Laura Lee
ENGL131
Professor Cohen
Final Paper
As a second-generation Korean-American, I have lived most of my life immersed in two different cultures. Both of my parents and my family are first-generation Koreans yet I was born in America. Through balancing my dual identity, as being both Korean and American, I am able to blend the two cultures together, through the incorporation of aspects of both cultures, in order to gain a sense of a true authentic self. Although my identity as a Korean-American has been questioned throughout my life, through the course materials, I have learned the importance of authenticity and the importance that should be placed on the individual instead of society as a whole. Instead of conforming to societal expectations, …show more content…
Although she is Black among a White community, Aunt Martha creates a White world for her which is based on her own perceptions of White society. Similarly, I try to exert my Korean side in the confines of American society as I am neither fully Korean or American. It is only when I expose myself to society that I realize that I am different. However, like Aunt Martha, I embrace the differences and am unapologetically Korean-American just as she is Black. Having a dual identity is not easy yet it is important to assert independence and agency in order to break free from the confines and expectations given by society. No race or ethnicity has priority over others and I have learned to respect all cultures through the difficulties I have faced with society trying to break me down and define my being as there is a fear that racial divisions lead to a disintegration of American society. Although Aunt Martha is respected and lives within the confines of a White society, she is not seen as being fully White yet she maintains her respectability and resists societal influences from influencing her personal satisfactions. Her character embodies the importance of being self-reliant and nonconforming to the restrictions placed upon us by society. Through the material, I have learned that a higher sense of self is achieved through the display of individuality and the ability to assert agency in order to be
ENGL131
Professor Cohen
Final Paper
As a second-generation Korean-American, I have lived most of my life immersed in two different cultures. Both of my parents and my family are first-generation Koreans yet I was born in America. Through balancing my dual identity, as being both Korean and American, I am able to blend the two cultures together, through the incorporation of aspects of both cultures, in order to gain a sense of a true authentic self. Although my identity as a Korean-American has been questioned throughout my life, through the course materials, I have learned the importance of authenticity and the importance that should be placed on the individual instead of society as a whole. Instead of conforming to societal expectations, …show more content…
Although she is Black among a White community, Aunt Martha creates a White world for her which is based on her own perceptions of White society. Similarly, I try to exert my Korean side in the confines of American society as I am neither fully Korean or American. It is only when I expose myself to society that I realize that I am different. However, like Aunt Martha, I embrace the differences and am unapologetically Korean-American just as she is Black. Having a dual identity is not easy yet it is important to assert independence and agency in order to break free from the confines and expectations given by society. No race or ethnicity has priority over others and I have learned to respect all cultures through the difficulties I have faced with society trying to break me down and define my being as there is a fear that racial divisions lead to a disintegration of American society. Although Aunt Martha is respected and lives within the confines of a White society, she is not seen as being fully White yet she maintains her respectability and resists societal influences from influencing her personal satisfactions. Her character embodies the importance of being self-reliant and nonconforming to the restrictions placed upon us by society. Through the material, I have learned that a higher sense of self is achieved through the display of individuality and the ability to assert agency in order to be