Social expectations from "summary" of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Social expectations, like invisible scaffolding, shape our lives in profound ways. They dictate how we should behave, what we should aspire to, and who we should be. These expectations are not always explicit; they are often ingrained in the fabric of our society, passed down through generations like heirlooms of the mind. We are taught to conform, to fit into the mold prescribed by our culture, our families, our communities. From a young age, we are bombarded with messages about how we should look, how we should act, and what we should value. These messages come from all directions - the media, our peers, our parents - and they seep into our subconscious, shaping our thoughts and actions without us even realizing it. We internalize these expectations, making them part of our identity, even when they go against our true selves. The pressure to conform can be suffocating, like a tight corset that restricts our movements and stifles our breath. We are expected to be successful, to be happy, to be perfect in every way. But this perfection is an illusion, a mirage that we chase endlessly, never quite reaching it. We are constantly striving to meet these expectations, to live up to t...
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