Shelby Miyamoto-Kim Dr. Carlos Valverde Intercultural Literature 15 April 2016 Understanding Women’s Beauty Standards Along with Social Constructs The United States is known as the melting pot, a diverse country composed of immigrants from all over the world, but along with differences comes prejudice. Perhaps stemming from basic biological instinct, it is human nature to want to fit in and be one with the crowd, but with a society so diverse, change and separation proves inevitable. Most people would agree that holding the door open for others or letting a woman sit down before a man is common courtesy, but how did these notions come about? Social constructs are defined as social mechanism, “a phenomenon, or category created and developed by society; a perception of an individual, group, or idea that is through cultural or social practice” (Dictionary.com). It also must be ‘constructed’ true that, would contravene no law of nature to try to get rid of it” (Boghossian). Not only “...it do constructs avoid conflicting with visible facts, but they can blend into perceived fact after enough people support them. Despite beginning as fact-based inferences, they can quickly overgeneralize and prevent the expansion and diversification of society, especially concerning beauty standards for women. When discussed, social constructs are often considered in a negative light, yet views of acceptable social conduct gives communities the ability to have orderly public areas. Without laws, the country would erupt into total chaos, but the nation and states alone cannot micromanage each individual’s behavior every day. Therefore, social constructs strive to maintain a semblance of peace in the community. Give for example, athletics. If a player in a
Shelby Miyamoto-Kim Dr. Carlos Valverde Intercultural Literature 15 April 2016 Understanding Women’s Beauty Standards Along with Social Constructs The United States is known as the melting pot, a diverse country composed of immigrants from all over the world, but along with differences comes prejudice. Perhaps stemming from basic biological instinct, it is human nature to want to fit in and be one with the crowd, but with a society so diverse, change and separation proves inevitable. Most people would agree that holding the door open for others or letting a woman sit down before a man is common courtesy, but how did these notions come about? Social constructs are defined as “a social mechanism, phenomenon, or category created and developed by society; a perception of an individual, group, or idea that is ‘constructed’ through cultural or social practice” (Dictionary.com). It also must be true that, “...it would contravene no law of nature to try to get rid of it” (Boghossian). Not only do constructs avoid conflicting with visible facts, but they can blend into perceived fact after enough people support them. Despite beginning as fact-based inferences, they can quickly overgeneralize and prevent the expansion and diversification of society, especially concerning beauty standards for women. When discussed, social constructs are often considered in a negative light, yet views of acceptable social conduct gives communities the ability to have orderly public areas. Without laws, the country would erupt into total chaos, but the nation and states alone cannot micromanage each individual’s behavior every day. Therefore, social constructs strive to maintain a semblance of peace in the community. Give for example, athletics. If a player in a
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