Soc135

Directions: Listen to the audio file below and then answer the questions that follow. Your response should be at least two pages in length and utilize the vocabulary from chapter 4. Be sure to define the terminology used to help complete your discussion.

Listening to the story we learn a lot about Japan’s microsociology. “Microsociology is the analysis of social life that focuses on social interactions.”( James Henslin Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach, Tenth Edition Pearson Custom Publishing.) Japan culture is very old and has a long history of social structure. The idea of honor and respect is very important in Japanese life. This is a good example of macrosociology, a broad feature of Japanese society. Part of this honor is the role and respect in different social levels. In family life grandparents and parents hold a high level in family life. A boss at work is considered higher level on the social rankings. In Japan it is disrespectful to make direct eye contact. If you stare at someone in the eye you are declaring that you are of equal social status to them. In social interactions you do not want to make the mistake of thinking or saying you are on the same social level with a stranger. As a stranger’s social level is unknown it is considered rude to make eye contact. Japanese find it rude to assume that your are higher or equal status as they are if you don’t know them. Japan has a long history of honor and being polite. Sharon, the commentator in the story, even mentioned that at the supermarket, the second time she went back the same clerk did not even acknowledge her. As Sharon stated in Japan they do not look at a stranger, no peeks or anknolegement. Because she is a foreigner, she got no looks or eye contact as a sign of respect.

In the West it is the opposite, you are used to making eye contact. We do not let someone gaze long into our eyes. This can be a sign of intimacy. On the other hand someone who doesn’t want to make eye...