Connie Smith Ms. Wheeler P6 AP Language 15 April 2013 Society’s Standards vs. Self Everyone likes to think that they are a unique individual who is not controlled or influenced by society. But all societies, no matter what type, have standards. People are what make up society, and they effect society’s expectations. But how do society’s standards influence one’s view of self and their actions?
Standards affect one’s idea of self by giving one a superficial idea of what is the norm, and this view affects the way one acts by influencing one to act a certain way to meet or exceed those standards even though it might go against their true identity. In each society, standards are present, and there are many different standards and expectations. Unfortunately, many of these standards clash and become what seems a never-ending conflict for an individual. Anzaldua, in her writing, explains her struggle of being “American” and being “Hispanic.
These different standards changed her view of self. She was so confused on who she was, that she decided to just try and be what her mother or her school wanted her to be. So she now thought of herself as a Mexican speaking English or an American speaking Spanish. Because of this view, her actions changed. She tried being less Hispanic at Smith 2 school and took two speech classes. Yet, at home and church she tried being more Hispanic and less English (Anzaldua, 44).
Expectations changed her view of self and her actions.
Cooper in his writing, “A Clack of Tiny Sparks…” illustrates his struggle with himself. Cooper would not have had this hard struggle with his identity if society’s standards had not affected him. To be gay was not very acceptable in his day and time, and he was aware of those expectations. This influenced his idea of self, and he thought of himself as an outsider. This view definitely affected the way he acted. When one asked him if he was a “fag”, he tried making himself less conspicuous while denying any accusations.
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When his mother seemed terrified at just the topic of being gay, and when he was at the party, Cooper went against his true identity and stuck with society’s view on self (Cooper, 123).
Society influenced him to go against himself and even influenced him to try to change. Yet, in the end, both Anzaldua and Cooper embraced their true identity after a long and constant struggle against society’s view of what is normal. Although society’s expectations exist, both individuals were able to become proud of who they are.
A strong individual may struggle with society, but in the end, they will emerge confident about themselves no matter what society says. Walker was extremely self-conscious about her eye and how she acted after the “accident”. She struggled with who she was and what others thought about her. She was the only one who was in control of her thoughts and actions, even though many told her that she did not change, and that she was the same person she was after the incident, she thought Smith 3 that she was not beautiful (Walker, 445).
Although society might call you fat, a nerd, ugly, unpopular, etc. n the end, oneself is the only one influencing their own idea of self. Society will always have standards and expectations concerning what one should look like, be like, and act like. These expectations do have the power to influence and can effect one’s life dramatically, by changing their view of self and making one act a certain way to be accepted. Although these standards exist, it is up to each and every individual to find their own idea of self and act as they please, expressing who they are without letting society shake them.
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