The Dignity of Identity: Do Opinions Really Matter?

 

The Dignity of Identity: Do Opinions Really Matter?

Mia Copeman-Hill

19/10/2020

Ever since the massive social media platform, TikTok, gained major popularity over the course of 2019-2020, new trends and fashion styles have come into play. Although the increase of popularity over multiple already existing or new goods is deemed a good thing, it has also caused arising unease between many people. Apparently, if you don’t follow the trends, you are immediately “uncool” or “unpopular” but if you do follow the trends you are “trying to be cool” or “annoying and obsessed.” Although it may be hard to restrict yourself from “following the leader” it is important for an individual to express their true identities, not the ones people force you to be.

 

As we have grown up multiple trends have been and gone ranging from the loom bands faze in primary school to the “vsco girl” trend in high school. In primary school, I remember everyone buying loom bands. They would bring in their latest creations and debate over whose was better. I desperately wanted a set, mainly because everyone had one. I remember my sisters birthday, guess what! Her friend got her a loom band set, and she didn’t want to share it. This was torture for me, watching her make rainbow bracelets, rings, necklaces, even tiny little loom band animals. I was distraught as more and more people brought in their creations to school. Finally, after waiting for what seemed like forever, the day came, and mum decided to take me to Mr Toys Toyworld to get me my own loom band set. I was ecstatic as we walked in the door and asked the man where the sets were, but he told us, and I will never forget it, that they were out of stock…

 

I eventually did get the loom band set I had been longing for in the end but thinking about how desperate I was to get the set and fit in with my friends I realise that it wasn’t that important after all. Although at first, I didn’t own loom bands for a while, people didn’t judge me or bully me for not owning this trendy new toy. But this may be purely because we were young and all got along, oblivious to the fact that people get bullied daily for not keeping up with trends. This type of bullying is purely based on the needing and wanting to be called “cool” or “popular.” And, although schools are busy trying to manage other types of bullying such as broken friendships or pure cruelty, I believe that it is still important to recognize this type of bullying as it is actually more common than is thought to be.

 

The Guardian states that the most common type of bullying directed towards boys is violence whereas towards girls it is social exclusion. Being socially excluded for something as little as not following a trend that let’s face it, will only be popular for a minimum or 4-6 months to a year does not need to exist. It is important to understand that everyone has their own identity and personality. It is up to them and only them whether to keep up with the trends or continue along their own path of how they express themselves. Bullying a person only because of their social identity is terrible and can damage how a person thinks of themselves. This type of bullying may not be found in some places or schools and at my time at MSM I have not seen or heard about anyone being bullied purely because of how they express themselves but it is still important to think about and be aware of.

 

If you hear anything about a fellow peer, friend or person being judged because of their identity do something about it (tell a teacher, tell the judger to stop, console the person being judged).

Or, read this about different types of a person’s identity that are most common to be bullied for:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/what-is-identity-based-bullying-jinnie-spiegler