It is evident that we as a society are controlled by socially constructed norms and ideals that dictate our everyday actions, even those that seem simple and innocent. At first, writing a paper about a real life, everyday, example of how I re-enforce normalization seemed impossible. It took me hours to think of a scenario, until finally, I thought, what was one of the first things I did this morning? Get dressed of course! But what could possibly be so unorthodox about that, or how could that even relate to western ideals? After taking a second to critically analyze the way I dress, I have come to the conclusion that everything is wrong about this seemingly insignificant ritual. Almost everyday I go through the same dreadful process of deciding …show more content…
For example, wearing a hijab would be out of the question of what to wear because of the negative connotations it carries within our society. Instead of standing against these unjust norms, I choose to conform, in order to gain maintain acceptance and be more comfortable with my appearance. In addition, another significant aspect of our fashion industries, is their emphasis on classism and its use of clothing in order to widen the gap between the different class structures. By abiding by these standards I am essentially supporting brands such as Prada, that sell their cloths at such a high price, in order to prevent people of a lower class from buying them. The cloths I choose to wear represent my class through the brand, material, style, etc. Therefore, I re-enforce the normalization of classism within my attire, by following societal structures without …show more content…
For example, when my brother wears clothing that doesn 't fit the socially constructed norms of how to dress, (an outfit that doesn 't match) I feel like it’s my duty to comment and force him to wear something that is more “appropriate”. I make him feel like he is embarrassing himself and his family by not conforming to the normalization of white ideals. This is all done so naturally without questioning whether I am robbing him of his own personal autonomy. Ultimately, I participate in our corrupt system and re-enforce its ideals and norms by regulating myself and others to prevent any deviance. When I follow the guidelines engrained within me, I become privileged, as I not only gain acceptance, but a whole new respect that would never exist if I were to walk into a bank with a bikini on. Therefore, although getting dressed may seem like an insignificant and innocent ritual of our daily lives, evidently, it is everything but
I am not doing this necessarily for myself. I am doing it for the females to follow long after I am gone. My enthusiastic, ambitious pupils in high school help me realize that there is a greater purpose in all the work I have done. To denounce our tight corsets and long hair is to regain our own sense of identity. Why can’t I wear loose clothing? Why is it frowned upon to sport a short bob instead of the apparently coveted luscious locks? If a man can smoke a cigarette, what is the purpose of a man having a say in whether or not I choose to smoke a cigarettes. My mindset tells me that the patriarchy should not even be able to comment scantily regarding a woman smoking a cigarette. All the women are smoking and that is that. This advocation dress reform may seem superficial, but it is more symbolic of the lack of freedom in society. I want to demonstrate the lack of freedom women possess today, as showcased by a guideline of how women should dress. A breathing restricting clothing st...
Most people want to be normal. The definition of normal however, depends on the culture of the person making the judgment. Far too often, normal is defined in America by looking at the actions and beliefs of the average white middle class family. This definition of normal fails to let other cultures to be accepted, creating distance and misunderstanding.
Society is not a realm in which all of the rules are listed on paper; people naturally abide them due to their countless experiences. The results of these incidents or the incident as a whole sometimes transform itself into an unspoken code that people are assumed to know by heart. For example, humans are treated differently - usually with more respect and higher expectations (such as CEOs or famous actors and actresses) - when they are in a very high position or level in an industry. No matter how much or little they do, they are frequently noticed more by the media than anyone else. But how about those who live in their normal lives trying to bring home the bread and milk for their families? Or those who do a substantial amount of service and deeds for their communities and companies? Ty...
Black or white, right or wrong we all act in a way which makes us feel good. For example, take a look at Harrison Bergeron he did things that made him feel good and he did them because he was born with these rights but, contract rights were implemented and he broke them. However, Harrison acted in ways that are unethical in this new American society in the year 2081. The laws of Harrison Bergeron were everyone was equal, nobody was smarter than anybody else, nobody was better looking, and everyone had to be physically and mentally equal. These laws were implemented because society was competing against each other and the government wanted people to be equal and stop the madness of competition. In order to be equal people who were good looking and smart had to wear handicaps and Harrison was both of these qualities. Harrison acted towards these laws by breaking out of jail and making a television appearance and declaring himself King. Harrison did this to show people that each individual identifies themselves as one. However, what Harrison did was unethical because he brought misery upon these people.
Individuals may be gifted with certain privileges because of the position one holds in society. Most importantly, one can obtain certain privileges from being born with them. One might be “born” with certain privileges because of one’s race, ethnicity, religion and or social class. The most significant factor that may influence one’s obtainment of privileges is social class. Although, race also plays a crucial role. The privileges I obtain surface from my position in society. I don’t feel as if I acquire privileges because of my race and ethnicity. I feel as though that the privileges I acquire are earned, not given. My perspective of this arises from the social stratum in my proximity. The concept that hard work will get one to their desired
As highlighted by the author, Mary Louise Adams in her article, “Excerpts from The Trouble with Normal”, ‘a norm’ “can be defined as something that is usual, typical or standardized” (Hacking, Adams, 2003). Norms are often already so established that most individuals do not realize how much they have shaped society and the people who live in it. Audrey Lord tells us that being a “White, thin, young, heterosexual, Christian, male” defines the characteristics of being “normal” and “privileged,” in which she calls “the mythical norm” (Perry, 2011). We use our sexuality, race and class as a way of giving ourselves an identity for the world to see. This identity will ultimately allow us to understand our place in the world and give
White privilege is a term used to refer to societal privileges granted to people identified as white in western countries. These privileges are beyond what is experienced by non-white or people of color living under the same economic, political and social environments. These privileges could be obvious or less obvious that white people may not realize they have. These include cultural affirmations of one 's own worth, presumed greater social status, and the freedom to move, buy, work, play, and speak freely (McIntosh, 1990). The effects of these privileges can also be seen in personal, educational and professional contexts. In both Tim Wise’s, ‘White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son’ and Ta-Nehisi
Have you ever heard of the term white privilege? In case you haven’t, or if you’re not sure what it is exactly, white privilege is all of the societal privileges that benefit white people and that non-white people do not experience. If you are white, your first thought might be to say, “Well, that’s not real. I don’t experience any special benefits that non-white people do not.” But it is real and you do. When you get a paper cut and you go to grab one of your “flesh colored” bandages, it will actually match your skin color because apparently light beige is the “normal” skin color for everyone. When you are watching a film, you are able to relate more to the people you are watching because you will share the same characteristics as most of them, such as having the same skin color. (It’s true. A recent study showed that, out of 100 films made in 2012, white people accounted for about 76% of all speaking characters while people of color, put together, only accounted for about 23%.) When you fail at something in life, like getting a job or getting into college, you don’t stop and think, “Is it because of my race?” White privilege isn’t something that you enjoy having, or that you can necessarily control, but it is important to understand what white privilege is because it most definitely comes into play in our everyday life, including, and especially, news and other forms of media.
Social norms are really important to our society’s functioning. If certain norms were not followed it is almost certain chaos would ensue. Not only do we follow social norms in order to prevent chaos, we also follow them to avoid the consequences of not following them, especially if the functional perspective is accurate. On occasion though, breaking subtle norms that we may not think about often can prove to have interesting results.
As a capable person with many resources, the individual has the obligation to become a proactive, contributing memeber of society. This belief first comes from parents’ expectations. They want their children to be doctors, lawyers, etc. Parents want their children to be the best that they could be and try to instill this sense into their children. Sometimes, they go further and try to change their children on their personal beliefs. Andrew Solomon 's own mother forbid him to take a pink balloon but as Solomon insightfully states, “Forbidding the pink balloon must be held as partly a protective gesture.” (Solomon 375) Solomon 's mother was afraid of the consequences of a boy picking a culturall...
How is a normal ritual a basic necessary component of human cultural behavior, and how this normal cultural behavior can change into a disorder.
Citizens of today’s society have to comprehend that by conforming to the pressures of others and imitating everyone else, they will get nowhere in life. First of all, a teenage boy attends his first big high school party at a friend’s house one weekend and he is pressured into drinking beer and smoking marijuana so he will seem cool in front of the popular jocks and cheerleaders. Since many teens are so terrified of ridicule and downright embarrassment in front of fellow students, they decide to give in to their peers even though their actions may go against their beliefs. Emerson believed that by being an individual “you shall have the suffrage of the world.” Furthermore, an innocent sixteen year old girl’s parents go out of town for the weekend and she invites her cute, popular, senior star quarterback boyfriend over, but he pressures her into having sex when she i...
Human nature is not simply a measure of our human tendencies. It is both individual and collective. It does not explain why events happen. Instead, it explains the subconscious of each individual in the instant that events happen. The social order that best fits human nature is one where the informed opinions of everyone creates decisions and causes action. Madison’s argument for and against factions, Aristotle’s idea of ultimate happiness, and Locke’s concept of popular government and human rights all offer a significant component to the larger concept that is human nature. While some may argue that we will only fully understand human nature when we are met with death, still we can begin to capture a slight understanding to what governs human nature and the political order that helps it grow.
One of the most obvious things that we are noticing in our everyday lives is that people are distinctly different. There are 7 billion people sharing the earth. But how many are considered “normal”? When are people considered abnormal? To be normal is to adhere to a standard or norm, but unfortunately, normality is an impossible and unlikely dream that we will continue to strive for all our lives. We strive for it because it gives us that sense of self that we need to reassure us that we fit in. While undefined, depending on your upbringing, generation and culture, what you consider normal may not be normal for someone else because other countries and cultures have different traditions and practices that they view to be routine; and what in the past has been viewed as normal has evolved throughout the course of time.
In conclusion, fashion will speak out a person’s social signal, people dress on designs that blend with their social class. Just as population, social activities and fashion are changing with time. Fashion has made clothing to be convinient, everything needs to be done with the least effort and spend the least time.