Social Discrimination Analysis Essay Example

was unappealing and deserving of mockery. While a weak physical build disadvantage both genders, as stated by Lips (2005), being an overweight girl results in distinct discrimination in comparison to overweight boys.

Due to the domination of certain social groups, including those based on physical appearance, I experienced limitations in terms of peers, products, and privileges in society as a result of the dominant female group's emphasis on physical attractiveness. My size prevented me from wearing appropriate attire and obtaining certain elevated statuses associated with beauty. Unlike overweight males, overweight females faced discrimination from both males and females, which suggests that I may have been regarded as deviant due to my deviation from the norm regarding physical attributes. However, at 29 years old, I have lost 100 pounds and am now considered slimmer and more physically attractive, no longer subject to ridicule and discrimination.

As a physically attractive person, I experience a wider and more frequent range of social interactions and romantic relationships. People often desire a connection with me due to my physical appearance. Moreover, conforming to the norm of physical attractiveness grants me privileges that were previously inaccessible, such as acceptance at social functions and access to various products. This conformity also dissociates me from any association with deviant behavior. Such experiences illustrate the socially-constructed and perpetuated components of social location through dominant societal institutions, as posited by Mills' concept of sociological imagination (Anderson ; Herr, 2007).

The impact of social location is greatly emphasized in how society treats individuals based on physical ability and attributes such as beauty. Discrimination and negative treatment can be experienced by those who occupy certain social locations. Dominant

groups within social institutions assign roles and statuses that dictate how individuals are perceived and treated based on their social location. The concept of sociological imagination is evident in this scenario as beauty is a socially constructed idea encouraged and reinforced by various institutions. Personal experiences including discrimination, limited privileges, and social drawbacks may be attributed to the status society places on physical appearance rather than the appearance itself. Social institutions classify certain physical appearances as deviant and undesirable, leading individuals to adopt similar negative views on their own appearance in order to conform to societal norms.

Although I believed that my appearance and physical abilities were a result of my own conformity to societal norms, these norms are actually created by social institutions. Therefore, while I may struggle with my weight personally, it can be argued that this struggle is not just individual but also sociological. During high school, I mistakenly blamed myself and my body for being unattractive instead of recognizing the societal labels placed on me.