https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/family-surviving-canned-spaghetti-because-184400230.html
The Government shutdown has affected millions of American citizens and by any definition is a macro sociological issue. But in this weeks news I saw an article that essentially “zoomed in” on this issue. The article titled ‘My Family Is Surviving on Canned Spaghetti Because of the Government Shutdown” written by Taylor Andrews, focuses on private troubles to remind us how personal the government shut down really is. The shutdown is harming families, and in this case Rachel Jones and her children. This social issue relates to so many different theories, ideas, and phenomena. The idea of private troubles and public issues being intertwined is very common and is definitely not a new idea. For example, this is seen in symbolic interactionalism. An ideology that states “the self is shaped by society, but society is also shaped by the self”. Individuals in the United States all are under the rule and regulation of the Government and therefore “shaped by” the Government. At the same time the Government is made up of individuals and therefore we as American citizens “shape” the Government, a cycle that is essentially never-ending. This story is also an example of structural functionalism because our government is one of the biggest social institutions that make up our society. According to the theory of functionalism each structure has a specific function or role that they play in society, but because of the government shutdown, the government is now not performing their function in society. Thus, severely affecting the well-being of all the individuals that are apart of society. The article I read about Rachel Jones not being paid appeals to the readers emotion and makes this issue more about the individuals who are affected by the issue and less about the large scale institutions involved.
An interview was used to conduct this research because it gives personal insight and emotion that could not be understood through surveys and observation. The personal story of one family alongside big statistics of the general public is sufficient for understanding the severity of the social issue. I have read plenty of statistics and seen big numbers about the government shutdown but this story unlike anything else has stuck with me because it is so personal. The Government plays a huge role in society and society plays a huge role in the Government. We have to remember the social and economical issues around us while addressing people and their private troubles, because private troubles and public issues always go hand and hand.
Maggie Fredricks
sociology 107 