Required Post #2

Things evolve and change over time. In today’s society, things are changing. Ideas and people are changing. There is a greater push for acceptance and support of the people who are different. By different I mean the people who do not fit the mold of the typical male or female in America. We want these people who are different to feel loved and important. We want them to know that there is a place for them in this society and that they can be successful. However, these ideas have not been around for long. We all can come up with a list of the typical boy and the typical girl. Boys are supposed to be strong, independent, powerful, and emotionally sound. They are supposed to play sports, do the outdoor housework, be in leadership positions, and take care of women. Girls are supposed to be innocent, pretty, dependent, and emotional. They are supposed to look presentable at all times, cook and clean, be motherly, and support and follow men. Just by these few descriptions, one can see that we have changed. There are women in the top positions in major companies, and there are men who stay home with the children. Today there are men who love fashion, acting, singing, cooking, and other men. Today there are women that are incredibly famous for sports, don’t want to have children, run for president, and love other women. It is now socially acceptable for women to have short hair and men to have long hair. Men now a days can even get away with dying their hair. So again things are changing, our society is changing. 

However, not everyone is thrilled about these changes. There are people who feel uncomfortable around someone who is different than them. There are still people who think that men should act like men and women should act like women, and there is no in between. For example the idea of same sex couples causes much controversy today. It is almost as if half of America loves and supports it and the other half thinks it is ridiculous and should not be allowed. Another example is the controversy with Target’s bathrooms. Some people were outraged and refused to shop there ever again. It is clear that some do not approve of these changes when they give judgmental looks to someone who is not following gender norms. Some try to hide it better than other. But some feel it is appropriate to harass or confront these outliers and tell them that whatever they are doing is wrong. 

I guess the real thing to consider is, do we really accept the people that are different or do we just do it because we feel we have to. Society has transformed into a much more accepting community, but we are still far from a peaceful, all accepting, and loving country. Will we ever truly be okay with people who are gay or who have changed their gender? Or will we ever be okay with the people who are simply different than us? If things keep changing in the direction they have been over the years, we might be able to honestly answer these questions with a yes. But who knows maybe that isn’t the right thing to do…