Social Pressures
I think there are definitely a few social pressures that shape everyone's images and individualities. In my case, I think those social pressures would have to include stereotypes. In particular, racial stereotypes would be the social pressure that shapes my image. In activity one I said that I'm white, female, middle class, Christian, and a Republican. I'm definitely all of those things because they've made me who I am as an individual, not because I chose to have those define me. Its always seemed like people have assumed that since I'm a white girl and also a Republican and a Christian that I automatically am like every other white girl that's a Republican and a Christian. For example, it's always sounded like such an odd thing for a white girl to love hip hop music. It seems like a racial stereotype to only classify African-Americans as the ones who would normally listen to hip hop music. This is why I think that my self- image consists of a racial stereotype because I am someone who loves hip hop, rap, and r&b music but yet I'm also white, Christian, and a Republican. I think I've conformed to this social pressure of it being an odd thing by just being myself and dressing the way I want and listening to the kind of music that I like even if it seems odd to others. I honestly think that this stereotype has let me have the best of both worlds.
