Break A Norm Essay Reflection

What did you learn about writing and about yourself as a writer through writing this

piece?

This essay was written for my online Sociology course, and it was one of the essays for

the class that I truly enjoyed writing. In the essay, we were asked to identify a cultural norm that

would be acceptable to break without breaking the law or causing harm to others. I personally

choose the norm of not breastfeeding in public, and I examined the history, laws and social

stigmas around women who breastfeed in public. The topic was enlightening as I learned that

breastfeeding is not illegal in any state, however it is simply considered “deviant” behavior by

many participants in society. Researching this issue allowed me to build on my writing skills

while also providing different perspectives on my chosen norm.

What is the one thing you want people to particularly notice when they look at this piece?

The one thing I want people to notice about this piece is that “breastfeeding is not

distasteful nudity but rather natural motherly care” as I described in my essay. Regardless of

religion, culture, and society, breastfeeding is one of the most natural human acts and should

never be condemned or shunned upon simply because a woman breastfeeds in a public space.

My essay is only the beginning of a dialogue that needs to be spoken about in our current world.

What would you change if you had the chance to do this piece all over again?
 I don’t believe there is anything I would choose to change about this particular piece as I

received a perfect score, and I was extremely proud with the outcome of research I provided in

relation to my topic. If I could, I would definitely write more about this topic, but unfortunately,

this essay had a limited amount of required pages.