Gendered Space

The Sephora at Somerset Mall is a place where, typically speaking, rich white women go and buy their beauty products - makeup, skincare, perfume, etc. I have once waltzed into the beauty store, to find many prying eyes falling upon me for the duration of my visit. Was it because there was something in my teeth? Or perhaps I didn't clean my nose? Nope, it was because I am an oriental man! Granted, no one was rude about it, but the experience was a bit uncomfortable nonetheless.
Makeup is essentially a gendered situation on its own, but is starting to break barriers worldwide. For instance, male Korean pop stars embrace their makeup use in their music videos, interviews, live shows, etc. But prior to this, it was mainly women worldwide  who used makeup in this weird fashion. Society has molded makeup into this gendered topic, which can relate back to The Bluest Eye and how specifically women have to follow the beauty standards that are held by society. The standard is still held to a certain extent today - not everyone supports this standard, hopefully more people don't than do - and that can be seen through gendered beauty stores such as Sephora.

Trick or Treating Absurd

To celebrate Halloween anywhere in the US, one must go out and buy a costume. The culture of costume purchasing during this "holiday" is so ingrained in our society that the mere idea of not dressing up at all incites ridicule and shame. But what does getting a costume even do? Get you more candy than your parents already bought for the occasion anyway? Although it may seem like a fun activity that we now take part it, but it has far strayed from its original roots. Instead of honoring the dead, we now dress up in scandalous costumes - anywhere from a sexy hippo to a sexy nurse - all for some delicious sweets that are bad for your health anyways. From a young age, children are indoctrinated with a desire to collect the most candy, as the "coolest" children are the ones who haul pillowcase after pillowcase of all different assortments of sweet treats. Every business views this day as one of commercial success rather than a fun time with family, swimming in their loads of profit made from Kit-Kats, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and scandalous costumes targeted towards the consumerist culture that mindlessly makes purchases based on societal views.

Parents on American Culture

When my loving parents came to America, the land of dreams, they came looking for a better and brighter future - better jobs, better opportunities, and better standard of living. My dad began his life in America doing business for whoever offered him some. He was very energetic and ambitious towards getting the many opportunities that are available in America. His homeland, Hong Kong, didn't have these opportunities; he could work all his life to no avail. He liked American culture because of this. On the contrary, he found that workplaces at the time to be pretty racist. He didn't like this because, economically speaking, racism's opportunity costs are too high. He enjoys the diversity that American brings, but doesn't understand why people discriminate because of race. In the end, this didn't bother him too much as he focused on his dreams of being a successful businessman. My mom shares very similar opinions with my dad. They both are very accepting of the new culture, but don't understand the prejudices that exist between "races."
Both my parents enjoy American culture for the most part, partaking in "daily body ritual... [and] mouth-rite", but not in the seeking of the "holy-mouth-man" (Miner 10).

Arm Wrestling w/ My Father Reflection

Prior to reading Arm Wrestling with My Father, I never thought much about how my dad and I communicated. I do not recall having too many deep conversations with my dad, tending to have more of them with my mom. My dad and I often showed our love for each other through non-verbal means - sharing a laugh, playing sports, exchanging gifts on holidays. On the other hand, my mom and I shared more of the opposite, we would joke a lot and I felt like I had a stronger bond with my mom than my dad. After reading the piece, I realized how important these seemingly trifle moments were in shaping the relationship my dad and I share. Majority of my childhood was spent playing tennis with my dad, and now tennis is one of the main subjects we talk about. Even if this bond is not the stereotypical loving relationship, I still feel the warmness that my dad carries. I've started to appreciate more of the finer details as I grow up, as Manning did with his physical relationship with his father. In the end, I've come to understand that the relationship with both my parents have equally shaped my life. I realize that many of the seemingly unimportant moments in my life have come to strongly impact who I am now - that small compliment made become more confident in myself like how that dismissive comment caused me to shy away. Manning tells an important life lesson in the sense that we should appreciate everything for what it's worth while we can, because we become filled with regret once it's gone.