Essay On Breaking A Social Norm

Words: 631
Pages: 3

Breaking a Social Norm

Statement of the Problem:
The social norm I intend to violate is that of dressing appropriately. To violate this norm, I plan to wear my pyjamas in public. Social norms are in place in our society, so people know how to act and behave in society. This social expectation serves a purpose in our society; the way you dress determines how individuals perceive, respect and listens to you. This social norm speaks to the sociological concept of stereotyping.

Hypothesis:
I would imagine I will receive a range of possible reactions such as many odd looks from people passing by. Many people may laugh or sneer at me. It is possible that some people might be offended with my choice and they might confront me and express their opinions to me in an arrogant way. I would expect many of the people to ignore my actions or possibly look twice at what I am wearing. The major reaction I would expect when I
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I felt I was drawing unwarranted attention to myself. I felt totally self-conscious and I wanted to cover up what I was wearing all the time. I didn’t believe peoples remarks would make me feel so belittled. I felt it wasn’t their place to address to me in such a manner. I could feel people making assumptions about me because of my attire. This assignment was simple to carry out and helped me realise how judgemental people can be. I had no difficultly in conducting this experiment.
I learned that it is wrong to judge and stereotype people for the way they dress. It should not influence one’s social status. If you adhere to social expectations, then you are more likely to be socially accepted. It prompted me not to criticise others for the way they are dressed. It should be a person’s own choice how they dress, and they should not be condemned for