norm

1. Kaylee Moore
FYS 100
Breaking a Social Norm
In class we were asked to break a social norm throughout the day and see other’s reaction’s to
breaking that social norm. I chose to dress like a guy thinking it would be easy since I have a lot of
guy friends. I chose this because I wanted to see if other’s reactions were what I expected. I
expected people to stare at me, give me weird looks, talk about me, and think that I was gay or
something.
The first place I decided to try to dress up like a guy was the mall to see all the different
reactions from people. As I expected I had a lot of stares from little kids looking and laughing at me.
But there was actually adults doing the same things. I felt very uncomfortable because everywhere I
went everyone was staring at me. I dressed in some true religion jeans with my boxer’s showing a
little bit, a pair of white forces, and a Chicago bulls men’s shirt with a snapback. I even tried to talk to
other girl’s in stores in a friendly way but they thought I was trying to hit on them or something.
The second place I went was to a family dinner where a lot of my family and family’s close
friends were attending. When I first walked in my grandma asked me why I was dressed the way I
was, I simply told her that this is how I dress now. She proceeded to ignore what I said and told me I
needed to change but I didn’t. Family members and friends were secretly whispering and talking
behind my back. I heard one of my Aunt’s say I was probably just going through a phase.
This assignment showed society judges other’s if they don’t do what is considered to be
“normal”. I was being judged for how I dressed and I was the exact same person I was before.
Dressed like a girl or boy I was still myself, I’m not gay and I don’t like girls and just because I dress a
certain way shouldn’t give others that idea. I catch myself sometimes assuming or judging someone
else for not doing what I think is normal but to them it is.