Choices and Constraints

Part 1: Essay

Introduction

Choice refers to an act of choosing between two or more possibilities while constraint refers to something which controls what someone does by keeping them within particular limits. There is a claim that ‘People face a range of both choices and constraints in making and remaking their lives. This paper will draw on material from two strands of DD102, making lives and connecting lives, to discuss this believe that individuals remake and make their lives though not completely in circumstances of their choices (Woodward, 2014 p44). To start with, making lives addresses how individuals make and as well remake their lives though not in the occurrence of their own choice. Via focusing on the consumption and shopping power an individual studies how social lives are made and remade as well as how people’s identities and self are nurtured by the relationship of the people with other individuals. Additionally, this strand examines the constraints and opportunities which influence people’s ability to belong to a consumer society. On the other hand, connecting lives is the way people are related to each other as well as the connection of places and things. This section also addresses the different ways that people and their social lives are made and remade via connections to as well as disconnections from other places and individuals. Moreover, it addresses how people see others, themselves as well as the places where they live, highlighting the importance of sociology dissertation help in understanding these dynamics.

People make their own lives via their daily choices; such as the people they engage with and activities which they engage in. In a consumer society, people make and remake their lives through specific ways like eating at certain restaurants, developing a certain image with clothing as well as the choice of certain shops where they purchase their products. These choices can also contribute to a relationship because of the interactions people have daily. Moreover, it also results in separation from other social classes and circles. Additionally, in a society people form relationships and as well separate themselves based on various factors like social class and race (Staples M., pg 39).

On the other hand, some circumstances offer no choices to an individual, rather, people are constraints by the occurrences. For instance, social class divisions are an example of segregation as well as integration within the society and usually starts by the higher social classes choosing not to interact with individuals from the lower class. Social segregation can be simply be referred to as the act of building of boundaries between social classes. These boundaries create a relationship within a group and as well create a disconnection with the low-class individuals. For instance, in his writing Karl Marx associated inequalities in social class to individual’s work as well as their positions in the economy. (Woodward, 2014, p110) The theorist argued that capitalist community was divided into two social classes- the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In other words, this meant the lower class who were forced to sell its labor to survive. The other class is the capitalist who employed the working class. In this case, the working class are forced to work to survive which shows it is not a matter of choice rather they must work- constraint. The fact that the low-class people are working for the capitalist to make their lives is an indication of how People face a range of constraint in making and remaking their lives.

The other strand is Connecting lives. This focuses on how connection patters and disconnections produce inequalities as well as differences. Connecting lives is a wide field that ranges from daily life intimate connections where people’s personality are bound up with their relationships with other people. Currently, being connected has become an element of concern since the contemporary world experience adverse new connections and mobility, for instance, people's migration across borders as well as within countries. Some of these connections are hurried due to the accessibility of communication platforms such as mobile phones among other platforms where communications take place in individuals’ lives.

The huge migration of people from the countryside to the towns in the United Kingdom in the 19th century is a significant dissection from the people culture, place, relatives, etc. the process created patterns of broken connections as well as new attachments and connections. This movement is a matter of choice as people try to make and remake their lives. This voluntary migration had several advantages in that, it reduced unemployment as people got better job opportunities in the industries. Additionally, the quality of life of the migrants was greatly improved. Moreover, it helped improve an individual's social life of people when they learned a new culture as well as customs. On the other hand, the migrants were forced to shift from agricultural dependency to industrial work (Woodward, 2014 p.159). Additionally, this migration severed original connections which are involuntary -constraint. This impact is witnessed among many migrants, including the current global shifting where people experience a sudden violent twist from a known past to an unknown future. As it is known, Migration increases slum areas in cities, therefore, resulting to unhygienic conditions, as well as crimes which I suggest, are constraint since no one chooses to commit crime or even live in an area where there is no hygiene. This is to mean that our daily choices are accompanied by many unchosen circumstances- constraint, therefore we can say that regardless of whether a circumstance is preferred or not, People must face a range constraint in making and remaking their lives.

Sometimes, in making and remaking people’s lives there are a lot of consequential constraints which force people to live differently from their expectations. For instance, Woodward, 2014 p.152), argue of Street People undergo several disconnection forms raging from home, to work as well as family networks. Such disconnections also create unforeseen constraints known as inequalities which are accompanied by income loss, loss of residence and the result is poverty. This is to mean that people from the Street are often poor and as well as socially excluded. The poor on the other hand ends up being treated as abnormal and ‘failures which is not as a result of choice but circumstances. From this feeling of being neglected, such people mostly connect to others who are in similar inequality, therefore, forming a low ethnicity, social class, disability as well as race. Based on my understanding, these formations are due to unchosen circumstances rather than choices. Moreover, such group formation results in people organizing to challenge how their shared identity is associated with low humanity. This shows the number of consequences which result from the choice of migration from upcountry to towns. In most cases, these choices/consequences are not indented. This also is a clear indication of how people face a number of choices and constraints while making and remaking their lives.

Additionally, In the connection strand, (Woodward, 2014 p.165), suggest that classification system which places people to social class based on an individual 's consumption of products as well as service. Looking at (Woodward, 2014 p.165) the study argues that liking opera may mean that an individual possesses high cultural capital. This reflects consumer society's interest which was earlier encountered in the strand of ‘Making lives’. Currently, consumption is a more crucial technique of differentiating people based on taste as well as culture. Though several social scientists seem to give less weight to economic factors concerning this issue, the fact is that consumption is the choice of a consumer, though, the act of being categorized based on what an individual consumes as per my view is a constraint which no one chooses though it occurs. It is therefore evident that some types of connections are as a matter choice while disconnections occur due to forced circumstances. Regardless of this, there are some disconnections as well as connections which are significant to others as people try to make and remake their lives. Sometimes these connections fail to work as expected and at other times come with negative consequences which force people to accept and live with them. Same issues like poverty may reproduce itself for time and even stay unchanged for a generation. Though it is an unwanted outcome, it is not by choice but constraint which people sometimes face while trying to make ad remake their lives.

In conclusion, in life, people face several choices and constraints while making and remaking their lives. Live has very may challenges which everyone has to Deal with. These rages from emotions, toxic people such as annoying friends, arrogant partners, unfairness in life as well as unemployment. Sometimes, people make choices which result in constraints which are too as a result of socio-economic position. Moreover, constraints may be cultural, economic or even related to ethnicity, race, disability as well as gender. Since people make choices daily which sometimes turns to be negative, it is evident that before making ad remaking of people life, there is a lot of constraints and choices.

Part 2: Self-reflection

Skills I Developed

First, DD102 has helped me develop creative thinking skills. From the discussion, I have developed a skill to analyses every choice before taking action. This skill will be important in answering future questions, being creative enough to handle personal issues and choosing personal goals and objectives wisely.

Interpersonal skill is another skill that I have learned from this course. From learning how social class, inequality and social behaviors affect people. I have learned to handle everyone with due respect to avoid the consequences of negative behavior. This skill will be important in dealing with people from different background, appreciating difference among people and as well help me achieve my dream to come up with a charity organization.

Continue your exploration of Detailed Analysis and Discussion of Research Findings with our related content.

Lastly, my research skills have been sharped and my knowledge to cite work and appreciate other authors has been advanced. This will help me while advancing my studies and as well as help other students do their research.

References

• Woodward, K. (2014) ‘Reflections on “Connecting lives”’, in Clarke, J. and Woodward, K. (Eds.) DD102 Understanding Social Lives, Part 2, Milton Keynes, The Open University.