"I've learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you. The journey is valuable, but believing in your talents, your abilities, and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even brighter path. Transforming fear into freedom – how great is that?" (Soledad O'Brien). Education is one of the most essential resources that man has been provided with. It serves as a bridge for man in order for him to achieve success. It is one of the most valuable weapons used to defeat any act of corruption, ignorance, and/or injustice. Most importantly, education is a privilege and a right given to man, which no person is allow to take it away from him. Therefore, gender, ethnicity, …show more content…
However, throughout time, women have been standing up for themselves, trying to prove that their gender is not an obstacle to become successful, admiring role models. According to Vox Magazine, "Today, women dominate higher education, making up 57 percent of college students and earning 57 percent of college degrees in 2013." We see how women are succeeding among a patriarchal society. In My Beloved World, Celina (Sonia Sotomayor's mother) is a character that represents how a woman is able to achieve success despite her obstacles. Celina joined "the first Puerto Rican units of the Women's Army Corps" (73) ; she also became a well known nurse among her community. "My father never resented my mother's ambitions...he encouraged her. She managed to finish high school, do a secretarial course, and study to qualify as a practical nurse" (78; Ch. 7). Sotomayor also mentions another character that represents women success, Dr. Elsa Paulsen. Sotomayor describes her as being the first women at the hospital with a "position of real-world authority" (97; Ch. 9). She also emphasizes how "When she walked into the pediatric diabetes clinic at Jacobi Medical Center, everybody – interns, residents, nurses – came to attention. You could tell that they wanted to please her, that she was the boss, though she was also warm and friendly" (97). Sotomayor herself is also a …show more content…
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor provides us with a character that did not give up just because of his ethnicity. Jose Cabranes is a Puerto Rican role model not only for Sotomayor, but for his community as well. "Jose Cabranes had served as special counsel to the governor of Puerto Rico and head of the commonwealth's Washington Office, and was now Yale's general counsel, the first named to that position" (225; Ch. 19). He reached a high point that at that time almost no one who was consider a "minority" could reach. Sonia Sotomayor is also an example that proves that ethnicity is not a barrier when it comes to gaining an education, she says: ''Yes, I'd experienced prejudice aimed straight at me... I knew the painful consequences of bigotry...This stuff simply didn’t define me in any meaningful way: if somebody called me a spic, it told me a lot about them, but nothing about myself" (154; Ch. 14). Despite the discrimination she faced while she was in school, she still became an important character not only in U.S history, but in the Hispanic history as
In the essay, Mr. Soto spends a good part of the paper thinking whether he should continue his relationship with his new Japanese girlfriend. An example of his struggle was a conversation between Mr.Soto and his mother, “ But the more I talked, the more concerned she became. Was it a mistake? ‘Marry a Mexican girl.’ I heard my mother in my mind” (pp. 220). All Mr.Soto doubt about his relationship stems from the beliefs of his family. He was raised with the notions that a Mexican wife was the best and only option for him. It was only through visiting her family, his inner qualms were calmed: “ On the highway, I felt happy, pleased by it all. I patted Carolyn’s thigh. Her people were like Mexicans, only difference” (pp 222). From the experiences of meeting people he properly never would 've met, Mr.Soto found that race has no bounds, one
Racial discrimination is an ongoing reality in the lives of many Hispanics. Being a minority and living in poverty is tough. Hispanics have not always been very welcomed in America; they face challenges getting jobs, and being socially accepted. My Beloved World is a memoir by Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor grew up in a very poor neighborhood. She was diagnosed at the age of eight with diabetes, which was very dangerous because of the lack of technology. Her father died when she was very young, yet she is still successful. She is the first Latina Justice of the Supreme Court. Despite the challenges in her life, Sotomayor is driven, independent, and intelligent.
Novas, Himilce. "Dolores Huerta." The Hispanic 100: A Ranking of the Latino Men and Women
This book was published in 1981 with an immense elaboration of media hype. This is a story of a young Mexican American who felt disgusted of being pointed out as a minority and was unhappy with affirmative action programs although he had gained advantages from them. He acknowledged the gap that was created between him and his parents as the penalty immigrants ought to pay to develop and grow into American culture. And he confessed that he got bewildered to see other Hispanic teachers and students determined to preserve their ethnicity and traditions by asking for such issues to be dealt with as departments of Chicano studies and minority literature classes. A lot of critics criticized him as a defector of his heritage, but there are a few who believed him to be a sober vote in opposition to the political intemperance of the 1960s and 1970s.
Luigie Olmos Instructor: Danielle Panto English 105 November 28, 2016 Reaching For A Better Education Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (2016). Mandela’s says that education is very powerful, you can use education to change the world or your life. This means that education is important in life and we all need a good education to succeed in life. In our society education is failing because schools demand too much for a great career. For example, schools take too much time to graduate and after we finish school there is no guaranteed employment. Therefore, students are dropping out of school and are going to the workforce or military. We could make education better for students
Education is one of the most important tools in society, that serve as a base of power to open our minds, in a relationship with the truth. According to an article called The Anatomy of Inequality, by Linda Darling Hammond, refers to an objection to the public education in the United States, and how children should be educating. Hammond points out how there was the unfairness between African American, with low social status, and also with immigrants students. Although many people may think that these problems have been results through the pass of the years, it is clear that many issues still open, and waiting for justice. One Hammond major points are based that the country was established on equality, and freedom for everyone.
The United States is known as the “land of the free” attracting many immigrants to achieve the “American Dream” with the promise of equal opportunity for all. However, many groups, whose identities differed from the dominant American ideology, discovered this “American dream” to be a fantasy. In the 1960s, movements for civil rights in the United States of America included efforts to end private and public acts of racial discrimination against groups of disadvantaged people. Despite the efforts made to empower the disadvantaged groups, racialization and class differences prevailed leading to social inequality. The novel My Beloved World is an autobiography written by Sonia Sotomayor illustrating her early life, education, and career path, explaining the unresolved contradictions of American history and how they continue on in society. Prejudice against certain socioeconomic classes and races prevented equal opportunity. Sotomayor’s text explicates the racialization and class differences that many Puerto Ricans experience while pursuing a higher education, revealing the contradictions between the American promise of equal opportunity and discrimination against Puerto Ricans.
Many great minds believe that education is a powerful tool. Investing in your education is the most valuable and most rewarding thing a person can do to secure their future. Influential people who have brought positive changes to the world have said: “The investment in knowledge pays the best interest”. (Franklin). “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. (Nelson Mandela). “A brighter future starts with an education”. (Montgomery).
Another author who gave insight towards social justice is Josefina Lopez. Through her book, Detained in the Desert, she is able to give voice to various Mexican American generations and convey stories of what they go through due to racial discriminations and negative stereotypes. Lopez depicts scenarios of how Mexican Americans are being victimized based on their looks, language, and culture; for example, “hate crimes against Latinos” and name calling such as “Beaner” or “Wetback” (47, 52). As a result of experiences like these, various Mexican American generations are being induced into taking drastic measures such as virtually abandoning their roots and assimilating completely into the American culture by neglecting to speak or learn their
Beloved is a movie full of pain, love, and triumph. This film is constructed and created from the works of Toni Morrison’s novel. Beloved can be considered a ghost tale based on how the main character Beloved magically appears and disappears with no warning signs. The movie takes place in the summer of 1865 in Ohio at 124 Bluestone Road in a little white house on a plate of land.
Judith Ortiz Cofer, a professor of english and creative writing, tackles gender roles as well as cultural stereotypes in “ The Myth of the Latin Woman” and challenges them by attempting to replace the stereotypes with the realities. In “The Myth of the Latin Woman” Cofer discusses her life in America as a Puerto Rican woman. She also shares her stories of when she was stereotyped and how gender roles play a role in how Latinos are viewed. Stereotypes will follow you around because of your appearance and how the media portrays Latinas.
The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria, an essay written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, discusses the racial stereotypes Cofer struggles with as a Latin woman who travels across America. Throughout her life, Cofer discusses her interactions with people who falsely misjudge her as a Latin woman. Additionally, Cofer mentions other Hispanic women she has met in her life, who also suffer with racial assumptions. Although several people would disagree with Cofer and claim that she is taking racial remarks too seriously, racial stereotyping is a significant issue that should not be overlooked in our society. People should not base someone’s worth by their outward appearance or their ethnic background.
Education has always been in existence in one form or another. As each child is born into this world regardless of who or where they are born, life lessons immediately begin. He/she will learn to crawl, walk, and talk by the example and encouragement of others. Although these lessons are basic in the beginning they evolve as the child grows. However, the core learning method of a child does not change. Learning from others, they will watch, listen, and then act for themselves. Thomas Jefferson believed that an education would lead men and women to the ability to be self-governed and become positive contributors to society (Mondale & Patton, 2001). Today, we can see how true this is by the examples of others. Those that are given the opportunity for education are more likely to find jobs and develop skills that not only improve a community, but influence the economic growth of their nation (Ravitch, Cortese, West, Carmichael, Andere, & Munson, 2009, p. 13). On the other hand, if an education is not provided to individuals, they can become a hindrance to that nation’s growth.
My object of study is Hispanic women experience inequality in education due to the social constructs of subordination of women and Hispanic culture. Historically women have been conditioned with a patriarchal system, which a woman’s domain should be at home, to be a homemaker. The ideology of inferiority can and will justify the deprivation of natural born rights. During the progressive area and women’s rights movement women wanted to be seen as people, they wanted to have rights to own property, negotiate wages, legal documents, access to birth control, and the right to vote, those women who had the voice to deal with these issues were white upper and middle class women. During this time Hispanic women, amongst other minorities, were fighting battles against racism, segregation, exploitation in the work force, access to a good education, and oppression through Hispanic culture. It is not just a struggle to be Hispanic overcoming the inequalities within the education system but to be a Hispanic women within the education system has greater disadvantages. This case study will investigate what forces contribute to the inequality within the education system for Hispanic women in the United States.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world;” this simple statement by South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, expresses a fundamental truth of the world- something as simple as education can change everything. A constantly changing geopolitical environment has continued to place increasing amounts of emphasis on obtaining a post-secondary school education. Despite this, as many as 16% of all Americans ages 16-24 drop out before completing a secondary school education and obtaining a diploma.(1) The question which few dare to consider, which I now find myself faced with, is simple: how my education is the key to a successful future. To completely grasp the extent which my education may impact the future, in a positive manner, two things must fall into consideration- how education will ensure a successful future for myself, and how it may enable me to ensure a successful future for those around me.