I would have to say motherhood. I was raised by both my parents until I was 12. My mother was the head of the household doing everything including working outside the home. After my parents split up I had to grow up and take care of my brother and myself. I learned how to be a mother at a young age. Society puts a lot of pressure on being the best and succeeding. When I got pregnant at nineteen and became a single mother I had to use my learned abilities. There were a lot of pressures by most people that I was to young and raising a child would be to hard for me. My son is now 1 1/2 and we are doing fine. I feel the need to do my best and set a good example for him. I know that no matter what I teach him that there will be outside pressure saying something different. In the media they always show two parents with enough money to provide, a nice house, and good jobs. I think that this is were I have gotten a lot of my dreams. I see nice toys and things that I want my son to have. I want him to be the best at everything and always succeed. Society puts lots of pressures to be competitive, succeed, make money, and be the "perfect nuclear family". Most families are not like this but are always trying to accomplish them.

I think this was a good assignment. It made me look at where my beliefs and values came from. I know that societal pressures have a lot to do with who I am. I looked at my gender, class, looks, profession, and other aspects. I don't think there is one thing about me that is not somehow effected by society.