Research Paper on "Personal Agency Through Several Readings"

Research Paper 6 pages (2482 words) Sources: 6 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Personal Agency: The Importance of Having a Multifaceted Identity

To me, it is critical to have a multifaceted identity, instead of one that has been inculcated into me by my family and surrounding society, because I want to be more than the person I was raised to be. I am an immigrant from Mexico, and, to many Americans that identity suggests that I am a disadvantaged member of a lower socioeconomic class. However, I did not come to the United States as a poor immigrant. On the contrary, I grew up in a relatively affluent family, which shared the prevailing social fixation on business. Mexican society perpetuates the notion that wealth is deserved. While it is ostensibly a capitalistic society, it is much more closed system of capitalism than exists in countries with a true middle class, such as the United States. There is very little opportunity for people to change socioeconomic classes. The result is a de facto caste system, where the notion that those who are in the lower socioeconomic class are there because they are somehow less deserving than people in higher socioeconomic groups. This results in a social stratification whereby it becomes socially acceptable to treat people who have less money as less deserving. Although, I, personally, was privileged in terms of wealth and social status, I was very uncomfortable being rewarded for what was, essentially, a happy coincidence of my birth. I disagreed with the notion that a person should be limited by the identity that society confers upon him, even if this disagreement required me to remove myself from a life of privilege and move to a place where I would be judged by my own accomplishments, instead of on the wealth and social status that my

Continue scrolling to

download full paper ⤓

family had accomplished.

As a Mexican immigrant to the United States, I found myself confronted by a number of stereotypes about who I was and my cultural background. People see me and hear me speak and they make assumptions about me that are not warranted and do not reflect my own personal history. "When we shift our attention from the notion of being identical to oneself to that of sharing an identity with others of a particular group (which is the form the idea of social identity very often takes), the complexity increases further" (a. Sen, p.xii). While it is complex, I must acknowledge that these assumptions have helped shape the person that I am. I found myself understanding much of what Barack Obama had to say in Dreams from My Father. Obama is a mixed-race man who grew up in the United States, which makes him a Black man to most people who encounter him. However, to suggest that his cultural background is African-American is a very myopic view of him. He grew up in a white household, raised by a white mother and white grandparents. Moreover, he spent a significant amount of time overseas, raised by a stepfather who was also a foreign national, though Obama did not spend significant time with his own African father when he was a child. His cultural background and identity were not what people assumed when they looked at him, just as my own cultural background and identity are not what people assume when they look at me. However, this presumed identity; the identity conferred by the surrounding culture, becomes a part of who a person is. Obama describes his father being insulted by a white man, who refused to drink next to a Black man, a concept that has very literal cultural relevancy to a person from Nairobi, but the incident still impacted Obama's father's life (Obama, p.11). Likewise, though Obama's African ancestry was not linked through the slave trade and hundreds of years of racial oppression, his skin color continues to make him a target for racism. It would be fruitless for him to deny this part of him or protest the fact that society's perception of him has impacted its treatment of him.

Likewise, it would be pointless for me to differentiate myself from other Mexican immigrants by trying to point out that I come from an educated and wealthy family. Not only would it be pointless, but it would reinforce the very same rigid social class structure that I was eager to escape when I left Mexico and came to America. I may not have understood the extent of the racial prejudice that exists in the United States and how it impacts the perception of any person who is perceived as too brown to be a mainstream American, but I do understand that protesting that I am somehow different from anyone who shares some of my cultural and racial heritage is not the way to combat these prejudices; the real way is to directly challenge those prejudices.

I grew up learning that it was perfectly acceptable to treat people who are in the lower socioeconomic classes poorly. In fact, I would say that I grew up learning that it was okay to treat those people abusively and exploit them. That my wealth and comfort was contingent upon another person's discomfort and economic subjugation was not a matter of shame, but something that was deemed perfectly acceptable. I want to challenge that prejudice. Mexico already has capitalism, but its current capitalistic system is designed to help maintain the current socioeconomic structure rather than give opportunities to the working class so that they can better themselves.

I cannot help but think about Sen's discussion of the workers at the back of the house and how they helped usher in a major change in how restaurants were operated in New York City. Many of these workers were undocumented people with much more at stake than the predominantly white servers who worked in the front of the house at these restaurants. Therefore, when they were asked to organize, the perception was that they might not do so in an effective manner. However, the reality was that "given the chance to speak, the people at the bottom did so loudest and longest" (R. Sen, p.43). After all, these people had already demonstrated an incredible resolve by leaving their homes in a search for a better life. As a result, it should not have been a surprise that they demonstrated a commitment to the idea of hard work and a resistance to allowing their labor to be used solely for the benefit of others. However, even in the United States, the assumption was that, as members of the lower class, they would be more willing to accept abusive behavior.

The fact that many of these workers come from countries, like my own home country, where it is a routine practice for the wealthy to exploit the working class, makes me hopeful that those at the bottom in those countries will seize opportunities to change their working conditions if they are given the chance to do so. My goal in coming to the United States has been to learn critical information about entrepreneurship, so that I can return back to Mexico and introduce some of these ideas to people in the working class. I hope to challenge the social norms that reinforce existing social stratification by economic class. The immigrants who challenged the abusive practices in the restaurant industry realized that, as individuals, they had relatively little power. "All of this, however, starts with the process of organizing the people most affected by the industry's abuses, not just to change individual conditions but to adopt new practices and make new policy" (R. Sen, p.45). Just like in America, in Mexico, those in power have a vested interest in maintaining that power, and the desire to keep that power imbalance leads to willingness to abuse power.

I have to admit that I am not immune to the pull of that power. In many ways, I identified with some of the representations of the prostitutes in India. I would suggest that I was addicted to my carefree lifestyle, the ability to have a siesta on occasion, and allow time to solve my problems, in much the same way that prostitutes in India are addicted to methamphetamines. Like them, I was introduced to the corrosive impact of my culture when I was too young to really appreciate the negative impact of that cultural attitude. I had to leave Mexico in order to find people who had larger goals and were not content to simply live in a day-to-day, pampered manner. That does not mean that I think that no one in Mexico has greater goals, but simply that I was surrounded with people, like myself, who did not necessarily even understand why someone would want to have a greater goal. To me, my flight from Mexico was similar to the prostitutes feeling Indian brothels and trying to end their meth addiction. In "Rescuing Girls is the Easy Part" Kristof and WuDonn describe how the prostitute Momm attempted to leave her life in the brothel. "Momm… READ MORE

Download Full Paper

Write a New Paper for Me

Quoted Instructions for "Personal Agency Through Several Readings" Assignment:

“

This paper is my final paper for the class so please do your best!

The following are the instructions for the essay.

The title of the course is *****Human Agency and Community in a Globalizing World.***** Ben Barber*****s argument about the twin processes of *****Jihad***** and *****McWorld***** and Amaratya Sen*****s argument about identity and violence encapsulate many insights into the processes and meanings of globalization, while many works from this semester explore how individuals and communities are impacted by, resist, are responsible for, and/or seek to shape these processes.

Write a paper in which you draw on Barber and Sen (both must be cited at least once) to make an interesting and compelling argument about people in a changing world. You should use three additional works from the second half of the semester and no more than one of the three can be a film; WITH PRIOR APPROVAL, you may use one work from the first half of the semester, but you must present a compelling argument to me first.

Option 2 ***** In Dreams from My Father, Obama recognizes how he is shaped by his family and how he feels constrained by his racial identity; Amartya Sen similarly reminds us *****that everyone is someone else.***** At the same time, Obama speaks of the ability to recreate oneself and declares *****my identity might begin with the fact of race, but it didn*****t, couldn*****t end there***** (111).

Write about the ways you have been shaped by your family, feel constrained by social norms, and try to recreate yourself. As in the previous question, you may want to focus on issues of gender, economic behaviors and beliefs, family dynamics, or racial, ethnic, or religious identity. Don*****t forget that the course texts are important. The course texts should be used not just as quick comparisons and fleeting allusions, but to delve deeply into issues of agency (or lack of agency) about creating oneself, the power of social norms, the decision-making over whether to step forward, etc.

Your paper should be about six pages, although you are welcome to use more. A good essay will be insightful, well-organized, tightly argued, narrowly focused, and demonstrate a strong grasp of the material.

A bad essay states the obvious, is really vague, has paragraphs that go on for pages, and reads like you stayed up late the night before it was due writing it.

Papers must be e-mailed to me by 4 pm on May 3.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So my take on this prompt is this.

Using the readings we've discussed in class (which I will email to you after finishing the order) explain how you believe in having a multifaceted identity (sen) instead of just one that's inculcated into us by our family or society.

I already began writing the essay and so below I will copy down my notes and thoughts in which I further explain myself. I also already have some quotes chosen, and my ideas of why I chose them, that you should use.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intro-

Talk about Mexico*****s social fixations on business

Reflecting on Obama*****s thoughts in *****Father whatever***** I also disagree that a person should be limited by one identity presdisposed to him.

Alike Obama, I also grew up in a society that has a firm culture with constraining social norms, religious

Body-

Americans value hard work in life. I guess that that*****s what illegal immigrants come to the United States for, an opportunity to better themselves and start from nothing. (front and back of the house) *****All of this, however, starts with the process of organizing the people most affected by the industry*****s abuses, not just to change individual conditions but to adopt new practices and make new policy.***** (Sen 45) This quote illustrates the mentality of the Americans and their caring towards rights and opportunities for the most affected. In Mexico the people who have power and are generally on *****top***** want to maintain it that way. People with power will abuse it in order to gain more and push the rest of the people aside. (Back of the House, Front of the House)

Prostitutes in India are addicted to meth like I was addicted to the easy going culture of having a siesta here and there, letting time solve our issues and not push ourselves. I had to leave Mexico in order to find people, not generalizing of course, with larger goals than their next day. I had to leave Mexico like the prostitutes in India fled the brothels and their addiction to meth for something better. *****Momm wanted to leave the brothel. Bernie Krisher of American Assistance for Cambodia set her up in Phnom Penh twice more, but each time she ran away after a few days, desperate to get back to her meth supply.***** (Kristof 39) (Rescuing Girls Is the Easy Part)

*****Ancient social structures are collapsing under the weight of new money. Bonds of caste and religion and family have frayed; the panchayats, village assemblies made up of elders, have lost their traditional authority.***** (Kapur 2) This quote talks about the rapidly changing India of the 21st century. India*****s markets opened to the United States***** capitalism in the 90*****s inviting many investors and huge companies to a brand new consumer base. India*****s economy grew quickly and allowed people to have steadier jobs and finances. Money was an incredibly important factor to the tearing down of walls in between socioeconomic classes. Money and business served as an equalizer and brought opportunities to the poor. (How India Became America)

Using the reading Identity And Violence by Amartya Sen talk about how when people create casts and discriminate a group of people or classify them as a certain way, it only evokes more violence since groups will be polarized and have opposing ideologies. For these reason I believe that allowing your identity to be composed of more than one background is best. Through living in the United States instead of Mexico I understood the importance of hard work and self-value which changed the ideology previously inculcated in me by the Mexican Society and their norms. I believe that by bringing back capitalism and globalization into Mexico, we will break down the walls that divide socioeconomic classes. New businesses and money will create equality as it did in India. More money for the people *****in the back of the house***** of Mexico will allow the poor people to become educated and better themselves. In exchange, the violence in Mexico might decrease dramatically as the poor people won*****t have the need to kill or work for crooked businesses in order to provide for their families. Less violence will elevate national stability and welcome international investors into Mexico as their faith would be restored, this is especially important to the touristic industry of Mexico. (Import quote from India*****s economy bettering after helping the poor here) I am willing to create this change in my country as I am not limited to what my society does and how they abuse the poor. I am an entrepreneur who seeks change and cares about social impact. I decide what my own identity is, and I will take it upon myself to teach this new ideology of being open with other*****s individual identifies in order to help our country grow. Change is sparked by one, but initiated at the bottom.

Body/Conclusion-

Studying in the United States and branching away from the social norms that I was taught in Mexico of abuse of others rights in return of personal financial growth I will develop as a person and create a more complete identity. I will return home and grant opportunities to the lower working class in order for the whole country to grow and prosper.

*****Capitalism, it turns out can achieve what charity and good intentions sometime cannot.***** (Annan 187) This quote talks about capitalism and microfinance helping women rights in India. In my personal case studying in the United States, I*****ve learned that creating business opportunities in third world countries helps out the people being abused and in economic despair. In Mexico, the reintroduction of fair and equal capitalism into our social norms will help the poor people and drug dealers, as it did the women in India. (Microcredit: The Financial Revolution)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So my logic in this is for you to start talking about me living in Mexico in a wealthy family and society. Explain how society has norms and fixations that make people fine with abusing the lower socioeconomic classes. Talk about how even though Mexico does have capitalism we don't give opportunities to the working classes to succeed and better themselves.

Then talk about how I agree with Sen and his views on a multifaceted identity and so I decided to study in Babson College in the United States. I learned entrepreneurship and the importance of hard work. Now I want to bring it back home with me in order to help out the country and economy as a whole by offering a more equal future to the poor.

Conclude with a more assertive answer of the prompt. Talk specifically about how I was impacted by my multifaceted identity. We need to remember that the purpose of the essay is to talk about how I have changed and not what I want to do with my self made identity.

F.Y.I

After each quote that I chose I wrote the title of the text in which I found it in between () so look for that in order to read more about the texts in relation to the quote.

I leave it up to you to choose the order of the texts and quotes that I chose above.

Finallly, you have to use all of the reading I'll list below, and send though email afterwards:

How India Became America

Microcredit: The Financial Revolution

Rescuing Girls Is the Easy Part

Back of the House, Front of the House

Jihad vs. McWorld

Identity And Violence

(The last two texts are the most important as they are the ones that carry the overall idea. You need to quote and cite each at least once. In my brainstorm/roughdraft above I already gave you four plausible quotes.)

This essay decides whether I pass or fail the course... GOOD LUCK! Thank You!

Roberto. *****

How to Reference "Personal Agency Through Several Readings" Research Paper in a Bibliography

“Personal Agency Through Several Readings.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2013, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116. Accessed 4 Jul 2024.

Personal Agency Through Several Readings (2013). Retrieved from https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116

A1-TermPaper.com. (2013). Personal Agency Through Several Readings. [online] Available at: https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116 [Accessed 4 Jul, 2024].

”Personal Agency Through Several Readings” 2013. A1-TermPaper.com. https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116.

”Personal Agency Through Several Readings” A1-TermPaper.com, Last modified 2024. https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116.

[1] ”Personal Agency Through Several Readings”, A1-TermPaper.com, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116. [Accessed: 4-Jul-2024].

1. Personal Agency Through Several Readings [Internet]. A1-TermPaper.com. 2013 [cited 4 July 2024]. Available from: https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116

1. Personal Agency Through Several Readings. A1-TermPaper.com. https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/personal-agency-importance/1774116. Published 2013. Accessed July 4, 2024.

Related Research Papers: