Summary Of Ted Polhemus Appearance Equals Identity

According to Ted Polhemus in “Appearance Equals Identity” the way that appearance is perceived determines a social tactic in which we choose to approach a person. Polhemus observed that giving verbal labels has not worked in the past. Physical appearances were once an easy way to identify a person, but now a slight distinction in one's appearance is enough to identify someone. That has not worked because of a large variety of differences that people face. While appearances provide a sense of expression and character, not everyone has the same views. People's appearances can break down to distinguish their personalities, but it still does not give enough the know about the character of a person. Polhemus is wrong because appearance does not imply anything …show more content…
Last summer, during the last week of June my family and I decided to take a trip to a beach in Mazatlan, Mexico. As we entered the hotel I could see the beach right down the hall. It smelled like seashells and Pina coladas. Before going to the beach, my siblings, Moravia, Brianna, and Abel Alba and I decided to go to a hidden Jacuzzi that had the perfect view so see the bright yellow sunset along with the long and mysterious ocean. Being Mexican-American, we were speaking English. A couple was sitting in the Jacuzzi like us. As the dark haired guy with tattoos running up and down his arms hugged the red haired color girl with her dark beer bottle in her hand they began to giggle. Moravia figured it was because they were drinking alcohol, or so we thought. As the sun's glare was slowly fading away, the red headed girl said a hurtful saying over and over again in Spanish because she thought that we did not understand it. “Se les ve el nopalote en la frente.” Meaning that we looked so Mexican and we could not even speak Spanish.