The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Wyen

An example of this in the book is on page 49 "For the first time in a long time, she had a sense she belonged to something." This is after she joined the decode group to resist the requirement to obtain the barcode tattoo. By giving in to peer pressure and uniting as a unified group decode obtain a sense of strength and belonging, even if it goes against society's norm. The Bar Code Tattoo accurately depicts this because even though most of the country is supporting the barcode there are still a few groups who resist against it. Another example is on page 123 "The untattooed person risk's social ostracism. He or she openly demonstrates that he or she is not a team player." This is the government's attempt to compel people to get the tattoo as a sign of patriotism. Another example of peer pressure in this book is when Amber Kayla's best friend fills out the application form for the tattoo without Kayla's knowledge and insists she get it. The quote that demonstrates this is on page 32 "you'll be some kind of mutant freak." This also demonstrates how the social norm dictates friendships based on willingness to conform.
             Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group. Hitler used registration to organize and control the Jews by discriminating against their religion, and taking away their place in society. In The Barcode Tattoo the government uses the code as a way to organize, control, and discriminate against the world using people's genetics. The government forces people to conform by placing laws such as if you do not have the barcode you cannot get a job, use money, cross borders, receive medical attention or go to school. Which is similar to how Hitler banned Jews from going to German schools. This becomes worse when it becomes law that everyone must have the code and the government creates a fake illness to mask the true reason why people have resorted to burning the code off their wrists.