Analysis of a Personal Family Social Gathering
Learners’ Name
SOC1000
Introduction to Human Society

Address
Telephone:
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Instructor: Dr. Cheryl Avant
Social Setting

I observed the social gathering of a birthday party for members of my husband’s family. It was a joint celebration for the birthdays of my sister-in-law, an aunt, and her son who is my husband and sister-in-laws cousin. This party is held at the home of the aunt and the cousin. The home is nice, but not huge so it makes these gatherings very cozy. It is a family ritual of doing the parties jointly since they fall so close together. These family gatherings are always interesting, because there are several family members that do not get along with other specific family members. But everyone tries to appear as though they have no problems, regardless of the fact that everyone in the room is well aware of the pending discomfort. In attendance there were a total of 28 people. Consisting of 5 women in their 20s, 4 women in their 40s, and 2 elderly women; there are 4 men in their 20s, 3 men in their 40s-50s, and 2 elderly men; there is also one girl under 5 years old, 2 girls ages 6-12, 3 boys under the age of 5, and 2 boys ages 6-12.

Sociological Theories

Once everyone arrives pleasantries are made all around, but you can always anticipate and sense the falsehood in many greetings. Between the main two women where this conflict has originated there is stiffness in their slight hug and few words are exchanged, then they both retreat to opposite ends of the small space. My mother-in-law keeps one eye on her sister-in-law the entire party, while the sister-in-law seems to pay little attention to her at all. This type of agree to remain civil and avoid conflict, Goffman, (1959) calls a “working consensus,” (p. 10). I think this silent agreement between