Preview

Breaking Away From Stereotype In Victor Villasenor's Rain Of Gold

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1240 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Breaking Away From Stereotype In Victor Villasenor's Rain Of Gold
Breaking Away from Stereotype

The United States of America has been called the “melting pot” of the world. It is a country that is open to diversity and welcomes culture, race and ethnicity of all sorts, for as long as it complies with its laws. United States become a nation rich in immigrants who found new home in a foreign land. Most of the big and key cities in the United States are culturally and racially diversified. This diversity is taught to be an asset of the society. If not understood well, this diversity may also lead to internal and external conflicts such as discrimination and stereotyping. Stereotyping can be as harmless as thinking that Chinese cooks the best orange chicken or Indians have the best chicken curry, but it can also be as destructive as stereotyping Muslims as potential terrorists or Mexicans as potential illegal aliens. Stereotypes come in different forms and it is also apparent in the news, media, television, songs and
…show more content…
It is viewed that in Latino culture, men are the dominant gender, and women are submissive to their male counterparts. However, in “Rain of Gold” written by Victor Villasenor, the character of Dona Margarita, a wife and a mother, possessed strength that was even able to boldly reprimand the character of her husband. Dona Margarita’s strength and support was valued in the book as one of the reason of fulfilling the family’s dreams. She was able to express her anger and frustration on her husband, Don Victor, when he gambled and got drunk. Her family felt hope when she did not give-up her hope that her daughter, Sophia, was still alive. Although she wanted to give the leadership role to her husband Don Victor, the book made it apparent that she is the strength of her family. However, the story also depicted Dona Margarita as a housewife whose primary role is to raise her children and manage the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    One of the main ideas of this book, commonly associated with America and the way we live, is that there are a wide range of people living in this country. America has been well known as the "melting pot" of the world. We have many ethnicities and races, and countless cultural differences. Within our melting pot people have different lifestyles and ambitions in life. Some work hard for what they get, and others try to find a quick way of getting what they want.…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Adam Goodman Response: 10/29 In his book, The Anatomy of Racial Inequality, Glenn C. Loury avoids discussing racial discrimination, which we have often focused on in class. Instead, Loury chooses to focus on “racial stigma.” Loury claims this stigma, and the associations and stereotypes that are linked with it, appear to sustain systematic racial inequality in America. Unlike discrimination, The effects of racial stigma are more subtle and are deeply embedded in the historical narrative of the nation. As Loury notes, America is often said to be a “melting pot,” a land of immigrants where everyone’s culture contributes to the whole of society.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The United States is a melting pot, made up of people from many different cultures and…

    • 1352 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many individuals interpret diversity differently specifically in the United States because of its melting pot of distinct cultures and lifestyles. In his essay “People Like Us”, David Brooks’ argues that although the United States is a diverse nation as a whole, it is homogeneous in specific aspects like interactions between people. To some extent, his observation is true; people tend to stick to what or who they are comfortable with. There are also exceptions where the American people attempt to establish relationships with others because of their desire to expand out of their norm. For instance, Brooks excludes the explanation of diversity integration in the United States, where instead focuses on racial integration as the definition of diversity in America. He also makes assumptions that people purposefully intend to segregate themselves and underestimates their capability of living together because of their location, political values and personal appeal.…

    • 1403 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    As tolerance in each other’s differences begins, so does our hope of progress. America being built upon the foundation of all men being created equal is often questioned for it truly is the unique diversity that impacts the country. In fact, many would agree on the “little point… [of isolating] anything… resembling nation character” as it is…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Staples and Cofer

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages

    When Americans meet someone new they are already sticking that person into some sort of category because of their appearance. If someone looks different than Americans are use to, they automatically stick some sort of stereotype to them. Stereotypes are strongly displayed in the media; stereotype can be based of someone’s color, culture, religion, or sex. In Black men in public spaces by Brent Staples, and in The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the authors talk about stereotypes based on their gender and ethnicity and the experiences they both encounter because of their ethnicity and gender which have many similarities and differences. Stereotypes can lead to hatred and discrimination against other groups. The problem with stereotyping is it is identifying an individual based on a group a person belongs to, which is not right because each individual is their own person. Stereotypes can be true, and are sometimes false that is why a person should only be judged by who he/she is, each person is unique in his/her own way. Cofer addresses the stereotypes of Latin women, while Brent Staples points out the social views of African American men by both displaying the stereotypes stuck to them, how the grew up, and encounters with strangers to reveal the similarities and differences they face concerning ethnicity.…

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Countless people are not able to say that they have grown up like Esperanza. Living in poverty, and knowing your neighbors, living a life where women are told to stay home, clean, cook, wash every spot of food off of every single dish. Women did not have a say in anything, furthermore, Esperanza has a variety of female role models in her life. Several are trapped in abusive relationships, waiting for others to change their lives. Some are actively trying to change everything on their own. Through these women and Esperanza’s reaction to them, Cisneros’ shows not only the hardships women face, but also explores their powers to overcome them.…

    • 959 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Parrilo

    • 3239 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Whiteness has dominated the mainstream of social norms in America for a long time. However, in the 2012 Presidential Election, Barrack Obama won the election by the larger proportion of support from more non-whites than Romney since demographic shifts greatly impact the population structure and urged expansive multiculturalism. A melting pot is intended to form by absorbing versatile cultures around the world. Vincent Parrillo’s “Causes of Prejudice” puts forward psychological and sociological theories to explain the complexity of causes for prejudice. Several theories including frustrations and social norms can explain Hua Hsu’ opinions in “The End of White America?” In “White America?” by Hua Hsu, the author introduces several theories such as frustration and social norms, and how they can better explain different causes of prejudice. about how crosscutting social groups form majority-minority nation instead of whites’ dominate nation. Whiteness poses a strong gap among races and increases the social distance. Immigration has brought about multiculturalism into America and caused transformation of social status of whites from being dominant to being treated as other races. whiteness from dominance to collapse. Transition of status for whiteness whites results in prejudice to intensify and diminish under different racial angles. However, the elimination of white dominance whiteness doesn’t mean the end of the white America. Racial transcendence is needed to decrease prejudice and make a better America. Optimistic attitudes of whites are needed to accept reformation of social norms, and the achievement for multiculturalism can make American lives colorful and splendid(be more specific). Making prosperity of melting pot is an authentic value for Americans to consistently stick to(Clarify your point- be more specific and clear in your thesis statement).…

    • 3239 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the article, “Does Diversity Breed Intolerance?”, Barlow says, “ If one looks, one can definitely see hostility towards someone is isn’t white” (Barlow 3). What is pointed out in this article is that, sadly, people who aren’t white are clearly treated with opposition. Even though people may say that America is still the great melting pot, they do not realize that other races are being treated unfairly. Clearly, people of different origin are not always accepted by others, and this proves why America is not the great melting pot of the world. With these issues in our world today, a true melting pot is not possible for…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    African-American Culture

    • 2055 Words
    • 9 Pages

    This is a growing issue because “we rely on these conclusions to make choices and decisions in life [as we grow up]” (Ezeanu 2). People often make comments about certain cultures without being educated about that certain topic. It is wrong to make a comment about a group of people or country based on one individual. This has been a current and serious topic because of racist comments towards Muslims and African-American. When making a general statement on a culture, truth and faulty come hand in hand. Saying that “Hispanic societies have a high degree of machismo, or, in Middle Eastern cultures, women have a lesser status than men” would be considered a positive way of generalization (Stereotypes 1). People often make generalizations in negative ways rather than positive, which is where it becomes a problem. When an individual makes an inappropriate and false comment to a group of people it “can contribute to racism and xenophobia” (Higgins 2). Overgeneralizing can be very damaging to an individual and “[takes] the form of limiting beliefs” (Ezeanu 3). Throughout the U.S., most parents and teachers do not educate their kids on accepting diversity. When their kids face a diverse environment they do not know what to do. The American society has been lead to think about differences as a weakness. When people say “all Muslims are terrorist” it is only based on hatred and stupidity. They are taking one ‘bad’ Muslim and representing the whole religion/community. This society loves to make up excuses for their lack of knowledge by saying, “It’s about class, not race”. To be able to solve this problem people need to know they are wrong and not make up an excuse. If the society starts to change their ignorant way of thinking it could make an impact on future…

    • 2055 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “America is a country of immigrants, but also a country that sometimes hates immigrants”. One would find it rather odd how everyone can trace their family heritage to somewhere over seas, yet most Americans today frown upon immigrants from other countries. Studies have shown that students at large schools and even at some small high schools segregate themselves from other minorities without even noticing. It could be because their comfort zones are only within their own personal races. Also, their cultures and traditions are more alike to people within their own race and it is easier to adapt and be accepted. Even though, discrimination has been looming in America’s school system for years it is slowly beginning to…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Week 9

    • 1221 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The United States face many challenges due to the diversity of its people because, racism is still relevant. There are still quite a few people who carry judgment toward the interracial couples, gays, lesbians, bi-sexual, transgender, and religious beliefs.…

    • 1221 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    America is the land of immigrant whereas many Asians travel and live in America. Hence, they have grown numbers there and become US’ legal citizen. The problems are the Asians are known as ‘perpetual foreigners’ who try to find a better living for themselves. Moreover, they are seen as socially awkward by being ‘always fresh of the boats.’ On the other hand, people also consider them as successful model minorities. Many years have gone by, yet Asian American still one of the marginalized races in the States until now that those kinds of stereotype still glued on themselves. This problem has strongly become our concern. One of the biggest reasons why we think that Asian American is perpetually stereotyped is because the media, which includes…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Hyphenated American

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Many Americans identify themselves by a hyphenated title. People of these groups were almost all immigrants who moved to United States from their native country. United States of America has been founded on the basis of immigration and refugee. Throughout history, United States has welcomed immigrants from all over the world that came to America in hopes of seeking new life and freedom. Many people describe United States as a “melting pot”, which consist of different culture groups, religion, race, culture, and etc. However, many immigrants who had become American citizens had still referred themselves as Asian-Americans, German-American, Latin-American, and etc. this is because they are no the dominant group in the society stated by Associate Professor of Sociology, Minako Maykovich, “the criteria for physical characteristics are generally determined by the dominant group in society, thus racial difference is the greatest obstacle to the process of assimilation” (68). I am an Asian descendant who has been live in the States for ten years, and I have different views on some of the portrayals of Asian-American.…

    • 1082 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Racism exists today through many different vehicles. One would naively think that when President Barack Obama won the Presidential election that that was a sign of times changing, but this country remains the same. Just turn on any national news network and racism permeates through every story, every sound bite, and even every news reporter. It’s called incognizant racism, and it’s going unnoticed under the radar. One would think that when he or she turns on their news program that they will see their lives and their community being represented, and for white people this is exactly true; but for any person of color watching the news means watching the stereotype portrayed of their race. How is this happening? In a country as free and proud as the US one would think that our journalists would dig deeper and fairly represent nonwhite American citizens as much as they do the white citizens. Even through scripted television the overwhelming “white out” continues to overshadow the need for diversity in the entertainment industry. The problem is that people are still afraid to be outside their comfort zones, and sadly it seems that people of a different skin tone fall outside this zone. Until the newsrooms of this country start spreading diversity through their programs this country will remain stagnant in the process of fighting racism and the truth and justice Americans seek from their news corporations will be tarnished.…

    • 1815 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays

Related Topics