Hello, again dear reader. I am sorry that I have to write with major gaps in posting time, however, I hope what I can supply to you tonight is something that you can consider. We often talk about how there are many opportunities for people who historically do not have these opportunities, yet we still see the common population taking the jobs. Why is this?
The reason for this essay focusing on a thought, rather than info stems from an interesting physiological study that I would like to recap for you now. Please consider the following scenario:
Let's say that two families are observed by a team of uninterrupted phycologists. Both families are almost identical. One mother, one father, and one son around 10 years old are studying over the course of the year. Now during these tests, the psychologists note that each family behaves as any normal family would. They have dinner together, they go to events, and even have several family bonding activities that make them a tighter-knit unit. However, one difference persists. In several examples of similar experiences, members of the unit are called to socially interact with someone outside the unit, and with drastically different results. In one ramble, both of the families' mothers had to attend a parent-teacher conference and discuss their sons failing the class. One mother communicates with the teacher, asking what can be done to improve their child's behavior and academic rating. The other silently nods along and listens to the teacher, before mumbling a brief apology and then leaving. We see the same example in the son's visits to the doctor's office. One the son of the confident mother asks questions and seems engaged, while the other simply does as his mother, and dissent really interacts beyond the occasional head nod. Of course, the confident family was successful in life, the son went on to graduate from a high-ranking university. The less confident family, on the other hand, continued to push on, often working, all three of them from hand to mouth.
Now, I understand that this is a fairly macabre thought process, dear reader, but what if I told you this was a real study? And that the only difference between the two families was their sense of entitlement?
In a study conducted by the sociologist Annette Lareau, 12 families were pieces of varying race and economic privilege. In it, doctors did exactly as was described above and worked with the families, observing them. What they found was that ultimately, the betterment of a person's life can be determined through their sense of entitlement.
Now when I say entitlement, dear reader, I do not reference the crazy Karens we see constantly on TV but rather the sense of entitlement in the best possible way. The sense to ask questions and assert yourself in certain situations to improve your understanding of concepts. We often talk about how there are many opportunities for people who historically do not have these opportunities, yet we still see the common population taking the jobs. For example, women are beginning to become pilots, however, the industry is still dominated by men. The reason for this? Entitlement. Subconscious entitlement. Many men have the assertiveness to take the opportunity to fly planes, and this is because they have been told they can. Women, on the other hand, have not been explicitly told they can't fly in our modern age of jet travel, but the subconscious lack of entitlement to fly remains and inhibits a faster transition into an equitable flying profession. This can of course be repeated across several fields of study and occupation.
Dear reader, there are so many opportunities, for so many people, but we must realize that our race, our creed, or economic status, does not and cannot determine if we achieve our goals. We must free ourselves from this sense of needing entitlement for our dreams, and achieve what we so desperately hope to
do.
Remember: There is always the chance of a better tomorrow, what can you do to make it a reality.
