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Essay / A theme of societal expectations in Looking for Work by Gary Soto
Societal expectations, whether we notice them or not, are everywhere and have been set for years now; without it being clear who should follow these standards and why. As a Mexican American, I had the same mindset as Gary Soto when he was a kid. Social influences cause people to conform and follow the crowd simply to meet the expectations of others. For a while, I had doubts about what a perfect life really looked like and wondered why other families were different from mine. In Soto, Gary's "Looking for Work" found in the book "Rereading America", published in 1989, the author makes an argument about how assimilation is influenced by race and socioeconomic status. Throughout the story, we see his perspective pass through mentions of a perfect family structure, success in the form of social status, and differences in financial status. All of these have influenced certain areas, particularly the way we think, act, look or feel. His goal in writing this article is to inform about class and financial differences. In the article, Soto attempts to appeal to those at opposite ends of the socio-economic classes, i.e. the lowest and the highest, implying that they have the ability to change the way they perceive people above or below them; especially teachers and university students. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Soto uses media to demonstrate the impact entertainment has on its viewers and how they change their beliefs to fit into it. We see the effect by "watching the morning reruns of Father Knows Best, whose family was so simple in their routine." Soto believed that the show itself demonstrated the structure of an ideal family that he wanted to replicate. His family, compared to those in the TV series, was messy and disoriented; while the white families on screen seemed to be in a better place that could be considered utopian. He persisted in changing his closest relatives when he noticed habits they would have on a daily basis. “The first step was getting my brother and sister to wear shoes to dinner.” Small changes in their routine led him to believe that his family could eventually be more like the Andersons. The feeling of belonging was not easy, and at times he felt like an outsider. In this case, it made Soto want to be part of a new culture by slowly transforming into it. Soto was attracted to the family on television, so he tried to fit into a different lifestyle by slowly starting to do what they wanted. This will later influence his family and make them understand that by doing so, they will change for the better. This idea came from societal pressure, he felt he had to abandon his culture and traditions to succeed in America and be like everyone else. Through the use of pathos, Soto's values are changed to think as an American and his goal is to become a white boy in a Caucasian home. Everyone has a different idea of what an American really is, but this narrative expresses that the public should not be pushed to become something they are not. Soto was not born rich, his family came from a lower income, but he quickly created a mentality where being rich leads to success and a better life. Knowing the..