Our society is based on competitiveness, it's capitalist. The competition we observe with businesses on the stock market has dwindled down on adolescents. In order to be recognized we try our best to stay current with our clothes, speech, and attitude. We become consumed by the masses and as a result we forget how to navigate away from them. In a small group of ten people it becomes difficult to identify ourselves because we all look the same. We are capable of doing something to make ourselves look more unique from the group, but at what cost? We could be cursed with social condemnation because of our choice to be different. We are forcefully compelled to wear certain clothes or speak in such a demeanor that is considered the "norm". Elders ask, "why is it so hard to be yourself"? In response to that question, I would say its not hard at all but I am living in a society that doesn't make it easy.
You are laughed at for being a virgin, you are judged if you don't have a girlfriend/boyfriend, you are talked about if you have too many girls/boys around you. Adolescents have been forced to submit to the principles of everyone else.
I've experienced this situation with a friend of mine from middle school. He was a good friend of mine and we use to tell each other a lot about each other. I was a little bit more mischievous in middle school and a lot of kids in middle school would relate to that more. As a result I gained some popularity. My friend was getting jealous of that and he began to participate in some of the negative endeavors I did just to be on the same standard as I was. First off he was terribly clumsy so he would always get caught. Secondly, because more praise was given for your the negative things you pursued it pushes kids like my friend to do things they would not normally do just to get recognition.
Ultimately the social pressure society is placing on adolescents is making it harder for us to configure who we are as a social being. Nowadays we are motivated to follow in the footsteps of others because of the fear of making footsteps of our own.
I love how you took on the question, with the whole capitalist scenario. I completely agree that we're too scared, and we change ourselves because of the judgement of others.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the beginning of your passage, especially how you correlated this topic with capitalism. Oh and we can always count on your past experiences to help us better understand your point :p
ReplyDeleteTrue, I believe that we know the right thing to do and that all those materials are vain and does not define the person yet society, society, society, collectively have brainwashed our minds. Interesting blog. Whatever happened to your friend?
ReplyDeleteWell, I couldn't picture you as the mischievous type, but that's a nice story. I understand your view on peer pressure but I am very strong on the whole " pressure isn't all that bad” .
ReplyDeleteI really like how you related your blog to capatalist
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