Matt Blaylock

English 114B
Jennifer Rodrick
March 30, 2016
Societys Vision
With each new generation, society evolves and shapes the identities of the young boys
and girls of that generation. The environment, cultural backgrounds, previous lifestyles, and the
social barriers of todays society, many have had to live lives based off of labels and
predetermined sections. Today, peoples identities are shaped by many broad labels like race,
sexuality, age, gender, and so on. Space has shaped identities in that every person must conform
to societys standards to be able to fit-in. It shouldnt matter if a person is homosexual or
African American, or if a persons child goes to preschool or jumps straight to kindergarten.
Society is too busy shaping everyones identity into a conforming viewpoint. Society should be
able to shape a persons identity to their favor, not something that has been preset and social
barriers that stand within the cities across the map.
In todays world, society has developed a more comfortable and accepting surrounding.
However, there are still hardships in the world that a lot of people have to deal with. Specifically,
with the gay community, a lot of people are scared to come out as homosexual to friends and
family because of how society has the preset barrier about homosexuals. Andrew Sullivan states,
The gay teenager learns in that kind of event a form of control and sublimation, of deception
and self-concept, that never leaves his consciousness. He learns that that which would most give
him meaning is most likely to destroy him in the eyes of others; that the condition of his
friendships is the subjugation of himself. (The Norton Reader 127). Sullivan states that most

people that are gay have to go through a lot and have to put themselves into a false pretense that
makes them accepting to their friends at a young age. Society has depicted that people will
shame someone if they come out as gay. In real life, the real world, people need to be accepting
of everyone, regardless of sexuality. It shouldnt matter if a person is straight, gay, transsexual, it
all matters about who the person really is and what type of person they really are. Sullivan also
states, The homosexual learns to make distinctions between his sexual desire and his emotional
longings not because he is particularly prone to objectification of the flesh, but because he
needs to survive as a social and sexual being. (The Norton Reader 128). Sullivan is stating that
if a person is homosexual, that they have to distinguish the sexual desire and emotional desire
because it isnt meant to fit in with society. I believe that society needs to be more open to
people, regardless of sexuality. A persons sexuality should only be their own matter, not
everyone elses.
Society has portrayed certain races to be good and bad when in reality every single race
in todays society is good and the social barrier that categorizes these races needs to be brought
down. There is still a lot of discrimination towards races, including the African Americans. Brent
Staples says, At dark, shadowy intersections, I could cross in front of a car stopped at a traffic
light and elicit the thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk of the driver black, white, male, or female
hammering down the door locks. (The Norton Reader 189). Staples is explaining that while
walking at night, people may feel threatened by him simply because his is an African American
man. This is a key highlight to how society still is today. The barrier needs to be brought down.
No matter what race a person is, they can be deadly. Just because a person is African American
does not mean he is a bad person. It shows how awful society can be. I believe that a persons
identity should be shaped on the person they are and how they are, not for the simplicity of the

color of their skin. Staples also states, After dark, on the warren-like streets of Brooklyn where I
live, I often see women who fear the worst from me. They seem to have set their faces on
neutral, and with their purse straps strung across their chests bandolier-style, they forge ahead as
though bracing themselves against being tackled. (The Norton Reader 189). I believe that what
Staples is saying is that because of the color of his skin, he is being labeled as someone who may
rob them.
This image states that Skin color is not
reasonable suspicion which I truly think
creates the image that no matter a persons
race is, there should be no suspicion
simply because of his or hers skin color. I
believe this is something that needs to be
stopped. Society is poorly shaping peoples
identities into something they arent.
Lastly, even young children are being shaped by society. Blake Doyle, author of The
Preschool Potential, states that From the moment of birth, a child will instantaneously become
influenced and molded by his or her surroundings, rendering each child unique and independent
from one another. (Wings 29). I believe that Doyle is stating that when a child is born, they are
learning and adapting to new ideas and conceptions.

This picture above is showing how a baby in preschool is learning how to play and cooperate
with others, including adults and teachers. By entering a child into preschool, they receive that
upper-hand compared to those who go straight into kindergarten at age five. I personally
believe that preschool does have an effect on young childrens development, but the jump
between preschool and straight kindergarten arent that high as society thinks. Doyle says, By
implementing universal preschool in the United States, there is high potential for vast benefits
economically and socially. (Wings 29). I believe that this is a good idea, however society
shouldnt jump the gun and say that preschool is a clear cut advantage to those who didnt. Space
and society shape identities into false pictures instead of allowing a person to reach their full
potential and be who they really want to be, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, and so on.
Even though each new generation evolves and the identities of the young boys and girls
begins to shape, society is still portraying identities into something they arent and allowing these
social barriers to be present. It shouldnt matter if a persons sexuality, race, gender, age, or class
is, a person should be whoever the hell they want to be. I believe that society needs to get rid of
the social barriers and allow people to be who they want to be, not who they need to be perceived
as.

Works Cited
Doyle, Blake. "The Preschool Potential." Wings. 22nd ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 29-31. Print.
Sullivan, Andrew. "What Is a Homosexual?" The Norton Reader. 13th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 127-31.
Print.
Staples, Brent. "Black Men and Public Space." The Norton Reader. 13th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 18890. Print.

Image:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/07/conservative-hypocrisy-on-racial-profilingand-affirmative-action/278061/
https://www.goodstart.org.au/parents-place/september-2015/long-day-care-vs-family-day-care