An Examination of Environmental Victimization

It is a well known fact that one’s environment plays a strong role in the development of one’s psyche. Repetitive reinforcement, whether positive or negative, of concepts, ideas, values, morals, etc. on one’s developing mind can create life-long impressions (positive or negative) on one’s personality. The female protagonists in “That Evening Sun”, and “Thanks for the Ride”, are classic examples of how negative reinforcement through one’s daily environment can cause victimization. Nancy of the formerly mentioned short story and Lois of the latter, are repeatedly victimized by the social and racial stratification and hierarchy that they encounter in their everyday lives, the abuse and miss-use by their family and friends and lastly by gender, both theirs and that of the opposite sex.
Human beings have always classified one another in various groups and sub-groups based on one’s family, social acquaintances, financial circumstances, etc. and in baser ways such as race...