Synthesis Essay First Draft
Society’s Expectations in America
Why do we live according to other people’s expectations? Society often tells us how to act, dress, and speak. The first thing people usually notice is how we talk. The way we speak is part of who we are; it shows where we come from and what community we belong to. But in American society, it can be hard to fit in because people expect you to speak “standard” English. According to Outside in: Minorities and the transformation of American education, Immigrant Students and Higher Education: ASHE Higher Education Report by Eunyoung Kim, an assistant professor in the Higher Education Program at Seton Hall University, states that “Immigrant students in higher education are often inaccurately characterised and largely misunderstood.” This shows that no matter how smart or educated you are, people may still judge you if your English is not perfect or doesn’t sound the way they expect.
One of the biggest expectations in American society is language, especially the importance of English. Being fluent in English is often seen as a requirement to succeed in school, work, and everyday life. Immigrants who don’t speak English well often face discrimination or feel excluded. In The American Notes (1997), Rudyard Kipling wrote, “They delude themselves into the belief that they talk English—the English—and I have already been pitied for speaking with ’an accent.’ The man who pitied me spoke, so far as I was concerned, the language of thieves.” Kipling meant that people often believe they speak the best version of English and look down on others who sound different. Society connects good English with intelligence, ignoring the value of other cultures and languages. Speaking with an accent can make people treat you as if you don’t belong. However, this pressure to sound “normal” can cause stress and make people feel less confident, and the focus on fitting in shows how American culture often values assimilation over appreciation of diversity.
One of the expectations in America is the idea of the American Dream: the belief that anyone can become successful through hard work and determination as stated in the article of The integration of immigrants into American society. This dream has inspired millions of people, especially immigrants, to work hard for a better future and I was one of those. My dad brought me to America with the thought that I would have a better education and a promoting career and I thought the same things too. However, what I never knew was the pressure I would get. My father and teachers expected me to master English quickly, which almost blew me off. But they didn’t stop, they also expected me to get into a good college with just two and half years of high school in America . But those expectations didn’t end there because my parents wanted to get a good job to assist them financially, while to get a job in New York City seemed just impossible. I couldn’t find a job and they kept putting pressure on me, thinking I’m just too lazy while my information is all over the place as I keep applying all over the store. Things were getting a little hard on my side and I was just overwhelmed, and I felt like they didn’t care at all whatever I said they would never believe , but at the end of the day I realized what’s best for me. This dream can also create a lot of pressure. Society often expects people to get good jobs, own a home, and live a comfortable lifestyle, especially for immigrants. They left their home country for a look of a better dream to achieve those dreams, and dedicate themselves to work. But it feels like everything is against them as they struggle to find jobs, and have fewer opportunities the pressure family puts on them. And those who don’t reach these goals sometimes feel like they’ve failed, even if they have other forms of success, like strong family relationships or community involvement.
Social norms also encourage people to stay busy and productive. In the Stanford ReportThe power of language: How words shape people, in America, working long hours is often seen as a sign of dedication and responsibility. People who take time off or value relaxation may be judged as lazy or unmotivated. This creates stress for many Americans who try to meet these expectations, especially when economic inequality makes it difficult for everyone to achieve the same level of success. However, when it comes to black people, everything changes. Americans don’t expect people of color to do too much, even though they have been living their whole life in the USA or being practically American.. As Sedney R. states in her TED talk, Expectations, Social Norms, and the Battle for Your Dreams …www.youtube.com › watch. She has always been told that she couldn’t, no matter her dream, her effort, or just her passion. They said that her dream was too high because she was an African American, which made her lose faith in herself and lose her self-esteem. American society has a discriminatory expectation toward the black community, especially in school. They are not perceived as smart as white people, but also have less consideration and which is something to be really considered.
Mental health is also an important part of dealing with society’s expectations. Moving to a new country comes with many challenges, like learning a new language, finding a job, understanding a new school system, and facing discrimination. According to Robert Lisa, in his article, Depression, a Hidden Mental Health Disparity in an Asian Indian Immigrant Community, for some groups, like Asian Indian immigrants, there’s extra pressure to live up to the ‘model minority’ myth, which can lead to more stress and mental health problems. In many cultures, talking about mental health is seen as a weakness, so immigrants may be afraid to ask for help. American culture also values independence and the idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps,” which can make people feel like struggling is their own fault. Society needs to change how it defines success so that emotional health is just as important as hard work and achievement.
American social norms also shape people’s ideas about gender and family. For much of U.S. history, men were expected to work outside the home and provide for their families, while women were expected to take care of the household and children. According to K. Luker -Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood – Ch.7 (1984), “pro-life activists believe that men and women are intrinsically different, and this is both a cause and a product of that fact that they have different roles in life.” What he means in his article is that women and men have different expectations in social roles. Men are best suited to the public world of work, and women are best suited to rear children, manage homes, and love and care for husbands, as most pro-life activists believe that motherhood; the raising of children and families is the most fulfilling role that women can have. And that’s why they believe women shouldn’t get abortion because they carry children and take care of their home.While men are just best at providing financially for their family. Although society has changed and women now have more opportunities, some of these old expectations remain. Today, both men and women face new kinds of pressure. Women are often expected to be successful in their careers as stated by A “major career woman”? How women develop early expectations about work. In this article it talks about Women from white and Latino working-class families were evenly divided in their expectations about their future workforce participation, while the vast majority of white, Asian, African American, and Latina middle-class women expected to work continually as adults, while also being perfect mothers and partners, and all of the working-class Black respondents developed expectations that they would work continuously as adults.However, men, on the other hand, are expected to be strong, independent, and emotionally tough as confirmed in M. Messner – Boyhood, Organized Sports, and the Construction of Masculinities (1990) article, where men got into sport not because of their own will, but because of their father and brother. We expect them to be athletic and strong with good masculinity. These gender norms can make people feel like they must behave in certain ways to be accepted. Family life also comes with expectations. Many Americans believe that success means getting married, buying a house, and having children. People who choose not to follow that path, such as those who stay single or do not want children,sometimes face judgment from others. While society has become more open-minded, social norms about family still influence how people are viewed.
In conclusion, the expectations in American society about language, social identity, gender, and success show a constant struggle between freedom and conformity. The American Dream promises opportunity for everyone, but many people still feel pressure to fit a certain shape. A better and more understanding society would accept different ways of speaking, living, and expressing identity. By embracing diversity, supporting mental health, and valuing all kinds of success, America can truly become not just a land of opportunity but a land of understanding.
SOURCES:
The integration of immigrants into American society.
Stanford ReportThe power of language: How words shape people,
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