A Journey By Inner Light Analysis

A person has multiple identities depending on whom they interact with. Expectations from parents may yield a reserve obedient person while a night with friends may unmask the untamed fun individual hidden within oneself. In “A Journey by Inner Light”, Meeta Kaur wrote about her struggle living as a Sikh woman in the United States. The Sikhs believed that the hair is a symbol of faith,therefore, it should not be cut. American culture influenced Kaur by being pressured

The media bombards the public with images of what to wear, the way to style hair, and being skinny means perfection. One is forced to conform or be deemed strange. A project done by Esther Honig “Before and After”. Uncovers global beauty standards. Honig a freelance writer asked 40 photoshop connoisseurs around the world to alter an image of her based on each country's beauty preferences.” What I’ve learned from the project is this: Photoshop [may] allow us to achieve our unobtainable standards of beauty, but when we compare this on a global scale, achieving the ideal remains all the more illusive” (Perez). The altered images had a glaring contrast with one another. For example Honig’s facial features, hair color, hairstyle as well as eye color was changed. This project shines a light on the illusion of beauty and the pressure to fit into society’s image of beautiful. In Kaur’s story, she recalled that she was fooled by the western ideals of beauty. Which led to a life-altering choice of cutting her hair to gain acceptance from her

Society has a preconceived notion, and one is solely judged based on appearance. If one goes against social norms,they are stereotyped into labels,so society can have a better understanding of the unfamiliar. While she was away at college she grew envious, of the girls that spend hours styling their hair. Kaur playing the scene of an outsider looking in.The lack of options in styling her hair, distancing herself further from her religion.”... something about my hair feels stale,like old bread. It is ancient,musty and tired” (61). The way she described her tresses,could reflect the way she felt about her religion. A religion that was holding her back from being able to fit in. Kaur did not want to be defined by her faith. The decision of cutting her hair, means independance from her family's expectations,she wanted to create her own path,and not be labeled due to her