Analysis of Levitt’s Perspective on Parenting, Names, and Crime

Analysis of Levitt’s Perspective on Parenting, Names, and Crime

Question 1

Many parents rely on their instincts to do their parenting job rather than depending on the books or classes. Most parenting books are written by people who have perceptions about parenting that they think are right but do not apply to all children. Levitt’s perspective on parenting is that most classes or books consist of general information that might not apply to all children. Various parents face parenting challenges that could not be solved by relying on books or classes by people calling themselves professionals. The film describes that many parents do not possess the right instinct that can guide them in the upbringing of their children. Instead, they rely on general information shared by authors and experts in parenting, but the results do not reflect their children. Generally, the film highlights various flaws that parenting books have, making them ineffective in grooming better parents.

Question 2

As my teacher, you must follow ethical practices in your profession that forbid helping students cheat in their courses. The teacher’s work is to instill discipline, morals, and ethical principles in students to make them better people in the future. Generally, teachers serve the societal role of grooming students to be better society members in the future. Therefore, helping students cheat in their course will imply that the teacher wants them to be irresponsible in the future. As a result, in no way as my teacher should you help me to cheat in my course. Instead, the teacher should prohibit cheating and even initiate severe punishment on any student caught cheating. Therefore, teachers will not help me cheat in my course because that is against the ethically-accepted behaviors in the teaching profession.

Question 3

Many parents are concerned about their children’s names because they believe names are a big part of a child’s future. Some universal beliefs are that names are essential in determining a child’s future. Parents have great expectations from their children’s names because they believe it affects their kid’s outcomes. Many parents want their children to bear the names of successful and famous people in society. Generally, a name has a magical power that can affect a child’s outcome according to most traditions and cultures. However, some experts argue that a child’s outcome is not necessarily influenced by name but by the neighborhood they come from, parenting, and their family’s socioeconomic status.

Question 4

Labeling Theory postulates that a name given to a child is likely to determine their behaviors and people’s perception of them. In the film, a woman names her daughter “Temptress,” The daughter grew up to become what her name suggests. The name Temptress is associated with bad behaviors in society. The film indicates that the daughter named “Temptress” started to reflect the name in her actions. Name a child “Winner” and “Loser” automatically reflect their personality. Throughout the film, where children are given different names, Labeling theory tends to fit every time in their actions. Many children given various names reflect their personalities. However, experts disagree with the Labeling theory, claiming that a child’s outcome is determined by other factors apart from a name, such as their environment.

Question 5

Many people charged with hiring labor tend to be attracted to candidates with the names they perceive are similar to them. The outcomes of the “Resume Name Study” could have differed if racial or ethnic minority-specific names were used because the recruiters could get less attracted to names they consider to be from minority groups. Therefore, the recruiters would consider taking a few ethnic minority-specific names. Similarly, male-dominated organizations prefer hiring more males than females since they resonate with their gender. For example, resumes with more male names will be considered for shortlisting than female names. In the case of neutral gender names, the number of resumes will balance between males and females. Other factors that may affect gender-radicalized preferences in employment are family background, education levels, and social status. Recruiters may prefer names associated with prominent personalities to work at their organizations regardless of gender.

Question 6

Many parents in the African culture feel that it is essential to observe their cultural heritage as far as the naming of their children is concerned. However, the wave of racial or ethnic discrimination pushes many black American parents to name their children with white names to fit into society. Generally, using white instead of ethnic names is for the good of their children’s future, especially in securing employment. If I were an African American, I would not give my child an ethnic name because that would be detrimental to their future. American society is known for racial and ethnic discrimination; therefore, I would not want my children to suffer because of an ethnic name.

Question 7

Some people can eat anything. Such people are known as “Tarrare,” Their name reflects their eating habits. They can eat anything, whether it is nutritious or not, as long as they get satisfied. Their condition is considered a unique talent because not everyone is gifted with such a digestive system. “Tarrare” people rarely complain of stomach complications, unlike many who try to be careful with what they eat.

Question 8

Several loopholes make it easy for young people to access guns and engage in crime. The major reason for the prevalence of crime and gun possession despite the laws is corruption in the justice system. Authorities charged with the responsibility of licensing only qualified people to possess guns receive bribes from unqualified people and license them. The crime rate is unlikely to reduce if there is no collaboration between the federal government, lawmakers, gun control departments, media, and communities. Lawmakers initiating crime prevention policies are ineffective because they fail at the implementation stage. People charged with implementing gun laws and policies are reluctant to prevent rogue people from acquiring firearms resulting in widespread crimes. The media can also be blamed for the failure in the efforts to control crime and gun possession. They are not adequately doing their job of reporting the rot witnessed in the licensing department, where unqualified people easily buy their way into crime.

Question 9

Levitt’s assertion on a decrease in crime was due to the legalization of abortion by the Supreme Court decision in 1973 that he claimed made a significant impact. The assertions did not consider the police efforts and the improvement in the justice system. The Harvard economist presented data that indicated how the crime rate dropped over two decades since the Supreme Court decision. However, considering other factors that lead to crime, abortion law could be least equated to the reasons for the decrease in the crime rate. Levitt’s assertion did not consider political and social strategies employed by the justice system in combating crime. Generally, an increase in childbirth does not fall under the factors that lead to the rise in the crime rate in society. The assertion also did not that economic strategies that ensure increased employment opportunities could reduce crime rates among the youths and society.

Question 10

The claim about “no racial or class implications” for Levitt’s findings on the decrease in crime rate due to abortion is overrated. Crime rates in society are generally instigated by economic, political, and social factors. Levitt’s claims on the decrease in crime rate can be considered among the social factors but not as a significant factor in analyzing crime levels in society. For example, populations from low-income areas are more likely to experience growth in crime than in high-end neighborhoods. Crime levels generally depend on the socioeconomic status of the community regardless of their population size. Other factors such as historical injustices also instigate crime, but a decrease can be witnessed when addressed. Therefore, Levitt’s argument on there being “no racial or class implications” in his theory is questionable.