In La Guera by Cherrie Moraga, the role of empathy and race are present throughout the text. I will explain the role of each by addressing how empathy aids in the creation of intersubjective relationships and its relation with oppression while also explaining how race plays a role with regards to privileges. The role of empathy is important to understand since it helps in the creation of intersubjective relationships. In addition, it also helps in the ability of negotiating the differences in the forms of oppression. Let us examine the following quote to understand this: "When I finally lifted the lid to my lesbianism, a profound connection with my mother reawakened in me. It wasn’t until I acknowledged and confronted my own lesbianism in the flesh, that my heartfelt identification with and empathy …show more content…
for my mother’s oppression-due to being poor, uneducated, and Chicana- was realized” (Moraga 1979, 28).
What this quote means is that Moraga developed a sense of empathy towards her mother. This in turn helped her understand (create group alliances) among people affected by the various degrees of oppression. More precisely, her lesbianism aided in her ability to negotiate the differences in the different forms of oppression. For instance, she states that “in this country, lesbianism is a poverty” (Moraga 1979, 29). Therefore, since her sexuality is some kind of poverty (some form of oppression) she is able to create an intersubjective relationship with her mother who also endured a different kind and degree of oppression (i.e. being pulled out of school to work while her father would drink away her profit). As for the ability of negotiating the differences in the forms of oppression, her
lesbianism has cause for her to understand that in order to deal with oppression, she must first deal with “primary source of [her] own sense of oppression” (Moraga 1979, 30). It other words, Moraga was able to create a connection (empathy) between different people as a mean to negotiate their differences in oppression. Now, as for the role of race, Moraga states how being guera had privileges. However, this also relates to assimilation. As stated in the passage, “being light was something valued in my family” and it goes on to say “it was through my mother’s desire to protect her children from poverty and illiteracy that we become ‘anglocized; the more effectively we could pass in the white world, the better guaranteed our future” (Moraga 1979, 28). What these quotes entail is the internalization of racism and how it affects a person’s sense of self. That is to say, Moraga’s mother (and family) have come to internalization the idea of white being good/superior. Because of this, their sense of self has been affected by having her think of color (dark) as evil and that being white, her daughter would be better off. This then results back to the relation of assimilation in that her mother wants for her to “anglocized” (e.g. not speaking Spanish). In summary, Moraga’s idea of empathy helped her in her ability to negotiate differences in oppression and in creating intersubjective relationships among people affected by various degrees of oppression (e.g. relating to her mother through her description of lesbianism as poverty). As for the role of race, it affects a person’s sense of self due to internalization. This in turn relates to assimilation and privilege since a person (or people) come to regard white as good (and dark as evil) and thus aspire to become that.
In “The Baby in the Well: The Case Against Empathy” by Paul Bloom, Paul want’s his readers to understand that empathy is not very helpful unless it is fused with values and reason.
Blue Bird was about fourteen. They were taken in and made to feel at home.
"Las Papas" by Julia Ortega is a story that tries to convey a simple yet a very realistic message. The story tries to reveal the fact that how over the years, as generation changes, we lose touch to our family values, our history as well as our very own culture. Las Papas is a Spanish word for Potatoes. The story is based on a man and his son. The man tries to pass on his family culture and history to his son, which in this story is more of connected to potatoes. Potatoes in this story symbolizes the memories and history of his family and his motherland Peru. This story highlights the fact and difficulties relating to the migration of people from one country to another, the hardships they face to adjust and settle in new place and how over the course of time, in the process of
Elena Poniatowska escrita durante una epoca de cambio en Mexico. Antes de sus obras las mujeres mexicanas eran sometidos, docil, y pasivo. En la tiempo de sus obras las mujeres estaba tratando salir de los estereotipos de antes. Esta problema social tomo un afecto en Elena. Aunque ella no viene de un movimiento literatura directamente, ella escrita con el concepto de compremetido. En su narrative El Recado ella crea un mujer estereotipical que no puede controlar sus emociones. La titula es eso porque ella viene a ver su amante, pero el no esta, asi ella escribe las cosas que sentia. La perspectiva es de un personaje y ella nunca interacta con otros personajes. En facto la unica descripcion de un personaje otro de la protagonista es de su amante Martin. Habla de otros personajes, pero solamente de sus acciones. Porque ellas es la unica perspectiva que tenemos es sencillo a sentar compasion para una protagonista de quien nombre no aun sabemos. Ella da la descripcion de toda que vea, y mas importante todo que se sienta. Tambien tropos y figuras retoricas dan un tono significante al poema. Estos sentimientos de la portagonista y el tono emocional de la narrativa transporta una tema de una mujer estereotipical y debil quien quiere ser reconocido.
Empathy is imperative to teach kids from a young age in order to help them recognize mental states, such as thoughts and emotions, in themselves and others. Vital lessons, such as walking in another’s shoes or looking at a situation in their perspective, apprehends the significance of the feelings of another. Our point of view must continuously be altered, recognizing the emotions and background of the individual. We must not focus all of our attention on our self-interest. In the excerpt, Empathy, written by Stephen Dunn, we analyze the process of determining the sentiment of someone.
Ruch & Julkunen (2016) further define empathy is attempting to put ourselves in another person’s place to understand their sentiment. This gives us the ability to perceive the service users views and feelings. According to David Howe (2013) if there is no empathy this can this can make it difficult for the conversation to flow consequently the service users’ needs could be overlooked this would make it difficult to sense the service user’s emotions. However Tsang (2016) disputes that empathy can constrain the ability to understand a person or their sentiment due to language, or ethnic differences. These can be barriers making it difficult to understand the person and the empathy can be
Rizga shows her understanding of her audience through the use of appeals, reinforcement of thesis, and lead-in to the introduction. Rizga demonstrates strong audience awareness by telling the story of Maria, a Salvadorian girl newly arrived to the United States. Rizga writes about Maria’s struggles in her country as well as the struggles she was faced with upon arriving to the United States, which appeals to the audience’s emotions. Rhee, however, has a very weak appeal, “As a parent, I understand that problem.” Unlike Rhee, Rizga immediately begins her article with Maria being bullied in school for not knowing English.
Santa Evita is not truly about her life, but the odyssey her body went through after her death. Through interviews of people who knew her, Evita is brought back to live through recounts of what they remembered of. Tomas Eloy Martinez’s forces his way into her life, not to refute the myths, but to have a better understanding of his country’s history of which Evita is so deeply ingrained within. In life Evita dedicated her life to aiding the poor, offering opportunities and changes to the lives of so many people that in death, she became a legend. After her death in 1952, Peron carried out her wishes, which was to not be forgotten by all those who loved her, and who she took care of. Her meticulous embalming added to her personage, as she was left more vibrant in death, this political figure became a saint. The rumors and myths that appeared in the story about Evita’s corpse are used as supporting elements of magical realism focusing on metafictional realities, the sense of mystery of Evita, and a political critique.
The narrator originally felt as if her hands were a burden as they could not perform the tasks that her sisters’ delicate hands could. This class has taught about the unfair treatment Chicanas receive for not only being Hispanic, but also being female. In patriarchal societies, females are often ridiculed for not being able to perform womanly tasks. Viramontes addresses this dilemma by using the narrator as a symbolic character who finds purpose in her flaws. The hands that were made fun of for being unable to perform delicate tasks were molded into hands used for labor. Viramontes is presenting to her audience that the different aspects of an individual can be empowering, and it is how one interprets purpose. Curanderas have the role of spiritual healing, but also the role of empowering women of color. Through the narrator, Viramontes takes a common hardship faced by Hispanic females and shapes purpose out of
It was a cold dreary night, the rain beat against the single pane bedroom window, and the young heartbroken adolescent lays there gazing at the ceiling. Not quite a full moon, but it gleamed through the shimmer curtains which accented the room. This one sentence can allow the reader to have a clear image of where the character is placed as well as the room and placement. It also makes the reader think of the mindset the character may be in. The setting in a story allows one to institute a sense of mood, lifestyle, and geographical location. Both short stories “Aguntando” by Junot Diaz and “Mariel” by Ruth Sims demonstrate vivid images of different settings. For the most part the setting describes the location of the story, it also has the tendency to set the temperament of a particular time in the story. The setting is one element that will send the reader on an emotional rollercoaster by influencing various moods, personalities and atmospheres within a short story.
Empathy is defined as the ability to communicate an understanding of a client’s feelings. It is important to be successful in
There was a situation which could have ended poorly for me if I didn’t have examples of empathy. Two of my best friends, Nicole and Kenzie, were in a fight when I found caught myself in middle trying not to cause drama. We had all attended a graduation party soon after their fight and I was spending more time with Nicole than Kenzie. Later that day, I received a text for Kenzie saying “Why were you acting so weird to me today?” Instead of telling her that I enjoyed being with Nicole and causing a scene, I showed empathy. I told her there was no weirdness but most importantly I told her I was sorry she felt that way. There was a miscommunication between us but I showed her compassion during an emotional and sensitive time. In A Walk to Remember, Landon misinterpreted Jamie but shows compassion towards her in the end. Just like Kenzie and I, there was a miscommunication between the two characters. To resolve both issues, there would need to be conversing. In both scenarios, it caused a better relationship among them and less tension. The one difference between them is that in the book it caused a romantic relationship. “She smiled at me and I smiled at her and all I could do was wonder how I'd ever fallen in love with a girl like Jamie Sullivan.”
Empathy has both a cognitive component and an emotional aspect. The cognitive aspects refers to taking the position of another individual, whereas the personal refers to the emotional response to another person; parallel empathy or the reaction to the emotional experience of the other person; reactive empathy. Empathy is what we experience when we take in a painting that moves us, for instance, the sadness in ones face. “Guides to empathy come from the arts were concepts were first elaborated.” (Caouette, 2010, p. 1) The role of medical school is to squeeze the empathy out of the students. Empathy; I could be you. For Freud, empathy embodied the “mechanism by means of which we are enabled to take up any attitude at all towards another mental life.” (Caouette, 2010, p. 1) The role of empathy is multifaceted, “research indicates that empathy is a host of beneficial effects on the attitude and behavior whereas a lack of empathy has a host of negative effects.”(Stephan & Finlay, 1999, p. 730) Recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that “observing another personals emotional state activates part of the neuronal network involves in processing that same stat in oneself, whether it is disgust, touch or pain.” (De Vignemont & Singer,
Empathy- Contribute to relationship maintenance, along with social support. By being selfless, helps look at the perspective of another 's point of view. To attain sensitivity and understanding to how other 's feel. "When you feel empathy with another person, you identify him or her and accurately understand his or her thoughts and feelings" (Rogers, 1957).
The dictionary definition of Empathy is the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and attitudes of others. Simply put, empathy is the ability to step into someone else’s shoes, be aware of their feelings and understand their needs. In the workplace, empathy can show a deep respect for co-workers and show that you care, as opposed to just going by rules and regulations. An empathic leadership style can make everyone feel like a team and increase productivity, morale and loyalty. Empathy is a powerful tool in the leadership belt of a well-liked and respected executive (Pressley, 2012).