Conflict: Between the Norm of Society Essay

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Conflict: Between the Norm of Society Have you ever felt like you had to conform to the ways of society? We grow up in a world where people are told what and how to do something regarding their own mind because it just seems right. In many countries such as India women are not to wear clothes revealing because it attracts unwanted attention and is considered a symbol of being defiant. In the United States years ago women were told to dress appropriately when they left home. In the new millennium we see that a lot has changed. People come out of their home with clothing that barely covers anything at all because it has been accepted to do so and others still do pass their judgment. The story A&P takes place in a little town 5 miles away from a beach. If you stepped outside of the store you can see the banks and church on the street needless to say it’s in the middle of town. In walk three girls with bathing suits on to pick up a few things. Sammy is the clerk who checks out the girls and observes the people in the store. He winds up naming the main girl Queenie. In these days women usually throw on a shirt and shorts before stepping into places. People were not used to it. “The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle—the girls were walking against the usual traffic (not that we have one-way signs or anything)—were pretty hilarious. You could see them, when Queenie’s white shoulders dawned on them, kind of jerk, or hop, or hiccup, but their eyes snapped back to their own baskets and on they pushed.” (Updike, A&P) In the story Sammy refers to the people in the store as sheep and he describes how they would stare at Queenie as she would walk by. The girls are facing the conflict of people around them judging them because of what they are wearing and in their mind they must think it was okay. Sammy this 19 year old boy embraces the girls as they are. He passes no judgment and accepts it as is. Lengel his manager does not agree with the matter. He is a Sunday school teacher and as many know many religious people have high expectations to be dressed a certain way. He does announce to them that it was store and that they should be dressed with their bodies covered. Queenie is embarrassed and responds back saying she believe she was dressed appropriately. What is the difference from walking on beach than in the store with a bathing suit? They are both public areas where people will
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