My views of inequality before learning more about them were mainly not much. My views were very uneducated and I thought certain inequalities were self inflicted. I have now learned that many of these inequalities were institutionalized and that structures were created to benefit one particular category of people.

My views of Class were very blunt before coming to Longwood. I viewed class as just a reflection of your assets and income. I have learned through these classes that yes it is a reflection of assets and income but class is not as easy to change as i thought because a lot of people’s socioeconomic status stems from how they benefit from certain privileges or don’t benefit due to inequality in society.

Before coming to Longwood I viewed Gender and Sex as the same concepts. Now I have learned Sex is biological and Gender is a identity and a social construct. You identify with a Gender, where Sex is determined on your reproductive organs.

Sexuality is a way broader concept that what I use to believe. Sexuality falls along a spectrum that is not as black and white as I use to believe. People are not just heterosexual and homosexual. There is a spectrum where some people could be more heterosexual or homosexual than others in a sense. I learned about this concept in my Deviance SOCL-205 course.

Disabilities I never really thought much about before coming to college. I did not have many interactions with people that had disabilities, but at Universities the institution has to meet requirements and needs for people that are different than just me. I think coming to Longwood has helped me learn to think about how things not just affect me but affect others around me. It has made me more selfless.

I believe my changing views have helped me create a better thought process about things and certain situations. Longwood and the courses I have taken have helped me educate myself and learn about concepts that might not be addressed and mentioned around my community or jobs if I had not came here. This will allow me to have a better understanding on life and society to help me make decisions in the future.