Identity for minority groups is formed through the dominant white society’s view or criticism of that particular group which oppresses them. When Arnold goes to an all white school, he ends up falling for Penelope, a white girl, and looks for advice from his best friend Rowdy. Rowdy advises, “The first thing you have to do is change the way you look, the way you talk, and the way you walk”(Alexie 81). Rowdy gives Arnold advice that says he needs to change who he is in order for Penelope to like him back. The white society would never approve of an Indian boy for a white girl unless he can form his identity based on what they like, so he has to change every little thing about himself. This is oppressive because the society is saying there is
