Matt Blaylock

English 114B
Jennifer Rodrick
May 9, 2016
Societys Vision Revision
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. Whether or not a child is destined to be
one thing or another, it is a parents job to guide their children through the path of life and
become their concrete foundations, walls, for their children to flourish and truly discover who
they are and what they want to become. For example, my parents have always been there for me.

They always care to listen to what I say and let them know my plans for the future and what I
want to become, where I want to go to school, and just how I see my life playing out. My parents
have always and will always support me through the good times and the bad times and that is
what makes me thankful to have such strong concrete foundations on both sides of me.

.
This picture above is showing how a baby in preschool is learning how to play and cooperate
with others, including adults and teachers. A parent is an infants only priority and a parent is
there to play, care, and nurture their child until they become adults themselves. 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. Throughout time, society has evolved this mentality that no matter what a person may feel
they are, if they are born a certain way, then that is the way they must always be. Society needs
to become more comforting and accepting with everyone and everyones wishes and desires
when it comes to expressing who they truly are and want to be.

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:
Friedersdorf, Connor. "Conservative Hypocrisy on Racial Profiling and Affirmative Action." The
Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 24 July 2013. Web. 09 May 2016.
GoodStart. "SEP Long Day Care vs. Family Day Care." Https://www.goodstart.org. N.p., 7 Sept.
na. Web. 9 May 2016.