Misunderstood: How The Individuals Create Social Images - Essay Example

Completely MisunderstoodPeople always tend to misunderstand others especially if they do not understand each other. Some misunderstandings can cause people to have preconceptions about an individual which might not be true at all (Jobes 4). I have been in a situation where I have been misunderstood by those around me. I am a 30 year old single lady and an ex-marine. I love working around machineries and all kinds of tools, something that people normally associate with masculinity. I am also a born again Christian who leaves by her own set of principles based on biblical teachings.

Some people view me as living a strict lifestyle since I do not relate with just anyone. At my age, it is difficult getting into a relationship and my situation is made worse by how people judge my way of living.I have been labeled a lesbian not only because I have not had a serious relationship with a man for the last 5 and half years, but also because I do enjoy doing the kind of works that society reserves only for men. To make matters worse, I do not trust men easily, and the fact that I am a former marine only works against my favor.

A staunchly adhere to the Christian doctrine, and therefore I cannot just settle down with any man that comes along, he too must be a committed Christian as I am. Due to my Christian values, I am mostly intolerable to many local men who use disrespectful language in my presence. My personal principles have created false perceptions that I am homosexual with no interest in men. It is unfortunate that many people do not realize my reason for doing hat I do, and they therefore end up judging and misunderstanding me.

I obviously do not enjoy how many people view me. I have tried to clear up some of these misconceptions by integrating with my neighbors as much as I can. I have also dropped some of my tomboyish tendencies and now try to act more lady-like. While attending social functions, or when going to church, I normally make sure that I look as much of a lady as possible. Although it is not easy, I normally attend some of the functions organized by women and I even do not find some of their conversations superficial as I used to.

I have also changed the way I approach men. I decided to have more trust in them so that it would be easy to understand each other. If I think that a man is handsome, I make sure that I compliment his appearance. I have realized that I am responsible for image that people have of me and that is why I went out of my way to correct some of the misconceptions that people had about me. Although it has not been easy, my efforts are bearing fruit. Both men and women who would have ignored me now enjoy my company, and I theirs.

I have also been able to gather enough patience to let people know that I am actually not homosexual; I just tend to like things that women would like, like machinery. Since I started changing the way I viewed other people, they also started changing the way they viewed me, and now I have more friends that I ever had in my neighborhood. Work CitedJobes, Anne. Misunderstood. New York: CreateSpace, 2010.