they've done, but it is all because hard work pays over time! I have much respect for my Latino community for all the dedication they give to their families and loved ones. To be able to migrate permanently from your home country to another new one just to look for a better future, all that with leaving your family and loved ones behind for years, in some cases forever, is something I will always have respect for the Latino community. This is a very important subculture to me and always will be!