MY REFLECTION ON THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF SOCIETY

We have often associated one’s identity with the fundamental process of

conditioning us, humans, as part of a certain society we belong to. Without necessarily
neglecting the vitality that uniqueness holds, we are technically bound to abide with the
disposition we are seen for.
Just as Vince Lombardi quotes, “The measure of who we are is what we do with
what we have.”; we have our body, our human intellect and free will that disparate us from
most, if not all, species, and most importantly, our morality that allows us to formulate
choices in accordance with the authentic good; in which with certainty, leads us to
perform as the person we are or who we ought to be – that is, if these tools are
accordingly utilized for their purpose. Society, however, has its own process of piloting,
that makes use of our own individual qualities, to bridge the never-ending gap of needs.
Taking this into account, the measure of who we are then becomes what society allows us
to do with what we have. There are regulations established to keep us organized, there is
a merit and demerit system, that like an unseen prophecy, we live up to, and there are
fundamental principles of life we can never strip away from ourselves, thus limiting some
of our actions.
The self, as a product of society, can either be the inferior or ideal version of who
we perceive ourselves to be. It can be inferior because with all the rules we must heed,
inevitably so, we derelict our raw form of individuality. For example, in western countries,
it is acceptable for women to wear whatever garment they feel the most comfortable, but
in the Philippines, known for having a conservative race, women who act just as western
people do are frowned upon by society. To preserve oneself, one must do what it takes to
avoid conflicts. How could anyone be their ideal selves in such situations? Well, some of
us consider these restrictions as a challenge. They can exercise who they firmly believe
themselves to be the more they are told otherwise.
Society mostly dictates who we are, but then, we make up Society. Therefore, we
are capable of bending Society into one that makes us grow into who we genuinely want
ourselves to be.