Understanding the pressure of conformity in a heterogeneous society
The pressure to fit in with peers is one difficulty that plagues young people for many years of their life. Succumbing to these pressures seems like the logical, and easy, fix to fitting in. Whereas those who decide to steer away from the pressure of fitting in seem to constantly struggle with establishing and holding true to their identity. However, this actually may not be the case. First, understanding how crushing the pressure to fit in can be will show why young people give it so much importance in their life. Not only are young people trying to individualize themselves, but they are also dealing with others who put them down or criticize their uniqueness. Secondly, the differences of race and culture will prove to make fitting in even more difficult for young people. If race is not taken into account for young people who are trying to fit in with their peers, they could be missing an important link to why they are struggling. This could lead to conformity, which is the simple, but not helpful, way to end the pressures of fitting in.
Poet Timothy D. Prott captures the essence of the struggle for young people in his poem, Fitting In. An excerpt from his poem states,
It's like being the square peg.
Except somewhere there is a place I fit. ?
At least, that is what someone perceives.
For me, the square peg,
I can't even seem to wedge myself into the square holes.
Why won't I fit in? ?
For what reason on earth could it be ?
Protts poem is portraying how deteriorating the pressure to fit in can be, and how it can be extremely confusing for a young person. If a young person has grown up in a home of a certain culture or race, and is thrown into a community with the dominance of another culture or race, it could be extremely confusing and make individualizing very difficult. One way this difficulty is clearly seen is through microaggressions. These subtle insults are what cause young people to want to conform. An example of a microaggression could be, Why do you talk like that, or, Why do you eat that type of food? It does not look appetizing. For a young person of a racial or cultural minority, this could be very hurtful. In some cases, young people who experience microaggressions could begin to dissimilate themselves with their race or culture, and try to be more like the dominant one. Even though it may seem like an easy fix, this is not a sufficient long-term solution. The denial of ones culture, and conformity to another, is rejecting one of the most beautiful aspects of a young persons life. This rejection could cause stress for young people, because they are trying to balance a double life of conforming among peers in social situations and then accepting ones culture in the home. A double life can be very stressful for a young person and may lead to struggles in adulthood, as well.
Fitting in will always be an important issue among young people, and may cause hardships at some time or another. Therefore, it is important for young people to understand how stressful the pressure to fit in can be. Even though there will always be people who will not accept this, and continue to degrade others for their differences, young people should not let themselves conform. Rather then viewing differences in a negative light, recognizing heterogeneity in others will allow for more united peers. If peers become more united, young people would not feel the pressure of having to be like the majority. Instead, they could embrace their race and culture, and bring diversity and excitement to their peers. But again, this is a group effort for people of racial and cultural majorities and minorities. The concept of microaggressions should be taught to young people before they enter situations where they will be interacting with others of different races and cultures. Education and knowledge of the subject is what will diminish ignorance, and allow for a much easier fitting in process. In other words, fitting in does not have to mean being the same as everyone else. It means finding a place where you feel comfortable with others while being and accepting yourself and your differences.
Krista Rafferty
20 April 2009
