Essay On Identity And Society

The society we live in; the people, the media, the culture, etc… constructs us as humans. The way we see and perceive the images we encounter every day molds our idea of the self and other. It controls our actions and behaviors; it shapes our identity, our thoughts, and our ideologies. The relationship between the individual and society is a complex one, but it is ultimately a sort of symbiotic relationship where society and the individual cannot live without the other. Society exists and is structured by the individual and the individual is structured to the core by society. Race, class, and gender are all socially constructed by the social and cultural practices a person follows and dictates how we perceive others and ourselves. Focusing the American ideology of gender, While the United States prides itself in being a “melting pot” where all cultures and people can live peacefully and fluidly, the reality is that there is a dominant culture and …show more content…
It is difficult to abandon what is has defined our very selves. Every image we see, from the moment we are born to the moment before we pass, are what create who us as individuals. This representation, as described in “Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture,” that happens without our conscious acceptance, is what gives us our perception of society and culture and tells us what emotions to apply. Though this social embodiment is hard to shake off, as can be seen in the butch-femme expression dilemma and in stereotyping as a whole, it is important to be at least aware of it. Negating the fact that we are influenced by subconscious messages is problematic as it leads to conformity in the way society is and impedes progress. It is essential to be aware that how we feel about race, class and gender is socially constructed to try and change its composition and improve the issues with our current