Conformity
Conformity
Being unique is a way to express oneself as an individual and as a person. Some say being an individual is going against the social norm or not conforming to the unwritten laws of society. Conformity can be a group, or society that people take part in who are expected to abide by. Being unique can cause one to face ridicule and isolation. In today’s society, the ongoing need for girls to conform to their peers is more important than ever. In the poem, Barbie Doll a girl is made fun of by the people around her because of her “great big nose and fat legs” (Piercy). Her peers only saw what she was on the outside and nothing for who she was on the inside despite her efforts to change it, “exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and legs and offered them up.” (Piercy).With strong efforts to conform to societies norm she ended up killing herself to end the criticism and cruel judgment. The girl in the story is not the only one who found suicide an escape from the ridicule of society. At Williamsville North High School in Buffalo N.Y. 14 year old Jamey Rodemeyer also took his own life after coming out about being gay, he was cyber bullied about straying away from the norm and not conforming to the “right” life choice as everyone else. “He had told family and friends that he had endured hateful comments in school and online, mostly related to his sexual orientation.” The people who were bullying Jamey made it so clear that his sexual orientation was the reason for their hatred by posting hateful comments online such as “JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT, ANND [sic] UGLY. HE MUST DIE!” and “I wouldn’t care if you died. No one would. So just do it :) It would make everyone WAY more happier!” These repulsive comments are what lead Jamey to hang himself outside his house one day. People who don’t conform are put into the category of “different” or “wrong” such as in one of the episodes of The Twilight
Being unique is a way to express oneself as an individual and as a person. Some say being an individual is going against the social norm or not conforming to the unwritten laws of society. Conformity can be a group, or society that people take part in who are expected to abide by. Being unique can cause one to face ridicule and isolation. In today’s society, the ongoing need for girls to conform to their peers is more important than ever. In the poem, Barbie Doll a girl is made fun of by the people around her because of her “great big nose and fat legs” (Piercy). Her peers only saw what she was on the outside and nothing for who she was on the inside despite her efforts to change it, “exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and legs and offered them up.” (Piercy).With strong efforts to conform to societies norm she ended up killing herself to end the criticism and cruel judgment. The girl in the story is not the only one who found suicide an escape from the ridicule of society. At Williamsville North High School in Buffalo N.Y. 14 year old Jamey Rodemeyer also took his own life after coming out about being gay, he was cyber bullied about straying away from the norm and not conforming to the “right” life choice as everyone else. “He had told family and friends that he had endured hateful comments in school and online, mostly related to his sexual orientation.” The people who were bullying Jamey made it so clear that his sexual orientation was the reason for their hatred by posting hateful comments online such as “JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT, ANND [sic] UGLY. HE MUST DIE!” and “I wouldn’t care if you died. No one would. So just do it :) It would make everyone WAY more happier!” These repulsive comments are what lead Jamey to hang himself outside his house one day. People who don’t conform are put into the category of “different” or “wrong” such as in one of the episodes of The Twilight