Societal Norm Analysis

Identity makes us who we are as people. It is made up of how we see ourselves and how we think others see us. According to study.com, identity may include aspects of your life that you have no control over, such as where you grew up or the color of your skin, as well as choices you make in life, such as how you spend your time and what you believe. The literature that we have read this summer has shown us stories of identity in different genders, race, and cultures. Often times, we sacrifice our individuality and uniqueness in order to be more accepted by others. Societal norms are behaviors or actions that are commonly accepted by the majority of people. We question who we are, where do we belong, and why we are the way we are in order to shape the way we want others to see us. We change who we are and what we do in order to fit into societal norms, as well as to be accepted and more easily understood.
Zits, whose real name is Michael, is a young man with a troubled upbringing who grew up in over twenty different foster homes. “Call me Zits. Everybody calls me Zits. That’s not my real name, of course. My real name isn’t important” (Alexie 1). This is when the reader first learns that he does not have much sense of self. He was an outsider who did not fit in because of his half Native American culture that he was not familiar with because his Native American father abandoned him at a young age. This proves to be a constant struggle for Zits because he was in a primarily white area and stood out with his unique look. “There aren’t any half-breed pale-beige green-eyed Indians here” (Alexie 60). He wanted to fit in and look like everyone