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Introduction to social stigma
Social stigma theory
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Being unwanted, unloved, and forgotten is one of the hardest things that one may have to cope with. In the book “Theories of Relativity” by Barbara-Attard Haworth, the poem “Behind her Tears” by Jessica Sanches, and the short story “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Andersen, all share a similar theme which is feeling unaccepted in one’s family, or community. The feeling of being unwanted crosses each and every mind at least once, and it impacts that someone’s life. They also try their hardest just to fit in, and they will always find a way through.
Someone’s life could drastically change just by the way they are treated, and the way they feel. In the book, “Theories of Relativity”, the main character Dylan, lives on the streets because he is unwanted by his own mother. This changes his whole perspective on life. Seeing that he needs to adapt to his surroundings, he learns to survive on his own. He goes through many hazards like people doing drugs, gangs, and parties involving alcohol. He never wants to be like that, but he gets tempted and decides to use drugs, it changes his life. “‘No, Thanks,’ I say. A party, a beer, a snort of coke, a joint, a night of warmth off the street.” Dylan is declining the offer of going to a party, because he does not want to lose control of himself. Dylan is always cautious of what he does, but he does end up losing control later on, and is greatly affected. In the poem, “Behind Her Tears”, the girl mentioned feels unaccepted. She takes the pain away by drinking, smoking, and cutting herself. She feels as if the people insulting her enjoy watching her in pain. This impacts her life, because she feels as if she should just die, and if she does it would not matter. This girl is greatly affected b...
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...will not be able to see things turn around and find where they belong.
Many may encounter the feeling of being unaccepted in their family or community, but they should try not to let that affect their life. Most of the time, this feeling impacts people, which changes their view on life and the way they act. People try so hard to fit in with the crowd, instead of helping themselves. But no matter how bad it gets, one can pull their life together if they try. Mother Teresa said “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty,” Being alone, and unwanted can really change one’s life.
Works Cited
Haworth-Attard, Barbara. Theories of Relativity. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2003. Print.
Andersen, Hans Chrisitian. The Ugly Duckling. N.p.: Planet, 2012. Print.
Jessica, Sanches. "Behind Her Tears." Best Teen Poems. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
There exists, in each and every individual, a desire to belong to something greater than one’s self. While there is much in life that one must discover on their own, the security ensured through the bonds of acceptance provides many with a means of identification. Such classification is exemplified in the poem “The Century Quilt” by Marilyn Nelson Wenick, where familial bonds are examined through the means of a family coverlet. Through the utilization of literary techniques, the author effectively develops the complex meaning of the century quilt.
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...nderson, 107). The novels demonstrate that humans react to alienation by choosing to alienate themselves rather than allow others to alienate them. The protagonists intentionally withdrew themselves from society before society could hurt them by denying them acceptance. They equally fear rejection which is common among human kind.
Throughout Marilynne Robinson’s works, readers are often reminded of themes that defy the status quo of popular ideas at the time. She explores transience and loneliness, amongst other ideas as a way of expressing that being individual, and going against what is deemed normal in society is acceptable. Robinson utilizes traditional literary devices in order to highlight these concepts.
Du Bois and Georg Simmel use their theories to further examine many of the social issues that are still present in society today, such as inequalities. Simmel and Du Bois both discuss issues such as the feeling of a lack of belongingness felt by outsiders within a society where they may be tolerated, but not fully accepted. What Du Bois and Simmel do not share, however, is the idea of a level of appreciation. Perhaps the issue is deeper than just that of a stranger and a seventh son, but rather an issue of race or historical background.
I am not a targeted minority and I have never felt discriminated against, but I certainly have found my self weighed down, unable to keep up, in the constant rush and roar that is our society. I have felt isolated and left behind by everything around me, and this utter loneliness is not something that is easy to deal with. This loneliness inevitably turns to self-hatred as I ask myself why I can’t keep pace with everyone else when they seem to be doing just fine? Reading James Baldwin has reminded me that I’m not alone, and that there are many ways to deal with the isolation one feels within society. For some, struggling to keep afloat in the mainstream as it rushes along is the most comprehensible way, but for others, like Baldwin, it’s easier to simply get out of the water and walk along the bank at his own chosen pace.
In the stories “To Set Our House in Order” and “The Lamp at Noon” the authors are both able to effectively communicate that alienation is self-inflicted, while using multiple different techniques. As a result it becomes apparent that each author can take a similar approach to the alienation of a character in the story yet develop the theme in a unique way.
Society often pressures individuals within it to conform to different ideals and norms. This stems from the fact that individuals in a society are expected to act in a certain way. If a person or group of people do not satisfy society’s expectations, they are looked down upon by others. This can lead to individuals isolating themselves from others, or being isolated from others, because they are considered as outcasts. The emotional turmoil that can result from this, as well as the internal conflict of whether or not to conform, can transform an individual into a completely different person. This transformation can either be beneficial or harmful to the individual as well as those around them. The individual can become an improved version of himself or herself but conversely, they can become violent, rebellious and destructive. The novels Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess both explore the negative effects experienced by individuals living within the confines of society’s narrow-mindedness. In A Clockwork Orange, protagonist Alex was the leader of a small group of teenage criminals. He did not have a healthy relationship with either one of his parents or with others around him. Instead he spent most of his time alone during the day and at night roamed the streets in search of victims he could mug or rape. In Fight Club the unnamed protagonist was an outcast in his community. He chose to distance and isolate himself from others and as a result had no friends, with the exception of Tyler Durden and Marla Singer. Due to his isolation, he often participated in nightly fights that took place in Fight Club so that he could relieve his anxiety and stress. In this way, Alex and the unnamed protagoni...
Loss and isolation are easy, yet difficult to write about. They are easy because every human being can empathize with loneliness. If someone denies this, they are lying because loneliness is a common feeling, anyone can relate. It’s hard because we don’t discuss loneliness or loss publicly very often, and when we do, we forget about it quickly. These poems contrast each other by speaking of the different types of loneliness and isolation, distinguishing between the ones of loss, and isolation in a positive perspective.
During the process of growing up, we are taught to believe that life is relatively colorful and rich; however, if this view is right, how can we explain why literature illustrates the negative and painful feeling of life? Thus, sorrow is inescapable; as it increase one cannot hide it. From the moment we are born into the world, people suffer from different kinds of sorrow. Even though we believe there are so many happy things around us, these things are heartbreaking. The poems “Tips from My Father” by Carol Ann Davis, “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith, and “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop convey the sorrow about growing up, about sorrowful pretending, and even about life itself.
"In "Lost in the Land of Oz", Madonna Kolbenschlag explores the way old societal myths, which are created from the metaphors in our life, are no longer useful in today's society. The author believes we need to embrace the ego archetype of the orphan, the most influential metaphor for the self, in order to become a whole and complete person. Madonna Kolbenschlag discusses how our society is particularly hostile towards women, resulting in an acute feeling of self-loathing, doubt, loneliness, and guilt. Today, women as the orphan feel a complete sense of powerlessness and abandonment, not only by everyone around her but also by God. Instead of suppressing our anxiety, Kolbenschlag advises that we should deal with it and remove the hidden layers of denial. We need to befriend the orphan within us and through all of this we will grasp a new insight and develop new spiritual consciousness.
This novel by S.E Hinton , “The Outsiders” shows a crucial point that everybody is special is some way and be known as who they are not as a group. The important message of the story is that individuals should not take people for granted. Instead, treasure those close to you and understand them.
Mother Teresa once said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” In Carol Rifka Brunt’s novel, Tell the Wolves I’m Home, Brunt tells the story of the protagonist and narrator, June, a girl who struggles with her Uncle Finn’s death along with her relationship with her immediate family, especially her older sister, Greta. During this rough time, June fears that Greta resents her, so she meets and befriends Uncle Finn’s partner, Toby, but beyond June’s belief Greta wishes to rekindle her relationship with June. As June and Toby’s relationship progresses, Greta is left behind trying to escape life’s hardships by abusing alcohol and carousing in the woods during dangerous storms. In Carol Rifka Brunt’s novel,
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