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  • Essay / Money Boy by Paul Yee: The Issue of Sexuality and Sexual Preferences

    Sexuality and sexual preferences have been a touchy subject from the past to the present. Accepting the choices and opinions of individuals in society has not been the best solution in various parts of the world, including America. Laws are being passed to help bring true equality to the LGBT community. Even if progress is made, individuals still face negative reactions from family, colleagues and society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In Money Boy, written by Paul Yee, Yee explores Ray Liu, a young teenage Chinese immigrant who tries to fit in while internally struggling with his homosexuality. . In this novel, Ray Liu faces difficult decisions while trying to appease his father and find his place in society. Ray Liu, an immigrant, finds his way to escape through an online computer game that allows him to feel normal. Liu's military father doesn't like video games very much and thinks they're a waste of time. While exploring Ray Liu's computer, he discovers gay male websites that inappropriately anger him and throw his son out on the street. Without much time to discuss what or why he watches such content, Ray Liu must survive on his own and find his true identity. Money Boy addresses a trending topic that children are wondering about from a very young age and which leaves parents distraught and blindsided. The book covers many intense situations such as theft, hunger, sexual content and displacement of family members which make it authentic. After finishing the novel, I think it would be a good choice for 12th graders to read it to better understand homosexual desires and struggles. As a parent, you have a vision of how you would like your son or daughter to develop. You want them to not feel pain or sadness and not make the same mistakes you made as a teenager. When a parent discovers something that is different from their vision, they are filled with mixed emotions such as disappointment, sadness, or rage. The way we behave can do wonders for our children. When Ba discovers the websites his son visits, the reader can see the disappointment and failure a parent feels: “Now you want to be gay. What should I think? Your grandfather was right. I'm a failure. I should have used more traveling to raise you. Now it's too late. “The text presents a scenario that prohibits adolescents from potentially wanting to come out or even discussing the possibility that they have a different sexual preference. Reading Money Boy provides insight for readers who don't understand the internal struggles and fear that teenagers face when faced with secrets of this magnitude. Throughout the adventures of Money Boy and Ray Liu, readers will gain knowledge about the difficulties faced by individuals like Ray's character. When individuals are confronted with societal norms, fear of many consequences causes them to question their thoughts. Readers can see this as they read as Ray is robbed, befriended, and faced with the difficult decision to become a "money boy" in order to survive. Yee does a solid job of allowing the reader to see the negative reactions that come with pursuing one's desires. Ray struggles to find culture and family acceptance in a world that doesn't understand or share his..