The Power Of Group Mentality
The Power Of Group Mentality Gender discrimination can be directed towards someone women, men, homosexuals, or drag queens alike. In Susan Faludi’s “The Naked Citadel,” the men of the citadel are naughtily taught to discriminate against women and homosexuals. The men see women as unequal subjects and believe that they should never be granted the opportunity to attend The Citadel. Similarly, homosexuality is looked upon as being abnormal and wrong and anyone who is homosexual is not considered a “real man.” Likewise, in Beth Loffreda’s “Losing Matt Shepard,” the gay men and women are fiercely ostracized. Group mentality plays a huge role in the reason why different groups of people are discriminated against. Large groups have the ability to influence and persuade people into mimicking the way the group thinks and acts. Some individuals oppress their opinions to fit in with a group while others simply abandon their old opinions and adopt new ones as a result of being heavily influenced. Either way, gender discrimination occurs. When one joins a group one understands that he or she has to conform to the group in order to be accepted. The need to be accepted causes one to either oppress one’s opinions or change them altogether. However, when one chooses to oppress his or her opinions, eventually one will act out against the group. Some individuals oppress their true opinions for safety reasons and in order to fit in with a group of people. The Citadel practices an extremely misogynistic way of life. Once men enter The Citadel, they are taught from day one to hate women and homosexuals. If one does not obey by this rule and does not practice The Citadel’s views on women and homosexuals, one will be debased and will not be treated as a “real man.” If one does not oppress one’s own opinion and replace it with The Citadel’s opinion and if one does not adopt the violent way of life at The Citadel, one will be endlessly tortured and beaten. In order for an individual to