This morning I was lying in bed and thinking (as I do for many, many minutes sometimes hours every morning), and something occurred to me: From the time we are born, we are taught to be cogs in society’s great conformity wheel. Let me explain.
(Let me also preface this with the statement that when I told Scott this today, he laughed at me and said I sounded like the opening to a bad Disney movie.)
- When we’re born, we’re immediately labeled as a boy or girl and labeled with a pink or blue tag.
- Our parents put blue or pink clothes on us to label us to everyone, and if we’re a little girl with no hair, they will often pierce our ears as further proof.
- We go to preschool where we’re read the same stories and taught the same lessons.
- Soon, we start taking ballet lessons or participating in team sports. We’re taught to color in the lines and put our things in the right cubby hole. The school day begins at 8 and ends around 2.
- Starting around first or second grade, we start getting criticized by our peers if we’re a little different than they are. We’re told to stay away from the kids of a different race or religion or body type.
- We go through school trying to make good grades and score well on standardized tests that may or may not accurately represent each individuals’ talents and abilities.
- We graduate from high school, go to college, get a job, get married, have babies…and the cycle repeats itself over and over.
When I told Scott about this, he also said, “Haven’t you ever pondered the idea that the world functions as one organism?” Yeah, I get that…completely. But isn’t it a little sad?
I mean, essentially we are robbed from birth of any individuality or chance of developing our own authentic selves. Yes, I’m exaggerating somewhat, but imagine if people had no preconceptions as to what they’re “supposed to become?”
Does nonconformity necessarily create chaos? Or does it create positive human and social evolution?
Lauren
5 responses so far ↓
heidikins // July 7, 2009 at 7:06 pm |
These are very Deep Thoughts.
Try dealing with all of the above plus an identical twin. To this day most people can’t tell us apart, and if they can differentiate between our faces they can’t remember which personality or characteristic bits go with which twin.
Talk about an identity crisis.
xox
Lauren // July 8, 2009 at 3:57 pm |
Oh I could TOTALLY tell you guys apart. I would just see who had on the most fabulous shoes.
Lori // July 9, 2009 at 2:23 am |
I think you’re REALLY stretching here!! There are sooo many different types of people out there.
BUT, that’s the great thing about a relationship with God. We don’t conform to this world, but find out who He created us to be regardless of what others expect:)
Debi Stuckey // July 9, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
I can’t believe you are having these thoughts at this particular time…because..I have been going through a situation at work that has me thinking almost the exact things. It has more to do with “social class” which also groups and stereotypes people. It seems to be so much more prevalent in small towns especially in the South. Its still who you know, not WHAT you know!!!!!!!
dave downing // July 9, 2009 at 6:18 pm |
first off, we have it way better than, say, animals. They are taught to kill a or eat a certain thing, they do that till they die. Tigers can’t even change their shirts.
but really, some basic platform of knowledge and learning must be laid down or we’ll never be able to grow up and think for ourselves. If someone is just blindly following their path as another “cog”, then chances are, they don’t care about being a cog. If you don’t want to be a cog, then FREE WILL baby. If it were truly as you described, we wouldn’t have so many different thoughts, beliefs and morals … unless it’s just been a really long, bad game of “telephone”.
cheers.