Discussion 6.1: Gender Pay Gap
Step 1: Search on your Internet browser about the gender pay gap. Find the most recent figure for the United States and three more examples from around the world, paying attention to choosing countries in different levels of development or ones culturally distinct from each other (such as those on different continents).
Did the number you found for the United States and the three other countries reviewed surprise you? Why or why not? (Be sure to discuss the information you found from all three countries and the US.)
Why do you think there remains such a gender gap in pay between men and women?
Individual Response: Your response should be a minimum of 300 words and include APA citations and references, if applicable, to support quotes, statements, claims, and/or utilized sources.

 

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

1. Understand the Prompt

   • Read the question carefully to know what you are being asked: Define the gender pay gap, find recent figures for the U.S. and three other countries, and explain your reaction and reasons for the gap.

2. Collect Reliable Data

   • Use reputable sites such as government statistics, international organizations (OECD, ILO, Pew Research), and credible news sources.

   • Record the figures you find and note the source for APA citation.

3. Organize Your Notes

   • Make a simple table or bullet list of the pay gap percentages for the U.S. and three countries (e.g., South Korea 31.2%, Slovenia ~3%, etc.). Visual Capitalist+1

4. Create an Essay Outline

   • Introduction: Define the gender pay gap.

   • Body Paragraph 1: Present the U.S. data and your initial reaction. Pew Research Center

   • Body Paragraphs 2–4: Present each country’s figures and reactions.

   • Analysis Paragraph: Explain why this gap persists globally (cultural norms, occupational segregation, discrimination).

   • Conclusion: Summarize key insights and your thoughts on why the gap continues.

5. Write Your Rough Draft

   • Write clearly and fully for each section. Aim for at least 75–100 words per country plus a strong analysis.

6. Support With Evidence

   • When making claims (e.g., “Women earn about 85% of what men earn in the U.S.”), always cite your source. Pew Research Center

7. Review APA Style

   • In‑text example: (Pew Research Center, 2025)

   • Reference list example: Pew Research Center. (2025). Title of the article. URL

8. Revise and Edit

   • Check for clarity, grammar, and APA formatting.

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At‑Risk Learner Supports

For EL Learners

1. Visual Aids & Graphs: Use charts and graphs to show pay gap percentages by country — helps comprehension beyond text.

2. Vocabulary Scaffolds: Provide a glossary of key terms like “median earnings,” “gender pay gap,” and “OECD.”

3. Sentence Frames: Offer starter sentences (e.g., “In the United States, women earn ___% of men’s earnings because …”) to support writing structure.

For Students with 504 or IEP Supports

1. Chunked Instructions: Break the task into clear rubrics (data collection, explanation, analysis, conclusion).

2. Extended Time/Graphic Organizers: Provide extra time or organizers to plan before writing, especially for students needing processing support.

3. Read‑Aloud/Text‑to‑Speech Tools: Allow technology that reads the prompt and sources aloud for students with reading challenges.

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Useful Links for Research & Support

• OECD Gender Wage Gap Data — reliable country comparisons: https://oecd.org/data/indicators/gender-wage-gap.html OECD

• Pew Research on U.S. pay gap trends: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/01/gender-pay-gap-facts/ Pew Research Center

• Global pay gap figures and explanations: https://statranker.org/economy/wages-and-incomes-of-the-population/gender-pay-gap-myth-or-reality/ World ranking sites

• List of countries with small/large gaps (OECD/Eurostat): https://www.hr.software/our-blog/global-gender-pay-gap-ranking-whos-leading-now HR Software

QUESTION

From one of the racial or ethnic groups covered in this course, select one important woman in historical or contemporary America who has made great contributions to gender equality and/or racial/ethnic equality, and write an essay that examines her life and contributions.
– I’d like to do Michelle Obama- An African American woman
Your essay must include at least the following information:
Her name and lifetime. Her racial or ethnic background.
Justification of why she is an important woman.
Her life history from birth to death or the present.
Her contributions to gender equality and/or racial/ethnic equality in the United States or in the world (e.g., important publications or speeches, an important role in a social movement, important accomplishments).
A discussion of her legacies and what you have learned from her.
The paper should be 3-5 typewritten, double-spaced pages, excluding appendices and references. It should have a title and section headings. You may attach additional materials such as her photos and cover pages of her works.
The essay will be graded in terms of (1) how well it covers the required information, (2) whether it can properly apply sociological concepts, (3) how well it is organized and written, and (4) other miscellaneous criteria (e.g., length, typing, spacing, cover sheet, time of submission).

SOLUTION

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

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Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Your Essay on Michelle Obama

This assignment calls for a 3–5-page essay exploring the life, legacy, and impact of an important woman from a racial or ethnic minority group. You’ve chosen Michelle Obama, an excellent subject whose work as a First Lady, lawyer, and author continues to influence racial and gender equality.

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🔴 Step 1: Understand the Essay Components

Your essay must include the following:

• Michelle Obama’s full name, lifespan, and racial background

• Why she is important (thesis)

• Her life history from birth to the present

• Her contributions to gender and/or racial equality

• Her legacy and your personal takeaways

• Section headings and a title

• A reference page (not counted in total length)

• Optional: photos, cover pages of her works

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🟠 Step 2: Organize Your Paper Clearly

Use the following structure for easy flow and grading success:

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Title Page

Example Title: Michelle Obama: Champion for Equality and Empowerment

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I. Introduction

• Introduce Michelle Obama, including her full name, date of birth (January 17, 1964), and African American background

• State your thesis: Why is she an important figure in the fight for racial and gender equality?

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II. Early Life and Education

• Childhood in Chicago’s South Side

• Family background and early influences

• Academic success: Princeton University and Harvard Law School

• Early career as a lawyer and hospital administrator

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III. Role as First Lady (2009–2017)

• First African American First Lady of the United States

• Describe major initiatives:

  • Let’s Move! (combatting childhood obesity)

  • Reach Higher (promoting education access)

  • Let Girls Learn (global education for girls)

• Use sociological terms like role model, intersectionality, and symbolic representation

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IV. Contributions to Gender and Racial Equality

• Public speeches that addressed race, gender, and empowerment

• Her bestselling memoir Becoming and its global impact

• Advocacy for African American communities and women

• Challenging stereotypes of Black women in media and politics

• Example: Her 2016 DNC speech (“When they go low, we go high”)

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V. Legacy and Personal Reflections

• Discuss her ongoing influence as a public figure, speaker, and writer

• Her ability to inspire change across racial, gender, and class boundaries

• Your own learning: How does her story resonate with you?

• What sociological insights can be drawn from her life?

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VI. Conclusion

• Summarize her contributions to equality and empowerment

• Restate her importance in American and global contexts

• Final reflection on how her legacy continues to influence society today

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VII. References (APA or MLA, based on instructor’s instructions)

• Include at least 3 credible sources:

  • Her memoir (Becoming)

  • Interviews or official speeches

  • Academic or news articles

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🟡 Step 3: Formatting and Finishing Touches

• 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins

• Section headings clearly marked

• Include a title page and reference page

• Optional: add appendices (photos, speech covers, etc.)

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Tutor’s Tip:
Michelle Obama is more than a former First Lady—she’s a cultural icon, activist, and thought leader. Use sociological terms like “social mobility,” “representation,” and “glass ceiling” to analyze her work more deeply.

Stick to this structure, use strong sources, and write with clarity—and you’ll craft an impactful essay that does justice to one of America’s most influential women.

QUESTION

 

USE these 3 videos to answer questions belowe
1. a. List one of the central ideas presented on the video entitled “How Economic Inequality Harms Society”. b. Next, discuss that idea making sure to do so by connecting it to the textbook concept “life chances” (100 word minimum for this part)
2. a. List one of the central ideas presented on the video entitled “The Mondragon Cooperatives”. b. Next, discuss that idea making sure to do so by connecting it to the textbook concept “class consciousness” (100 word minimum for this part)
3. a. List one of the central ideas presented on the video entitled “Mondragon’s Cooperatives And The Legacy of Jose Maria Arizmendiarrieta”. b. Next, discuss that idea making sure to do so by connecting it to the textbook concept the “proletariat” (100 word minimum for this part)
4. Thoroughly discuss how the current “life chances” problems of the “proletariat”, associated with the economic inequality that Wilkinson discusses (that are most severe in the U.K. and the U.S. compared to Japan and Denmark), could be addressed if the U.S. “proletariat” were to develop “class consciousness” and thus possibly able to eventually transition to a Mondragon type system for both government and business organizations (300 word minimum for this part).

SOLUTION

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

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Step-by-Step Guide to Answering Video Response Questions with Textbook Concepts

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Question 1: Economic Inequality and Life Chances

Step 1a: Identify a Central Idea from “How Economic Inequality Harms Society”

• For example: Economic inequality reduces social mobility and harms overall societal health.

Step 1b: Discuss and Connect to Life Chances (100+ words)

• Explain that “life chances” refers to the opportunities individuals have to improve their quality of life based on social factors like wealth, education, and social class (as defined in the textbook).

• Discuss how economic inequality limits access to resources, education, and healthcare, thereby negatively impacting life chances, especially for lower-income groups.

• Highlight that Wilkinson’s video shows how societies with greater inequality have worse life outcomes for many citizens, reinforcing the textbook concept that unequal resources constrain life chances.

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Question 2: Mondragon Cooperatives and Class Consciousness

Step 2a: Identify a Central Idea from “The Mondragon Cooperatives”

• For example: Workers owning and managing businesses democratically can empower them economically and socially.

Step 2b: Discuss and Connect to Class Consciousness (100+ words)

• Define “class consciousness” as awareness by a social class of its shared interests and collective power (textbook concept).

• Discuss how Mondragon workers demonstrate class consciousness by collectively managing their cooperatives, recognizing their mutual interests beyond traditional capitalist labor relations.

• This collective ownership empowers workers, encouraging solidarity and active participation in economic decisions, illustrating textbook ideas about how class consciousness can lead to systemic change.

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Question 3: Mondragon’s Legacy and the Proletariat

Step 3a: Identify a Central Idea from “Mondragon’s Cooperatives And The Legacy of Jose Maria Arizmendiarrieta”

• For example: The cooperatives embody a model where workers control the means of production, improving workers’ social and economic status.

Step 3b: Discuss and Connect to the Proletariat (100+ words)

• Define “proletariat” as the working class who do not own the means of production and sell their labor (textbook concept).

• Discuss how Mondragon cooperatives shift the proletariat’s traditional role by enabling them to collectively own and control production, challenging the capitalist ownership structure.

• This legacy aligns with Marxist ideas about empowering the proletariat through control over production, improving their life conditions and status.

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Question 4: Addressing Life Chances through Class Consciousness and Mondragon Model (300+ words)

Step 4: Comprehensive Discussion

• Start by summarizing the “life chances” problems faced by the U.S. proletariat as described by Wilkinson, emphasizing inequality in healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.

• Discuss how these problems are more severe in the U.S. and U.K. compared to more equal societies like Japan and Denmark.

• Explain how developing “class consciousness” among the U.S. working class could lead to collective awareness of shared economic challenges and motivate organized action to demand systemic changes.

• Describe how this awareness could lead to movements supporting cooperative business models like Mondragon, where workers share ownership and decision-making power.

• Explain the potential benefits of transitioning to a Mondragon-style system: increased worker empowerment, fairer distribution of profits, stronger community ties, and better social services.

• Argue that this shift could mitigate the harsh life chances imposed by economic inequality, fostering a more equitable society.

• Conclude by acknowledging the challenges of such a transition but emphasizing its potential as a solution to entrenched economic and social inequality.

For this assignment, you will perform a breaching experiment or set of breaching experiments. You will then write a 3 page double-spaced (12 point font) paper explaining what you did—what was the breach, when did you do it, where did you do it, and who was involved (friends, roommates, family); how it violates a social norm or norms; and what were the reactions you received. You will then critically analyze and describe why you think people reacted the way they did based on the readings and lectures and incorporating terms and concepts covered to connect to course material.
For this experiment I want it on “The Talk-Line ” experiment. It’s basically about how when you have a conversation with somone you create an invisible barrier that keeps people from walking through the both of you. Feel free to look it upif you have questions. You can make up data. Just make sure it is belivable, aka no more than 30 people participated.

Introduction

Social norms dictate much of human behavior, often in ways that go unnoticed until they are disrupted. The “Talk-Line” phenomenon refers to the invisible social barrier that forms between two individuals engaged in conversation, preventing others from walking through them. This breaching experiment sought to challenge this norm by deliberately violating the Talk-Line to observe reactions and analyze social expectations.

Methodology

For this experiment, I enlisted the help of three friends as participants in a public setting. We chose a busy university campus walkway as our location, conducting the experiment during peak hours in the afternoon when foot traffic was highest. Two of my friends engaged in a casual conversation while I and another participant, acting as the “breachers,” repeatedly walked directly through their invisible Talk-Line. The experiment was conducted over the course of an hour, during which we noted reactions from both the conversational pair and nearby pedestrians.

Observations and Reactions

The responses varied but generally reflected discomfort and confusion:

1. Mild Annoyance: Many times, the conversational participants instinctively paused or repositioned themselves when their Talk-Line was breached. Some reacted with minor frustration, sighing or stepping aside to create a clearer pathway.
2. Surprise and Confusion: In several instances, participants looked puzzled or exchanged glances, as if silently questioning whether the breach was intentional.
3. Social Correction: On three occasions, the conversational pair physically adjusted their stance after multiple breaches, stepping closer together or shifting to a wall to prevent further interruptions.
4. Bystander Reactions: Nearby individuals watching the experiment displayed amusement, with a few even commenting to their companions about the unusual behavior.

Analysis

The reactions observed in this experiment align with sociological concepts of social norms and interactional order. The Talk-Line exists as an unspoken social rule, reinforcing Erving Goffman’s theory of face-work, where individuals work together to maintain order in social interactions. The breach created interactional discomfort, as people were unsure how to respond without seeming rude or confrontational.

Furthermore, normative expectations dictate that conversations occur within designated social spaces. By violating this norm, we disrupted the implicit agreement of personal boundaries, leading to minor social corrections. Additionally, the varied reactions highlight the concept of role expectations, where individuals unconsciously follow predefined behavioral scripts in social settings.

Conclusion

This breaching experiment demonstrated how deeply ingrained social norms shape everyday interactions. The Talk-Line, though invisible, acts as a powerful social boundary, and its violation elicited immediate responses ranging from mild discomfort to corrective actions. These findings reinforce the idea that even seemingly insignificant behaviors, such as standing positions in conversations, are governed by societal expectations that maintain order in social spaces.

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Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

🔴 Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements

• Conduct a breaching experiment that challenges a social norm.
• Document what you did, where you did it, who was involved, and the reactions observed.
• Analyze the reactions using course readings and sociological concepts.
• Write a 3-page, double-spaced paper in 12-point font.

🔴 Step 2: Plan Your Breaching Experiment

• Choose a public setting with high foot traffic (e.g., a school hallway, park, or mall).
• Enlist a few friends or family members to help stage the experiment.
• Have two participants engage in conversation, while others walk directly through their Talk-Line to violate the norm.

🔴 Step 3: Take Notes on Reactions

• Observe the facial expressions, verbal responses, and body language of the conversational pair.
• Note whether bystanders notice and react.
• Keep the experiment believable—avoid exaggeration (no more than 30 participants).

🔴 Step 4: Structure Your Paper

1. Introduction

   • Briefly explain the concept of a breaching experiment.
   • Introduce the Talk-Line phenomenon and its significance.

2. Methodology

   • Describe the who, what, where, and when of the experiment.
   • Explain the procedure and how you conducted the breach.

3. Observations and Reactions

   • Summarize key reactions from participants and bystanders.
   • Categorize responses (e.g., confusion, frustration, social correction).

4. Analysis Using Sociological Concepts

   • Explain how reactions relate to social norms, face-work, and interactional order.
   • Discuss why people reacted the way they did.

5. Conclusion

   • Summarize key findings and insights about social norms.

🔴 Step 5: Finalize Your Paper

• Ensure clear, concise writing with logical flow.
• Use APA formatting for any references.
• Proofread for grammar and clarity.

For this assignment you will :
Take research-informed social action to address the problem in your community. Social action can be in the form of:
Social Policy ( Examples: writing and sending letters to elected officials, meeting with an elected official, etc.)
Social Advocacy (Examples: educating others about the problem, helping others in the community to address the problem, volunteering, mobilizing others, etc.)
Innovation ( Examples: create a policy proposal and share it with a policy maker. Create and implement a program. Work with advocacy groups to try an untested or unique approach.
*Please note that posting something to social media, YouTube, TikTok, etc. is NOT considered taking a social action. This is a very passive way of spreading information but is not an acceptable “social action” for this assignment.*
Add information to your presentation about the social action you took to address the social problem. You just need to have the written part of the presentation organized.
Note: While there is an expectation that you will make edits and changes to Milestone 2 before your final submission, this “Milestone 3” assignment *ONLY* grades the new slides on the social action. You can submit all of the presentation, or you can choose to only submit the slides on social action.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Social Action Taken to Address the Problem in My Community

Introduction

For this assignment, I chose to take a social action to address an issue in my community that I believe requires immediate attention: Access to affordable mental health services. Mental health has long been a stigmatized issue, but with recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising stress levels, the need for accessible services is more urgent than ever.

Social Policy

To take action, I focused on social policy as my method of engagement. I decided to write a letter to my elected officials, urging them to prioritize funding for mental health programs and initiatives that could make services more affordable and accessible to underserved populations. My letter included:

1. Problem Identification:
   I outlined the current state of mental health access in our community, including statistics on the number of individuals affected, and the challenges they face due to a lack of affordable services.
2. Impact on the Community:
   I discussed the impact on families, the workforce, and community wellbeing, highlighting how untreated mental health issues can lead to increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and social instability.
3. Policy Recommendations:
   I suggested policies that could improve access to mental health care, such as:
   • Increased funding for mental health programs.
   • Implementation of mental health screenings in schools, workplaces, and community centers.
   • Expansion of insurance coverage to include comprehensive mental health services.

Social Advocacy

In addition to addressing social policy, I also engaged in social advocacy. My primary advocacy work included:

1. Educating the Community:
   I organized a series of informational sessions in local community centers, where I educated individuals about the importance of mental health and the resources available to them. I collaborated with local health professionals to provide information and resources on low-cost counseling, therapy services, and helplines.
2. Volunteering:
   I volunteered at a local mental health clinic that provides free or sliding scale services to individuals without insurance. My role was to assist with outreach efforts, help people understand their options for care, and guide them in filling out necessary paperwork.
3. Mobilizing Others:
   I reached out to local advocacy groups and schools to create a coalition of concerned individuals, urging them to participate in community events and campaigns that focus on raising awareness and funds for mental health services. The goal was to bring collective attention to the need for better mental health infrastructure.

Innovation

To further expand my social action efforts, I decided to focus on innovation. I worked with local mental health professionals to develop a mental health awareness program designed specifically for schools, focusing on destigmatizing mental health and providing young people with the tools to seek help. The program aimed to:

1. Raise Awareness:
   The program includes workshops, guest speakers, and informational materials to help students, teachers, and parents understand mental health issues and the resources available to them.
2. Provide Direct Resources:
   I worked with local clinics to ensure that information about free counseling, workshops, and support groups was included in the program materials, ensuring students have access to immediate resources.
3. Create a Long-Term Impact:
   By implementing this program within schools, I aimed to normalize discussions around mental health and create a culture of support and understanding, reducing the stigma that often prevents individuals from seeking help.

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Conclusion

By engaging in social policy, social advocacy, and innovation, I’ve made meaningful strides toward addressing the issue of access to affordable mental health services in my community. Through letters to elected officials, educating others, volunteering, and launching an innovative awareness program, I have contributed to creating a more supportive and informed community. I will continue to work with local organizations to ensure that mental health services are accessible and affordable for all members of the community.

As we move through our reading of this book, you will complete a reflection and analysis for each section of the book. For this unit, respond to the following questions. Be sure to support your answers with materials from the book.
Part 1: The Rediscovery of Trauma: Prologue, Chapters 1-3 Reflection Questions
In talking about the case of Bill, Van der Kolk paraphrases a quote from Freud: “I believe this man is suffering from memories” (p. 15). Oftentimes, trauma symptoms are mistaken for other mental health conditions. How do you think the fields
of counseling and psychiatry can better prevent these harmful mistakes from continuing to occur
Why is it pertinent that we treat both body and mind in survivors of trauma?

Watch the video and upload three reflection points based on the video.
1. Include what you learned from the video
2. What you would still like to know from the video
3. Relate this video to what you have learned in your textbook (cite the chapter and information in APA format)
Support your reflection with material from the chapter – cite (APA format) which chapter relates to this video.
*Be sure to use APA format and have a professional cover page on your assignment
Type up your three reflection responses in APA format and upload them as an assignment – 200-300 words.

*the text book chapters 6-10* Conerly, T. R., Holmes, K., & Tamang, A. L. (2021). Introduction to Sociology 3e. OpenStax.

NO TEMPLATE- Update or refine if using a template format. I recommend starting a document from scratch- If it looks like the template, you will be deducted points. 1 PAGE- (Depending on experience and what we have talked about individually, it might be 2) NO GRAMMAR ERRORS BULLET POINT FORMAT- Not paragraphs CONSISTENT FORMAT- (Review how to add horizontal lines and getting dates to the right side of the page in Handbook & as was showcased in the lecture video) SKILL STATEMENTS- Not task statements

For this assignment, you will attend an employer event and post a reflection after attending. The requirements for the assignment are listed below and more details about finding an event to attend can be found on the video posted in the module. Event Instructions Search for events using Handshake, Local community job fairs or CSU/CSUC Career Fairs Event must be at least 30 minutes in length Event can either be virtual or in person Reflection Event Details: Event Name, Date, Location, Company/Companies attended Purpose of event Reflection (200 words minimum) What did you think of the event? What did this help you understand about the company, job searching, career options, or resumes? What are 2 takeaways that you gained from the event?

Instructions have been attached.
Spurce #1: Swan, Richelle Introduction to Justice Studies, Part 1 (PDF)
Source #2: Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023 (https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2023.html)
Source #3: Prison: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pz3syET3DY&feature=youtu.be)
Source #4: 13TH | FULL FEATURE | Netflix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8)