Essay Sample on The Rise and Fall of Latin Queen: Abuse, Gangs, and Ascent to Mafia

Introduction

The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen showcases a rarely viewed feminine perception on gang life (Sanchez & Rodriguez, 2008). The reading is a compelling memoir that gives a narrative of not only one woman's strive to survive the gang life and streets but also gives details of her ascent to the high ranks of the new mafia. At the core of the story, Sonia Rodriguez, survived abuse from her relatives for a long time. Sonia's stepfather began abusing her at the age of five. Secondly, her uncle assaulted her at ten years, and then her mother beat her up when she told on him. Life became difficult for Sonia, and she dropped out of school to engage in drug use. Although the violence in the Latin Kings that resulted in the loss of self-respect, she still survived the situation (Sanchez & Rodriguez, 2008). The conditions in which Sonia grew were constricted, and she later learned significant life lessons. However, this paper will discuss different sociology theories explaining why each theory fits the character in the Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen.

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Feminist Theory

The feminist theory is a significant branch within sociology that maintains a shift in its analytic lens, topical focus, and assumptions away from the male perspective and experience towards the female viewpoint. As such, the feminist theory illuminates light on the social issues, problems, and trends that are misidentified or overlooked by the dominant male viewpoint within social theory. Further, the theory focuses on the exclusion and discrimination based on power and oppression, sex and gender, and the gender roles and stereotypes, among other perceptions.

Women have been given power and degraded depending on the situations. The feminist theory fits the character of Sonia Rodriguez, as she got dominated by her stepfather and uncle because she was young. Therefore, she grew harsh and bitter because no one could defend her. The gang members Sonia knows shoot and abandon her when she is in a terrible state and the author tries to showcase that women have to struggle for a better living. (Sanchez & Rodriguez, 2008). Moreover, the book showcases that ladies who fought their way to the top level of the gang were respected. Therefore, it shows that women gain control when they gain power in the correct forms. In the current world, females are seen as inferior to different levels of life.

Social Conflict Theory

The social conflict theory provides that conflict and tensions arise in the event power, status, resources, and power are unevenly distributed between groups in society. Often, the conflicts become a basis for social change. Within this theory, power can be defined and understood as control of accumulated wealth, materials resources, and other institutions that make the society or an individual's social status relative to others. Further, the social conflict theory is not only determined by class but by gender, sexuality, race, culture, race, among other things. Primarily, as Karl Marx provides, the social conflict theory is all about the dominant group versus the minority group interaction.

From the Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen, the social conflict theory fits Sonia Rodriguez, whereby she finds her insight into joining vulnerable groups from the rejection of the community. Sonia Rodriguez consoles herself in drug, hoping for her life to change. Therefore, the city wants Sonia Rodriguez to act well because she has a child and needs to set a good example. Being the queen in the Latin gang makes her feel in control of all activities of the group. In other instance, Sonia Rodriguez is a clear depiction of the different groups in society as she represents the dominant group. The harassment Sonia underwent while she was young developed a social conflict with her family members because she could get assaulted and lack proper assistance. Within the theory, it acquires emulation when a member of the rival gang at school threatens Sonia because she has no one in her defense. Moreover, Sonia Rodriguez engages in violence to prove that she is not weak (Sanchez & Rodriguez, 2008). Being kicked off the group with a young baby made Sonia reform. Usually, the community is responsible for most bad behaviors because corrective measures get avoided. This occurrence seems to create the development of the conditions confirming the social conflict theory.

Structural-Functional Theory

The Structural-functional theory, also defined as functionalism is a sociology theory originating from the works of Emile Durkheim. Within the functionalism theory, Emile Durkheim was interested in how society remains stable in the possibility of social order. It means the theory maintains a focus on the macro-level of the social structure rather than looking into the micro-level of daily life practices. In the contexts of the structural-functional theory, it interprets each selection of the society based on its contribution towards the stability of the entire society.

In the detail of the theory, it fits Sonia Rodriguez by focusing on various outcomes based on her actions and those of other people. Within the functionalism theory, the groups owned lack proper licenses and are used in indiscriminate killings. Sonia served her term in jail as the authorities found power over her because she was helpless. The police sent most gang members for rehabilitation; hence, no mercy was shown to offenders. The story has outlined colored persons as dangerous and sadistic. Therefore, the author did not focus on color, but only black women are seen to be in powerful gangs. The law gets broken because most individuals are drug dealers. Also, the men in Latin gang are found of violating women that do not hold a higher rank in their world (Sanchez & Rodriguez, 2008).

Symbolic Interactionist Theory

The symbolic interactionist theory, also defined as interactionism theory is sociology theory that focuses on the relationship between people within a society. Within the theory, the perspective relies on the symbolic definition that people develop and create upon in the process of social interaction. Often, the symbolic interactionist theory delivers analysis on society by addressing the subjective definitions that individuals impose on behaviors and objects. The theory fits in the Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen in that, most of the women belonged gang because they had relationships with males. It was challenging to become a leader since the interaction and interpretations were essential to understand individual behavior and gain trust. For example, Sonia Rodriguez behavior delivered symbolic interaction or interpretation with people in that she always had her nails done, and her attitude and short temper made most people fear her (Sanchez & Rodriguez, 2008). This development of certain events and behaviors seen through Sonia clarify the interaction of the symbolic interactionist theory as it defines the relationship between people.

Conclusion

The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen is a story portraying different sociological events that transpire in today's world as well. Through the reading, it provides steady delivery of information surrounding lessons to girls and women that choose to live in the streets on crime. In different ways, the various sociology theories; feminism theory, social conflict, symbolic interactionism, and structural-functional theory provide the significant connection of the Sonia Rodriguez's character to the events within the book. In different instances, the theory expands the meaning on the various incidents, activities, and actions by Sonia as she adapts to the life she is living.

References

Sanchez, R., & Rodriguez, S. (2008). Lady Q: the rise and fall of a Latin queen. Chicago Review Press.