Societies Influence

How is it that society tells us what to do? Every decision you make whether you notice it or not is decided by society. This includes your actions, dress, and future goals. It uses the influence of popular characters and transforms our image of what is acceptable.

Every action and mannerism of humans is decided by society. In Canada you may hear someone exclaim “Nice weather, aye?” While a Texan may say, “How are ya’ll.” That region, effects their actions and mannerisms. I personally have a friend who moved from Mexico when she was eight. She learned English and soon, lost her beautiful accent. She had forced herself to lose it because she had been made fun of in school. She spent hours of hard work each day trying to change her accent. She would cry and tear herself down because certain things she couldn’t master. These kids had threatened her confidence and made her feel unwelcome so she changed herself. She sought approval from those who were only willing to accept her if she changed herself.

            Next, the way you dress is directly affected by society. The human mind craves to find acceptance. And although each human is entirely different, they tend to seek others who are like themselves. They are attracted to the familiarity, while still searching individuality. Styles tend to come and go as society is constantly changing its views. Actors and actresses as well as models wear specific clothing causing people to believe they must also dress like these figures. Society has put them on such a pedestal that it influences and even morphs our decisions on our grooming. Magazines and news articles are published advertising these clothes. So why is it that people feel they must conform? It goes back to the acceptance of others. When someone is seen wearing something new, showing individuality they are placed higher than others. Humans crave that attention, that power. They become drawn to the confidence that person shows and seek to find that same strength.

            Society also tells us how our lives should play out. Ask yourself this, why do I want to attend college? Many will answer by saying they want to gain an education in order to obtain a good paying job and support a family. Society tells us that in order to have a good job you must have a college education. However a college education is not exactly necessary for a high paying career. Bill Gates for example was a college drop out and yet he is now the richest man on earth. Granted, College does allow a better education and understanding for specific fields and it may even push you above another in the job hunt. Also, We are not all Bill Gates. But college is not necessarily for everyone.  Society makes us believe that in order to find our way up the food chain we must attend college. It also looks down on those who don’t attend as dumb, untalented, or lazy. Why does society get to choose what is best for us? Why do we allow it to affect us?

            Society also affects the family life. Many people marry before they are ready. This is because society looks down on those who marry at an older age. You become to old to start a family. It seems weird to think that someone may have a two year old while they are forty-five years old. And besides who want to be old when their kids leave the house? I know I wouldn’t. We conform to what is popular and because many people in the world marry around a young age, we too believe that is what we must do. Its as though it is common knowledge to marry in ones prime. It doesn’t help that our parents want us to do so as well as our grandparents. People begin to feel small and insignificant when they stand out in a way that is looked down upon. Humans seek acceptance and in doing so they conform to society.

            Although society has a negative connotation, It also has a positive one. It is amazing to know that we as a people can work together to form a functioning, and growing society. I think of society as a company. Like a company, it can not just be run by one person. It has many employees who work with one another in order to reach the final goal. Many will complain about the job and some of the product may not turn out just right, but everything tends to work out in the end. Like a company we work with one another. I have seen various examples of goodwill and kind-heartedness. But it seems as though these people are the ones who are in society but not necessarily part of it.

            This is the type of person I would like to become, someone who is working in society but is not part of it. I would like to worry more about how I treat others and even how I treat the earth before I think about how my hair might look or what I am going to wear that day. I want to be able to look at the world with a whole new meaning. See the world as a gift from God. Treat Humans as individuals and have an open heart towards them. I must however first overcome the fear of how others judge me before I can better myself.

Society seems to have this hold on our choices and views. It gives individuals the feeling they are choosing for themselves, when in reality, it influences every decision they make. Humans, although unaware, are conformed and shaped by the way society tells them to behave and act. I believe that we can however become a better member of society. We can learn to shift our ways of thinking and pursue what actually matters in life. Although it may take practice and a lot of personal work, I believe it is possible.