The tendency to change one's attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to match those of the group or social norms.
From Latin 'conformare' meaning 'to form after, fashion,' from 'con-' (together) + 'formare' (to form, shape).
Conformity is going along with the group — sometimes it's helpful (driving on the right side), sometimes it leads you astray (peer pressure!).
Conformity pressures were historically weaponized to enforce gender roles—women pressured toward 'femininity,' men toward stoicism; social science used 'conformity' to rationalize policing of gender nonconformity.
Specify target of conformity (norms, rules, expectations) rather than assume conformity is neutral or individual choice.
["adherence to standards","alignment with expectations"]
Gender nonconforming people historically resisted coercive conformity; recognition of this resistance validates that conformity itself can be a form of oppression.
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