The Worst Distance Between Two People Is Misunderstanding
One afternoon as I was waiting for my next class I witnessed something that proved to me that individuals are quick at making assumptions about other people. A Korean woman was scrolling through her phone, when suddenly an elderly Caucasian woman bumped into the women accidentally. Of course, like any other person the elderly woman was quick to apologize, however, what fascinated me the most was what happened next. As she apologized, she bowed down, putting her hands together in front of her to say sorry and again bowed down before leaving. The elderly Caucasian woman made an honest mistake, trying too hard to respect her culture, by assuming that all Korean people bow down as a sign
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Assumption is an honest mistake that everyone constantly makes; however, individuals shouldn’t instantly criticize an act of assumption as a cruel assault.
The “Myth of the Latin woman” was written by Judith Coffer. She is a writer that published her writing as early as 1980’s. Judith wrote a story about what it was like to grow up as a Latina. She mentions many situations that happened to her throughout her childhood, as well as her adulthood. She talks about how individuals stereotype her because of her Hispanic appearance. One situation that happened to her in Miami stayed with her throughout her life. One day, as Judith entered the restaurant, she was overwhelmed with happiness; because on that day, her first public poetry reading was held. Before the poetry reading started, a luncheon was held at the
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The biggest sign that the woman might have gotten from Judith being a waitress was her notebook, in which Judith herself agrees, “Easy enough to mistake my poems for a menu, I suppose” (Coffer 202) Judith makes her assumptions based on other ruthless experiences so, she obviously assumes that the elderly women mistaken her for a waitress, because of her Hispanic appearance. Americans today tend to believe that more Hispanics do in fact work at restaurants, and according to, ImDiversity “One-quarter of the restaurant industry workforce is Hispanic, serving in various roles from owners to those getting their start in entry-level positions.” (See How Hispanics) In other words, the data indicates that Latinos are far more likely to work in a restaurant industry. For instance, even Judith herself understand why many Hispanic woman work in food industries “It’s true that work as domestics, as waitresses, and in factories is all that’s available to women with little English” (Coffer 202) Judith talks about how woman that have poor English skills, wind up working in places that don’t require much skill or education. The reason behind why many Hispanics work in food industries, it’s because many Latinos drop out or do not graduate from high school. Which leads to low enrollment of Hispanic population in college. Looking at the census bureau of education for
Our lady of Guadalupe is the most venerated and respected by the Catholics. The appearance of the Virgin caused a great commotion in the Catholic Church. Ever since the Virgin's first appearance, Catholics have respected and acquired so much faith to the Virgin. The lady of Guadalupe has so many faithful followers that believe in her without any hesitation because of the miracles that she has made for the people that were once suffering and were miraculously helped by her. Because of the help that she has provided for those who were suffering people never forget her and they celebrate the day of her appearance every year by doing parties in her honor. The Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance certainly changed the belief of Catholics and, I believe
While serving as a waitress, Ehrenriech learned about many different people. Some of these co-workers were immigrants who had recently come to this country. “I learn that he [George] is not paid by Jerry’s but the ‘agent’ who shipped him over--$5 an hour, with the agent getting the dollar or so difference between that and what Jerry’s pays for dishwashers”(38). Their contracts lacked any benefits, and they were paid below minimum wage. People, like George, cannot read their contracts before they sign because they don’t understand the language.
Initially, understanding an individual's point of view is essential to a discussion or argument. In the essay, ''The Myth of The Latin Women: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria" Cofer attempts to illustrate the effect stereotypes have in a Latina's life. Throughout the piece, she writes of her personal experience and how the positive side of being Latina is being downgraded by stereotypes, she writes, "We cannot change this by legislating the way people look at us. The Transformation, as I see it, has to occur at a much
...ltimately makes the young girl feel that she will break underneath all the pressure she is placed upon by her peers. Inevitably it seems that Judith Ortiz Cofer used similes in order to connect both the act of maturing to a much more somber factor which have reinforced the tenor of the poem.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the United States of America, working conditions for women and minorities have not been given equal pay or top positions in the work place. Women being degraded by the men in charge, and minorities constantly at odds with one another so they will not form a Union. Such things keep those with low-status in the job in line, and not feel they are equal to the ones in charge. People from other countries are in search for a better life elsewhere, and take the risk of going to the United States illegally to seek out the American Dream. The articles Working at Bazooms by Meika Loe and At a Slaughterhouse, Some Things Never Die by Charlie LeDuff deal with the working conditions for women and minorities. Workers in both articles have to deal with having terrible working conditions, harassment in the workplace, low-status within the job, and the constant fear of job loss.
In her narrative, “Serving in Florida”, she describes life as low income American through her experiences as a hotel maid. Ehrenreich vividly describes the inhumane working conditions in which many Americans must endure in order to survive. Employees are fearful of losing their jobs if they do not meet the certain demands of managers who unfairly exert control on them. In addition, Ehrenreich addresses a common misconception among Americans, that those living in poverty are not hard working people, she proves this to be an unfair portrayal of the underprivileged. Ehrenreich works alongside Maria, a Hispanic woman who is the housekeeping manager and Carla, an African American woman who is also a maid. Carla and Ehrenreich are given nineteen rooms to clean with one half hour break. Carla suffers from joint pain which causes her to move slowly. Ehrenreich notes that Carla’s slow pace will probably result in the loss of her job at the hotel because of the other immigrant workers who are much faster than she. Even Carla is fully aware that she is not valued as an employee, “She broods, too, about all the little evidences of disrespect that come her way, and not only from management. ‘They don’t care about us,’ she tells me of the hotel guests; in fact, they don’t notice us at all unless something gets stolen from a room— ‘then they’re all over you’” (277). Individuals such as Carla are extremely hard working, but despite their strong work ethic, low income citizens are seen as disposable by their employers. Not only are they looked down upon by their employers, but they also are treated with disrespect by the people in which they serve. The guests make automatic assumptions because she is from a lower class standing. They assume that she must degrade herself to theft in order to survive because she is not as fortunate. The
In considering the relationship between the meanings of myths and their representation of women, we learned that the major role in shaping the narratives was played by men.
In this semester we read many essay but many of them had something in common. Every essay might have something like, yet there 's always something each essay make them so unique. In the 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology book has two essays that how felt a discriminated living in the United States for the color of their skin. Yet even though the two essay might seem alike, both essays go problems were treated different. In the essay "The Myth of a Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria" by Judith Ortiz Cofer she talks about how she felt being a Puerto Rican living in a country of judgment for being a Latina. In the second essay "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston , she talks about how being a black female living in the
The movie La Jaula de Oro, is a life story of a journey of three kids from Guatemala to the United States. In the movie there are three kids Sara, Samuel, and Juan, they first embark on the journey through Mexico. When they first arrive to Chiapas, the kids put on a play to collect money for food, after the play Sara befriends this boy named Chauk. Who is an indigenous boy from Tzotzil, and also plans to get to America, and convinces them to come join the group. This group of kids is put through a lot during the film, it’s a very interesting journey for 4 kids to experience. This film shows the struggles and difficulties immigrants succumb and sheds some light into the harsh realities of what people don’t think about when they hear the word
Like Esther, Joan Gilling grew up in the same small town; she also won the writing competition and was sent to New York to work for the same magazine. Joan was also very conscious about how the world identified her as an individual. She didn’t want to conform to what society sa...
Out from the kitchen and into the world, women are making a better name for themselves. Although humankind tends to be male dominated, men are not the only species that inhabit the world that they live on. In Julia Alvarez's novel In the Time of the Butterflies, the women of the Dominican Republic are expected to grow up to be housewives and lacking a formal education. Women may be cherished like national treasures, but they are not expected to fulfill their truest potentials as human beings.
For most of the twentieth century, the United States was embroiled in a racial battle that consumed the social stage. In addition, even after the outlaw of segregation, differences as far as ethnicity persisted within the American society, having caused much strife in one’s daily life. In literature two authors, Dr. Judith Ortiz Cofer of “The Myth of the Latin Woman” and Malcolm X of “My First Conk”, convey these destitute times with a multitude of emotions, ultimately expressing a desire be accepted into society. Malcolm X and Dr. Judith Ortiz Cofer are both minorities who handled their assimilation into the American culture differently. To start, the two individuals’ actions towards those of other races differed wildly.
In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda, the main character, goes through a series of events that affect her in the long run and shape her identity. Melinda goes through an eventful evening at a party and keeps it to herself for a long period of time. This is just one of the things that affects her. Some other turning points in Melinda’s life is when she finally tells someone about what happened at that party, as well as losing her friend Heather. These are all things that
Being a minority in both categories of gender and culture has never been an easy obstacle to overcome. In “The Myth of the Latin Woman” I was able to relate to some of the things Cofer stated. For instance,
...of mixing the cultures and the identities of women. Her voice is what emphasizes the article to show how the goal is to redistribute the language and culture not criticizing the “New World”. This is what affects our future as a whole and challenges us to be “bridge the gap between marginal Latino/a culture and the American mainstream.” If society does not at least try to blend together, then it will cause into a huge war that possibly could never end. Just being that woman to show her passion and influence, can cause a great impact and force this world to acknowledge we all are the same.