Firoozeh Dumas The F Word Analysis

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It’s weird to think that restoring art is an art form in itself. But spending hours analyzing the flaws in a painting and devoting countless more to mending minor details can hardly be considered anything else. It takes a steady hand and a meticulous focus to repair the damages and reinstate a sense of respect towards something degraded by time. Much like a painting conservator reviving a masterpiece, Firoozeh Dumas, an Iranian author and social commentator, peels back layers of accumulated stereotypes in order to critique the ways culturally ignorant American citizens respond to unfamiliar names. In “The F Word,” an excerpt from her memoir, she shares her immigration experience and stresses the value of diversity and respect for cultural heritage. Look no further than the first paragraph of Dumas’s piece to observe her consistent attention to detail while crafting her …show more content…

11). Because Dumas provides a specific example of discrimination in the workforce, it helps her argument feel more concrete. She disproves everyone in denial of bigotry in America by pointing out that she has experienced it in her own life. Additionally, Dumas shares an anecdote about a receptionist calling her in for blood work as “Fritzy” and then again as “Fritzy, Fritzy Dumbass” when she refuses to respond to the mispronunciation (para. 15). The receptionist’s arrogance led her to believe that because Dumas had a foreign name, and possibly was not fluent in English, that she was unintelligent. It is like saying a Picasso is worthless because it was not painted in America. Dumas illustrates that disrespect for her name’s heritage is unavoidable, even in a professional environment like a doctor’s office. She wants those who hold the same mindset as the receptionist to understand that their steely remarks are like thousands of paper cuts that together form a deep

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