Low Self-esteem Exhibited Through Oppression
Self-esteem fluctuates day to day and hour to hour. In the novel, Does My Head Look Big In This, Randa Abdel-Fattah shows how oppression divides society into two distinct groups of the dominant and the subordinate. This invisible barrier between the social classes causes the inferior individuals to question their morals and values. This results in anxiety and a decline of self-esteem. Likewise, Simone’s journey to lose weight, Leila’s arguments with her family, and Amal’s experience wearing the hijab explore how oppression lowers self-esteem.
By analyzing Simone’s journey to lose weight, readers can see how society uses difference as a means of alienating groups of people. Unable to tolerate Tia’s …show more content…
It’s addictive. It says so on the pack! It’s like getting into a car with a big warning sign [saying:] ‘if you drive this car, you will eventually die’” (Fattah 234). Unfortunately, Simone’s bullying experiences and her mother’s disapproval against her weight causes her to despise her body image. Instead of embracing herself and acknowledging her self-worth, Simone strives to change her physical appearance due to a biased perception of beauty. What first started off as social oppression to lose weight, later emerges as self-oppression when Simone begins to question her own morals/values and eventually begins smoking due to a decline in her self-esteem. Even though Simone is aware of the health risks and disadvantages associated with smoking cigarettes, Simone surrenders herself to this unhealthy decision, as a way to boost her self-confidence and become a part of this corrupt society. In addition, Simone avoids participating in activities which draw attention to …show more content…
Amal, a Muslim teenager, begins to doubt her decision-making skills, after being socially oppressed for wearing the hijab. After being refused a part-time job for wearing the hijab, Amal says, “mom, maybe I shouldn’t have worn it… Maybe I was stupid… Where am I going to go now?” (320). Having decided to wear the hijab at the age of sixteen, Amal is experiencing a lot of discrimination and prejudice targeted towards her ethnicity, but more specifically, her hijab. The increase in terrorist attacks and news articles headlined ISIS, promotes the stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists. Living in this biased, Caucasian community, Amal is constantly discriminated for wearing the hijab, and for following her religious practices; unfortunately, her unwavering determination to uphold her religious identity backfires when she is refused a part-time job at a local restaurant for wearing the hijab. Consequently, incidents like this work towards lowering Amal’s self-esteem and making her question her decision-making skills. To add on, Amal’s high school bullying experiences work towards demoting her self-worth. One day during class, Tia says to Amal, loudly so everyone can hear it, “there’s this article in Marie Claire about Muslim girls getting circumcised in Nigeria” (171). Tia Tamos, Amal’s biggest bully, finds pleasure in demoting Amal’s culture and religious practices, as it makes her feel
Self-esteem fluctuates day to day and hour to hour. In the novel, Does My Head Look Big In This, Randa Abdel-Fattah shows how oppression divides society into two distinct groups of the dominant and the subordinate. This invisible barrier between the social classes causes the inferior individuals to question their morals and values. This results in anxiety and a decline of self-esteem. Likewise, Simone’s journey to lose weight, Leila’s arguments with her family, and Amal’s experience wearing the hijab explore how oppression lowers self-esteem.
By analyzing Simone’s journey to lose weight, readers can see how society uses difference as a means of alienating groups of people. Unable to tolerate Tia’s …show more content…
It’s addictive. It says so on the pack! It’s like getting into a car with a big warning sign [saying:] ‘if you drive this car, you will eventually die’” (Fattah 234). Unfortunately, Simone’s bullying experiences and her mother’s disapproval against her weight causes her to despise her body image. Instead of embracing herself and acknowledging her self-worth, Simone strives to change her physical appearance due to a biased perception of beauty. What first started off as social oppression to lose weight, later emerges as self-oppression when Simone begins to question her own morals/values and eventually begins smoking due to a decline in her self-esteem. Even though Simone is aware of the health risks and disadvantages associated with smoking cigarettes, Simone surrenders herself to this unhealthy decision, as a way to boost her self-confidence and become a part of this corrupt society. In addition, Simone avoids participating in activities which draw attention to …show more content…
Amal, a Muslim teenager, begins to doubt her decision-making skills, after being socially oppressed for wearing the hijab. After being refused a part-time job for wearing the hijab, Amal says, “mom, maybe I shouldn’t have worn it… Maybe I was stupid… Where am I going to go now?” (320). Having decided to wear the hijab at the age of sixteen, Amal is experiencing a lot of discrimination and prejudice targeted towards her ethnicity, but more specifically, her hijab. The increase in terrorist attacks and news articles headlined ISIS, promotes the stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists. Living in this biased, Caucasian community, Amal is constantly discriminated for wearing the hijab, and for following her religious practices; unfortunately, her unwavering determination to uphold her religious identity backfires when she is refused a part-time job at a local restaurant for wearing the hijab. Consequently, incidents like this work towards lowering Amal’s self-esteem and making her question her decision-making skills. To add on, Amal’s high school bullying experiences work towards demoting her self-worth. One day during class, Tia says to Amal, loudly so everyone can hear it, “there’s this article in Marie Claire about Muslim girls getting circumcised in Nigeria” (171). Tia Tamos, Amal’s biggest bully, finds pleasure in demoting Amal’s culture and religious practices, as it makes her feel