Conformity Vs Nonconformity

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Diversity Remodeling the World
Since the beginning of time, people have learned to follow the rules and change themselves to become one with the rest of society. However, as time went by, individuals discovered they preferred being nonconformist. Nonconformity is when individuals refuse to live up to the same set of rules and in turn become independent. Conformity, on the other hand, is when people in a society attain to the same standards and attitudes. People should not conform to society because individuals feel more motivation to succeed and feel pride in their actions when they know they were able to prosper on their own.
Nonconformity is driving today’s society because it provides individuals with a strong motivation to succeed.
Susan B. Anthony was a civil rights activist who sought equality for women. Her campaigning all began when “male hostility to her temperance efforts convinced her that women must win the right to speak in public and to vote before anything else could be accomplished” (Susan, 1). The rudeness she received from men made her realize that women needed a voice. As a nonconformist, Anthony went against the idea that women should be stay at home wives and pushed for the Women’s Suffrage Movement. She organized the Women’s
National Loyal League to force amendments for women. She became the first women to vote, but was arrested for her offensive action. This didn’t stop her though; this only encouraged her.
She spent the rest of her life fighting. Another clear, vivid example of nonconformity pushing people to prevail is the story of the first female doctor in America, Elizabeth Blackwell.
Blackwell found medicine fascinating but in the 1800s the “idea of a woman applying to medical

Lopez 2! school was completely preposterous” (Elizabeth, 1). After seventeen rejections, she applied to
Geneva Medical College. They “believed Blackwell’s application to be a joke” (Elizabeth, 1) and
“in the spirit of good humor, the faculty went along with the joke by voting ‘yes’. Blackwell became “the first woman in America ever to attend medical school” (Elizabeth 1-2). Even though she was accepted into the college, the sexism wasn’t over, the males at her school constantly mocked her and socially isolated her, but she persisted and graduated at the top of her class. After being denied employment at several places, she was determined to triumph and opened up her own practice. Blackwell continued to flourish as she founded Women’s Medical College designed to provide medical training for women.
Scorned and ridiculed early in life, Blackwell never gave up and in turn became a prosperous woman. In addition to nonconformist feeling ambition to succeed, such as the leader of the Women Suffrage Movement and the first female doctor in the U.S., they also feel a special kind of pride in their actions.
Nonconformity has been present in society for years because once people complete their grand action, they feel satisfaction for fighting for what they believe in. Civil rights activist, Rosa
Parks, is famous for her boldness “when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man” (Rosa, 1). She lived a tough life growing up with separated parents and little education but that didn’t stop her from becoming an inspirational woman. As she grew up, she was involved in many organizations that helped blacks gain equality and eventually became a symbol of the Civil
Rights Movement. After refusing to give up her seat, Parks was sent to jail for challenging the law, however she sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott that led the Supreme Court to declare bus segregation illegal. Although she lived a difficult life, Parks was honored to have lived
an important life that conducted change on the nation. Next, examine the pride Boston citizens felt

Lopez 3! when they rejected the British law on December 16, 1773. The Townshend Act had placed preposterous taxes on tea which caused furious Boston residents to organize a “colonial protest against the British government” (Boston, 1). They “boarded British merchant ships and dumped thousands of pounds of tea into the harbor” (Boston, 1). The colonist could have harmonized with England, as did most of America, but they were determined to make a change. The colonist gathered, knowing they could start a war, but were ready to defeat the tyranny. The rebellious
Bostonians showed extreme courage at the Boston Tea Party. Unfortunately their drastic actions led to harsh punishments but they showed England that they would be victorious. This eventually led to the American Revolutionary War. Bostonians will always feel pride for their dauntlessness that freed America. Feeling happiness from accomplishing important tasks is something nonconformist such as Rosa Parks and Boston citizens’ treasure.
It is understood that there is no perfect world so being nonconformist also has some negatives. While having motivation to succeed is a great thing, having too much desire to thrive can lead to mistakes and many issues. Donald Trump is known for his abundance wealth but because of this, he “fell on hard times” (Donald, 2) and his “business style was winning him some enemies” (Donald, 4). Trump was a brilliant businessman but his wealth meant too much to him. Everyone doubted he could become a huge success by construction so he felt inclined to do well. His confidence and accomplishments were hated by many but it was later found that
Trump wasn’t as prosperous as once imagined. He made huge financial mistakes along the way and was in turn over three billion dollars in debt. It took him a decade to escape his turmoil but by then he had lost all respect. Another issue to nonconformity is pride can lead someone to believe they are on top of the world and capable of doing anything. Adolf Hitler is an excellent

Lopez 4! example of a nonconformist who felt extreme pride in his power and took advantage of it. World
War I and the stock market crash left Germany needing a leader to pull them out of depression.
Adolf Hitler saw this as a perfect opportunity and “immediately set about consolidating power for himself and the Nazi Party” (Hitler, 3). He “deliberately silenced many rivals” (Hitler, 4) and was “now in a position to rule without impediment” (Hitler, 4). As the leader of Germany, he established concentration camps to imprison anyone who threatened his authority. He killed many without shame, thinking he had the right to. His excessive pride ruined many lives including his own. Although these negatives seem immense, the positives to being nonconformist clearly outweigh the few entangled complications.
Nonconformity is an important part of today’s society and has shaped people’s lives
remarkably.
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Blackwell changed history because of their need to push ahead and succeed even though they were continually told not to. Not to mention America became a free country and desegregated because of the pride felt by Bostonians and Civil Rights activist. The world will never be the same because of these phenomenal nonconformists.
Conformity is not worth living when one’s decision to be an extraordinary individual can make a difference. !
Works Cited
"Adolf Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany: 1933." Global Events: Milestone Events
Throughout History. Ed. Jennifer Stock. Vol. 4: Europe. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale,
2014. World History in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.

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"Boston Tea Party." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: War. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Student
Resources in Context. Web. 7 Feb. 2015.
"Donald Trump." DISCovering Biography. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context.
Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"Elizabeth Blackwell." World of Health. Gale, 2007. Student Resources in Context. Web. 7 Feb.
2015.
"Rosa Parks." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 2007. World History in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
"Susan Brownell Anthony." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Student
Resources in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
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