Many times people in our society are judged based on gender, race and sexual orientation. People of different ethnic backgrounds or different sexual orientations must go through difficulties becoming successful and living that made up “American Dream.”
Examples such as; impediments denying African Americans their legal rights, Women’s Sexual Revolution, the, "Stonewall Riot" of June 1969 which many people believe was the initiation of the homosexual movement. A question that these people have asked themselves time after time is whether they should adapt to what society expects of them. Should people hide their true selves, or should they stand their ground and embrace their beliefs, feelings and background.
It is easy to see that society dictates what citizen’s actions should be; and although these actions are expected, many times there is no clear path to follow. However, to expose one’s identity can be a stressful thing to do, and can become an obstacle in attaining success. Nonetheless, compromising or hiding ones true inner self cannot obtain the ultimate satisfaction of success.
Language is a huge barrier affecting the intertwining of two cultures. Often, people will try to surpass the language barrier, only to hit upon a deeper barrier of critical understanding. One must come to mind and understand that learning a language is not enough when communication also implies cultural beliefs consecutively to transmit ideas. For instance, one who comes from a foreign country who is not fluent in English and lacks the skills to communicate concisely will have trouble expressing ideas. People who do not speak English fluently will have trouble coping with their surroundings, whether it is at work or home, or even with peers. Learning and comprehending a language is essential because not only will one correspond clearly but also have a deeper understanding of another culture. One must know that by learning another language, one will develop knowledge and skill in their use of the language arts as they listen, write, speak, read and view and will be able to understand a wide variety of contexts. Society expects us to communicate in a critical manner; therefore, compelling us to find faults in others will take our understanding to a higher level.
Historically, it has been known that the stereotype of the achiever of the American Dream is a white, heterosexual male. Although we live in a free society, free to choose even our sexual orientation, it is contradictive that the achiever of the American Dream cannot be a woman or a homosexual.
Therefore, certain members in our society will often hide (even from themselves) their sexual orientation. An exposed homosexual just cannot walk into any straight bar. Other folk might get the impression he’s their to engage in conversation with any straight man, perhaps even try to get him to join the other side. Gay people will always be looked at as immoral individuals who deviate from the social norm. Why is this? It is because too many people are narrow-minded and will have difficulties accepting someone with a different taste? I do not think it’s fair for bigots to discriminate based on sexual orientation. If anything that should be the least aspect they judge in, if they ever do.
Everyone knows that women have not attained the same levels of success and not been recognized by men, people argue that it is like this because their performances do not match the men’s. We must acknowledge that our society has been recognizing women’s rights dramatically. Unfortunately, there are so many broad aspects of women’s rights, that not all of them have been achieved. For example, in the business offices, women are traditionally paid a lesser amount than men. Parts of those misfortunes are because of the notions that people have of believing that females have less physical abilities. It is the norm for men to be naturally inclined to disregard women; it has been the tradition for the longest time. However, we all accept the fact that males and females are physically different but differences cannot be a source of gender discrimination.
Indeed, hiding ones religion, origin, cultural background or sexual belief is used as a way to gain acceptance. This shows how a person can bend his internal self in order to fit into the above-mentioned patterns of society. But this is no solution and is usually thought to bring only anguish and a feeling of inferiority. This, in turn, can lead to a backlash and vengeful attitudes towards people with the same characteristics (possibly as a way of self-denial) and at the society, which imposed an image in the individual.
It is unfortunate that most U.S. citizens, who have come from different cultural backgrounds, have to put up with social discrimination in many forms. One must acknowledge that the system in this country has trained us to believe that we the minorities are inferior to the White, Anglo-Saxon protestant who since the foundations of this country have been the elite. Therefore making it difficult for minorities to adapt or be included in the melting pot that society has to offer.
Should people reveal themselves and not follow the social role of the “perfect” citizen, in a perfect society? The catch phrase, “The truth shall set you free,” takes on a new meaning when seen from the standpoint of people who do not fit the stereotype normally seen to live the American Dream. But coming out and embracing oneself demands courage and a belief that one is not inferior. This is not always easy, but as we have seen people usually find a new sense of happiness and self-acceptance when they embrace who they really are. The proverbial term “coming out of the closet” is, in essence, the belief that one need not be the same as the pictured image of the achiever of the American Dream, as seen by society. One needs only to accept who one is, or should they?
Recent Comments