Compare And Contrast Smith And Aciman

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Zibi Laird Dr. Connelly SYA English 2023 March 8th 2023 The Individual Ideology Cultural ideology is a term used to define norms and values adopted by a collective group, which changes depending on the configuration. Cultural ideology is built into the identity of a person as they develop. It impacts people's worldviews and therefore informs their decisions. Through respective essays, Smith and Aciman both demonstrate their cultural ideology concerning their identification with gender norms through the symbols of flowers. However, Bauman's unique perspective exemplifies their essential difference, as Smith seeks to reject her femininity, whereas Aciman feels his masculinity is something to be owned. In Lavender, Aciman uses the flower as …show more content…

She feels pressure from the labels society affiliates with being a woman. She longs for the freedom of masculinity, saying “My brothers, no matter what else might befall them, would remain men”(Smith, 3). Unlike her, they would not be defined by their ability to have children or their hormones. She does not want to be seen as someone who fits the traditional standards and spends most of her life fighting against femininity. When she was young she thought “I’d rather be a brain in a jar than a ‘natural woman’.(Smith 7)” The phrase ‘natural women’ has the connotation of standards set by society. The flowers that she sees through the window are a physical representation of her internal war. She associates the flowers with her fertility, something she feels reduced to, yet she is also drawn to their traditional beauty. They represent the influence of cultural values on her …show more content…

In his document discussing identity Bauman says that “Identity is a critical projection of what is demanded and/or sought upon what is” (Bauman, 19). In other words, identity is shaped by cultural ideology. Race, gender, socioeconomic status: all will impact the way one moves through the world and will therefore mold their identity. In the cases of Smith and Aciman the lens of gender shows their struggle with what is demanded by society. Yet Bauman also says that “Identity entered modern mind and practice dressed from the start as an individual task” (Bauman, 19). Herein lies the difference between Smith and Aciman. Zadie Smith feels tied down by the ideology of femininity and Aciman is looking for something to tie his ideology of masculinity to. They remain individualistic, apart from the cultural ideology that impacts them. Their identities are impacted by cultural ideology, yet they still make their own