...you are deeply influenced by serious societal ideals? This is a potentially confusing questions so I have some explanations. Take a look at your clothes. Are you wearing an outfit that you think is attractive on you because of your sex? What if the opposite sex was wearing it? Would you think that some of your actions are strange coming from the other sex? There are alot of ideas about what is the "right" way for a certain group to act or the "right" expectations that a certain group should have. Some people think that it is strange for men or women (or even people with certain skin complexions) to do particular things and because of this they adjust their lives and beliefs so that they meet those standards. It's mostly subconscious and until someone points it out you rarely realize it. I am 100% aware of the fact that no person can live without the influence of another so 100% "freedom" is impossible but don't you think that expectations about sex/"race" are over the top?
2007-03-22 10:18:49 · 8 answers · asked by Vince R 5 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Being influenced is not a choice. I read one of the answers that claimed that being influenced and manipulated is a choice. Being manipulated is to an extent a choice but being influenced altogether is not a choice. What language did you speak as a child? I'll assume that most people who are answer spoke English. That is being influenced in it's self. Do you think that dresses are "women clothing?" That is being influenced and as ridiculous as it may seem to see a man wearing one, there is really nothing wrong with it (just like we have evolved to recognize that there's nothing wrong with allowing women to show how magnificiently they can perform if given the opportunity to do so). Those are extreme examples but you can look at smaller versions like the idea that most people have when it comes to men being the ones to pursue women (of course there are alot of people who don't push for that anymore but there are plenty who still do). There are lots of uncalled for examples like these.
2007-03-22 12:57:12 · update #1
Vince, it is, and always has been, a supreme challenge to be an authentic individual. That is, a real person true to himself/herself...not following the herd thinking and doing what most everyone in the culture are thinking and doing. As you say, it's impossible to be totally free of all that.
But the quest for individuality means being mostly free of all that. Finding a way to go your own way, be the person you want to be, deciding what you want to think and believe, regardless of whether any other human being on earth is following that path.
This approach to life means a lot of freedom, but it's not for everybody. It takes courage to be yourself. There's a lot of comfort and safety conforming to the ways of the herd...but the danger is you may not truly live a real, authentic life...you might waste the only life you'll ever have.
2007-03-22 11:09:23 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
That's a pretty good question. I can only say that I wish I could go without wearing a bra or shaving my legs, but nooo, society thinks it's hideous. It's even affected me to the extent that *I* think it looks ugly. It seems contradictory to think of a perfectly normal feature of the human body as nasty-looking as opposed to everything else. It'd be great if it weren't that way anymore.
2007-03-22 11:21:34 · answer #2 · answered by Elly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i do believe that you are right on the expections and social influences being over the top most things are if you think of it.
ever heard of agency? the ability to chose has always been an inherited ability ever since we as humans lived. it is still a choise to do anything even being influenced or being minipulated is a choise.
as tempting as some things are in the world i have my own veiw that i place on anything and everything in life and i could care less about my influences of society; anyone can have freedom too. enough will power in the right spot can get you your freedom in your scope; that is all it takes.
dont allow the world to shape who you are or your freedom. the only way it can is if you let it.
2007-03-22 11:03:58 · answer #3 · answered by ldsironman 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Truth is told... people want to believe they're free - but truth is, their brain doesn't allow them to be - it can't function on pure free will. That's just how the human mind is.
Personally I simply do what I want, regardless of what society prescribes me. People like me shouldn't be in pubs on weekdays - it's not normal where I live - I've done it all the time, only because I equal pubs to having a good time and I don't want to restrict having a good time to just the weekends. I don't care if something is the right thing to do, as long as I like to do it, it's all right for me.
I will admit, I'm usually a fashion victim... or more like a fashion victim ahead of her time, and I like to look good. Then again, I'm vain, and I want other people to adore me and my looks. I definitely don't want to look good because society tells me, it's merely one of my personal ego-flaws.
As for clothes I wear as a woman just because they belong to my gender... SKIRTS! Men wear them too... they're called KILTS. Same piece of clothing, different name ^.^
All that aside, though, I've thought about 100% freedom as well, and in all fairness, to obtain 100% freedom you would have to live with no job you *have* to go to, no responsibility, be able to go anywhere you want so therefore have access to every kind of transport known to man... so basically you would have to be an enfant terrible with loads of money. I suggest the lottery, but even then you'll be relying on something else to obtain freedom.
So basically 100% freedom is obtained by sacrificing your freedom, relying on other things, always having to be somewhere to have that bit of freedom that you want, and so forth.
2007-03-22 11:08:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
there is always a choice. Everone can reflect on the social imperatives and refuse to follow them.
2007-03-22 10:30:29 · answer #5 · answered by janne5011 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No I wouldn't call that free, but there could be more freedom if you let go of half that stuff. Don't think about all that and then you can smile!!
2007-03-22 10:33:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
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2007-03-23 23:57:08 · answer #7 · answered by Chand 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
...nope
2007-03-22 11:32:38 · answer #8 · answered by mørbidsшεεŧnεss 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋