English Club on Social Characteristics

Fun Fact of the Day: “The United States has paved enough roads to circle the Earth over 150 times” (www.funfactz.com).
Topic:
1. What are “social characteristics”? What categories exist for dividing individuals into social groups? Do you think these are valid and important divisions or rather inconsequential? How do social characteristics affect us on a daily basis?
2. Do you have any social characteristics that you are particularly proud of? Is there any social trait that you identify yourself with more than others? Why do you think you stress this particular characteristic or trait?
3. On the contrary, are there any social characteristics that you do not like to think about or are maybe even ashamed of? Is there anything that you would like to change about yourself or your position in life? If so, what would you change and why?
4. How do the following social characteristics help create our identities: marital status, gender, social status, financial status, belonging to certain groups (maybe religious or cultural), etc.? Which of these categories do you think people tend to identify with more than others? Why might they do so?

5. How are stereotypes and prejudices sometimes related to social characteristics? What common stereotypes might be associated with the social characteristics mentioned in the previous question? How can we help combat these prejudices?

6. Do you think that social characteristics will further define and help create personal identities in the future, or do you think that their importance will diminish over time?
Do you think that our society can ever really function without labeling individuals as members of certain groups or social identities? Why or why not?
Schedule: Saturday, 13 October at 10:30, Thursday, 18 October at 5:30.