Aquino 1

Alyssa Aquino
Jennifer Rodrick
English 114B
March 15, 2016
Inner Space
When it comes to identity, we think about how its been evolving as we grow up.
Through the use of technology, it has evolved our minds to second guess our own thoughts. It
holds us back from stating our own opinions. I look back sometimes and realize how my fashion
and music sense was totally dragging me down back then. Going to a Catholic school for 9 years,
I was required to wear plaid, black and white jumpsuits every day and as a result, I didnt have a
sense to what Ive always wanted to wear. Aside from that, I would always feel like my music
taste would be horrid because I would only listen to radio music. Being a Filipino has taught me
so many things that I tend to forget how to act when Im not with Filipinos. Stereotypes rise to
the extent that starts to change how we are today. And until this day, I know that Ive conformed
to so many things that made me how I am physically and mentally, hence why I believe that our
identities been shaped by our surroundings rather than performative.
Back then during my private school days, my school would usually host a weekly free
dress event where students can dress in any way they wanted to in exchange for $1. Whenever I
dressed up for it, I would hear judgments. Now as a teen, I strictly shop at the most fashionable,
trendy retail stores. Growing up as as teen is the stage where they try so many different things
that will shape who they are today. For example, fashion is really hard to come by as expressing
ourselves. According to an article by oystermag.com, they talk about how these so-called
hipsters are located almost everywhere and how they make the same fashion choices. The

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reason for that is the time it takes for an individual to register the decisions of others. You cannot
be aware of what other people decide in real time, it takes a little while (oystermag.com 17). I
believe that in time it will take us to realize how we want to dress like because we see people
following that trend. Taking in effect that probably a person was judged on their fashion will
alter their minds to follow the fashionable trend. In addition, music has been a big influence to
all of us today. However, people usually hide what they listen to because its not part of todays
hits or whatever.

For example, raves

started to develop

just recently. Raves

are large dance

parties featuring

performances by

DJs and

occasionally live

performers playing

electronic dance

music (EDM).

According to an

article written by

Lauren Duca, she

discusses the rise

of raves. The sense

of community

draws people

(Duca 12).

Nowadays, people have been attending raves as they rise up to the population. More than 5 raves
are hosted every year and more people start to convert to EDM as it sparks throughout so many
conversations. As teens turn 18, they start to save up money just to attend these raves. They
initiate pleasure and to be worry free for a while. Raves are making oldies music disappear
slowly. As we grow up, we are bound to physically change how we are as we see how society is
changing as well.

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The way we portray ourselves physically isnt the only way. Mentally, we think of how to
improve ourselves to fit in. Through culture, people start to forget their own culture and
convert to the culture around them. For example, African Americans are being bombarded
because of their culture. According to an article called Black Men in Public Space featured in
The Norton Reader, Brent Staples talks about how he was seen as a mugger as they would say.
Id come into the ability to alter public space in ugly ways (Staples 188). Today, Black
people are seen as criminals who would do anything to get things out of the way. Staples was so
ashamed of their culture that he tries to adapt to a new culture, trying to avoid shameful
judgments from other people. I now take precautions to make myself less threatening. I move
about with care, particularly late in the evening (Staples 190) This shows how conforming to
a new culture just so people wont judge you for your color creates many stereotypes for our
people. In addition, we are afraid to show how we are, sexually. A lot of people are afraid to
come out of the closet. For example, in an article called What Is a Homosexual written by
Andrew Sullivan, he portrays his story of how scared he was to reveal who he truly is. No
homosexual child surrounded overwhelmingly by heterosexuals, will feel at home in his sexual
and emotional world, even in the most tolerant of cultures." (Sullivan 128) Its pretty difficult to
come out of the closet when one wouldnt know what the judgments and reactions would be. We
assume that every one of us will have the same assumption of how we see other people. Our
reactions will mostly be either be shocked, disgusted, or even, scared. It seems natural but
honestly its not. Overtime, people will look at this a better perspective and become mature about
it. It just takes time and consideration to take it all in. However, as they grow up, theyll have a
harder time to be accepted as they are. This is why people are so hesitant to show who they really
are so they conform and go with the flow.

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On the other side, there are people that try to speak their opinion just by being
themselves. For example, my roommate Brianna gets critical judgments of the way she dresses.
Hair in a bun, sweatpants and a plain t-shirt on, socks and sandals, with no make up is how she
usually dresses. People nowadays call her bun girl. Curiously, I wonder if she ever tries to
dress how society dresses like nowadays. She proclaims, People can dress the way they want. I
dress the way I dress because I want to be comfortable. And I do not care if people judge me, this
is the way I dress and like it. One time she dresses up in a white shirt, pink flannel hovering her
shoulders, and black leggings. Our other roommate calls her a lesbian because she was dressed
like that. People have their own sense of style and think that it may be demoting themselves
toward their identity. Unfortunately, they decide to conform to societys fashion.
In conclusion, who we are today originates from so many things. From technology to
even our own surroundings, it shapes us. Through conformity, we hold back our own thoughts
and second guess them, we change how we are physically and mentally. Our cultures dont really
matter to what wed be doing today than the culture around us. Growing up as a conformist, I
realize this is mostly what I really am, just because I started to get used to it. I started to speak up
more often when needed, started to get out of my comfort zone, etc.

Works Cited
Duca, Lauren. "The Truth About EDM Culture." 28 June 2014. <Huffingtonpost.com>.
oystermag.com. "Research: Why The 'Hipster Effect' Breeds Conformity is Inescapable." (2014).
Staples, Brent. "Black Men and Public Space." The Norton Reader (n.d.).
Sullivan, Andrew. "What is a Homosexual?" The Norton Reader (n.d.).

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