The document discusses how the author's identity and life outcomes were shaped by social constructs like white privilege, socioeconomic status, education, culture, and race. The author explains how growing up in a white, middle-class, Dutch Christian community in Michigan provided privileges like safety, access to private education, and upward mobility that they may not have experienced otherwise. While this background conflicted with their racial identity as an Asian adoptee, it demonstrated how social institutions can greatly influence an individual's beliefs, choices and development.

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Rachel Warners
May 9, 2016
SOC 151-B
The Power of Socially Constructed Ideas and Institutions
The person I have become today as well as how I decide to interact within society was
developed my inevitable forces of socially-constructed ideas and institutions. Throughout
most of my life I was raised to believe individuals are solely responsible for life outcomes
and choice, that everyone has the equal opportunity to achieve whatever they want as long as
they work “hard enough” for it. However, I have come to conclude the choices, personalities,
beliefs, values, and ideas people develop are due to the existence of socially constructed
ideas and institutions, rather than mere individual choice and or ability. The personalities,
values, choices, and beliefs that define who I am today were greatly influenced by socially-
constructed white privilege, socioeconomic status, higher/private education, the Dutch
Christian Reformed culture, and my race.
SOCAILLLY-CONSTRUCTED PRIVILEGE
Experiencing White Privilege as an Asian
I was raised in a town called Jenison; a suburb located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jenison is a white homogenous suburb consisting of middle to upper-class families. I was
raised in the white homogenous suburb since my adoption from China at age 5. Both my
parents are white Dutch Christian Reformed people--strong in their belief in God first, then
family, and the belief in working hard to achieve life goals. Diversity in terms of race and
socioeconomic ceased to exists in Jenison. My family had nothing to stress about such as
unemployment, racism, discrimination, violence, and or being turned down based on the
color of our skin and or socioeconomic status.

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Despite being Asian, I lived and still do the comfortable and privileged life compared
to if I were to have remained an orphan in China. However, after experiencing years of white
privilege, I began to realize white privilege in my community and in society is truly socially
constructed and embedded in our social system. White privilege simply is to benefit the white
race (majority) in which non-whites (minorities) are subjected to inequality, racism, and
discrimination, due to being labeled as out-group members. The reason I make such a bold
claim is supported by the following statement, “…having one’s race widely and positively
represented in the media, the security of knowing that one’s race will not hinder or prevent
access to resources (e.g., legal l medical, and social services), …and never having to educate
and prepare your children to face/resist/recover from the daily physical and mental suffering
that is intrinsic to a racialized existence” (Dei et al. 84-85). The fact I was raised in white
privilege most of my life made it easy for me to not have to face racism, discrimination, and
inequality, due to my in-group membership in the socially-constructed white privileged
community.
Many people in my community argue there is no such thing as white privilege but
rather is a figment of people’s imagination and or an excuse to rely on government social
programs. However, many sociologists and social workers will object, “Ignoring the
existence of these privileges allows disadvantaging treatment to flourish and to go
unrecognized, both in law and daily life” (Wildman 5). Despite my white privilege status, I
also realized how inequality, racism, and discrimination isn’t addressed or cared about much
in American society culture.
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
Growing up Middle-Class

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One’s socioeconomic status greatly affects an individual’s life outcome and who they
become as an individual. My father is the owner of a small family plumbing business he
acquired at the age of 30. Despite the fact my father never went to college and earned a
degree, he learned the importance of hard work ethic which is one of the reasons my family’s
socioeconomic status is as middle-class. While my father worked, my mother stayed at home
with the kids and did domestic work which ensured a financially stable, safe, loving, and
positive environment. Never did I worry where my next meal would come from or if I would
have to starve. Nor did I worry if my parents would be able to make house and bill payments
on time.
Being identified as middle-class allowed me greater opportunity for upward social
mobility. The ability to move across the economic class scale is important for a family in the
U.S if one is to improve life situations and or achieve whatever goal(s) they desire, “The
concept of class indicates the existence of some vertical social mobility. Otherwise we would
be dealing with a caste system” (Gordon 268). I have always and continue to experience
upward social mobility rather than having to be stuck in one socioeconomic status, which
makes it possible for me to improve my life situations and achieve my goal(s). I will always
have a place to go home to, the opportunity to attended and flourish in higher education, and
ability to obtain jobs that give me good work experience, skills, and a stable income.
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Obtaining Private/Higher Education
Since the age of six, I was and still am fortunate to obtain private/higher education.
Private education in general has been known to prepare its students for higher education such
as high school and importantly college. “Working-class students experience a number of
disadvantages in higher education. In particular, they feel less prepared for higher education

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than middle-class students” (Rubin 22). The high school I attended was called Unity
Christian High School--8th largest high school in Michigan and stands in 49th place out of 79th
for the highest SAT/ACT score, student-teacher ratio, and the quality of colleges students
consider (Niche). Unity Christian is the reason I was well prepared and have flourished in
college. Unity Christian is highly known for its many positive qualities and opportunities.
First, Unity is known for its rigorous academic expectations and materials. Second, Unity
statistically has more qualified teachers who have obtained a Bachelor’s in education from
private colleges such as Calvin, Hope, and Dort which are seen as top notch colleges
compared to public school teachers who didn’t get their Bachelor’s at a private college.
Third, teachers at Unity are more invested in their students whether it be help with homework
or trying to engage students in class. Lastly but most importantly, Unity has more
opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities through programs such as band, choir,
theatre, science Olympiad, sports, tutoring opportunities, and leadership opportunities within
the school itself.
“It is true that the present higher education system is not basically aimed at the well-
being of the very wealthy. However, it is clearly aimed at the well-being of the middle class.
It is not obvious that that the poor have gained from this change in emphasis” (Staff and
Tullock 126). Although Unity Christian High school doesn’t specifically or exclusively
advertise as a school for the middle or wealthy class, due to its high tuition rate, people of
lower socioeconomic status cannot afford such a quality education for their kids. I didn’t
have to face education inequality but instead gained valuable soft and hard skills needed to
climb up on the social ladder, due to being adopted into a middle-class family.
Due to my ability to have attended private/higher education in high school and a few
years in a college named Calvin, I automatically have a greater advantage in landing a quality
job that pays well in order to be financially stable—can live financially independent of any

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government need based assistances. I also have a better chance in making more than people
of lower socioeconomic status and education background, “…students who attend private
schools earn more than those who attend public schools” (Sandy and Duncan 311).
Private/higher education has provided me the opportunity to have greater upward social
mobility than those of my counterparts who lacked the opportunity of a private/higher
education.
CULTURE
Socialization Through the Dutch Christian Reformed Way of Life
Most people are quick to assume if one is to say they are from West Michigan, one
can expect to be automatically labeled as Dutch and or member of the CRC (Christian
Reformed Church). Historically and statistically this claim holds truth and merit. West
Michigan is known for its deep Dutch CRC cultural presence in the communities. Grand
Rapids is located in West Michigan and because of that, I had a Dutch Christian Reformed
cultural upbringing.
My parents made sure we regularly attended Church twice every Sunday. I grew up
with Sunday school, catechism, youth group, and made profession of faith. My parents made
sure I was fully immersed in my faith whether or not I wanted to. For my parents and many
other Dutch CRC parents, God’s rules were to be taken seriously and practiced in all aspects
of my life in order to be a committed and devout follower of God. This practice is the cultural
belief of the Dutch CRC Philosophy which states, “We have to bring all of life into obedience
to God’s will”; “Philosophy is one of the ways in which religious motives get played out”;
“Christ must be Lord of our thoughts as well as of our actions and feelings” (Mouw 96).
Being raised culturally as Dutch CRC helped me gain some biblical and Christian insight
which continues to help me get through life and realize God’s amazing ability and love.

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However, I will say there were some negative results that often made me question the
practice and beliefs of the Dutch CRC culture, due to the rigorous and strict interpretation of
the culture/religion embedded in my childhood.
Living an Ethnically White Culture while Being Racially Asian
Being raced ethnically white while appearing/identifying as racially Asian made it
confusing for me to figure out the person I wanted to become. There were many times I felt
inferior to my friends and the people in my community, due to the fact whites were and still
are mostly represented in the entertainment industry, “American cultural icons may remind
Asian Americans who hold an essential race theory of their essential, inalterable differences
from the white majority group” (No et al. 998). The media and entertainment industry is
where people are most influenced in developing into the person one wants to become; despite
the fact we are encouraged to be our own unique persons and be “true to ourselves.” Asians
in the entertainment industry have been and still are typically portrayed as either nerdy and or
mere sex objects for men interested in “exotic women.” Because of the way media portrays
Asians, my race was not something I wanted to understand and or learn about which is why I
find myself viewing my race as inferior to whites.
My parents didn’t stress the importance in teaching me about my Chinese culture
which made it difficult for me to embrace and be proud of my origins/culture. However, I did
achieve knowledge of Dutch white culture including things such as U.S holidays, types of
food, fashion, media, history of the U.S, and lastly, the crazy obsession with sports but
football in particular. According to No, Hong, and Liao, “Previous research has shown that
Asian Americans who possess extensive knowledge of both their heritage culture and
mainstream culture were able to switch between the two cultural frames” (997). I was and
still am unprepared and unable to switch and or adapt between my Chinese culture and white

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culture, thus the reason I feel confused in how I identify myself as culturally. I hope to
someday go back to China in order to gain knowledge, acceptance, and pride of my Chinese
culture which will help me develop a stronger and more meaningful cultural identity.
It took me the longest time to understood why my church, school, and community had
such difficulty embracing, teaching, and being aware of racial diversity. Historically white
homogenous communities have trouble adapting to and accepting minority races. According
to Schiele and Hopps, “Increased social visibility of marginalized groups has been shown to
engender concerns and fears from majority groups. There concerns and fears focus on the
belief that the increased number and visibility of racial minorities pose a threat to the
sustainability of the cultural, political, and economic hegemony of majority group members”
(196-197). Whites being the superior race represented in the U.S, fear that they will lose their
prestigious social status such as white privilege and power if society begins to increasingly
address and help minority races.
CONSLUSION
The person I have become today cannot be defined and answered in a simple
statement or by the effect of one social factor. To do so would ignore the importance socially-
constructed ideas and institutions have on the development of an individual as well as how
one chooses to interact within society. Social ideas and institutions are too embedded and
practiced in society to ignore and not give merit. I would not have the values, beliefs,
practices, and personalities that define who I am today if it weren’t for my socially-
constructed white privilege, socioeconomic status, private/higher education, the Dutch CRC
culture, and my race which have had and still do, an immense impact in my everyday life.
Word Count: 2,160
Citation Format: MLA 7th edition

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Works Cited
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“CHAPTER FOUR: White Power, White Privilege.” Counterpoints 244 (2004): 81–
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Mouw, Richard J. "Dutch Calvinist Philosophical Influences In North America." Calvin
Theological Journal 24.1 (1989): 93-120. ATLA Religion Database with
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Asian Americans' Responses Toward American Culture." Journal of Personality and
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2016 Best Private High Schools in Michigan." Niche. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2016.
https://k12.niche.com/rankings/private-high-schools/best-overall/s/michigan/