Discrimination and Imperialism

Discrimination is a huge part of our country's past. It hasn't limited itself soley to the color of one's skin. We have seen discrimination in the for of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and age. In "A White Woman of Color," by Julia Alvarez, readers are faced with the issue of dicrimination within the family. Julia writes in the second paragraph of her story, "I come next, with 'good hair,' and skin that back than was a deep olive, for I was a tomboy - another dark mark against me - who would not stay out of the sun" (page 1). She is referring to her sisters and their complexions. On her mom's side of the family, a whiter skin tone was preferred and even looked at in higher regards. After her family moved to New York in 1960, she explains ow immigrants were regarded by all the "bad" words in the English language. As her story continues, readers see Julia's character changing. She decides to integrate her new culture with her old. A famous line from the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, states, "Don't let the past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become." Julia learned to embrace her past and blend it with who she is today. An example of that is when she says, "I am choosing to color my Americanness with my Dominicanness even if it come in a light shade of skin color."

Imperialism is defined as a policy of extending the rule or authority through diplomacy or military force. In Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story, "The Yellow Wallpaper," John possesses a very imperialistic manner with is wife. She will ask him various questions and his answer is always no. An example is when she asks him to go visit cousins, "But he said I wasn't able to go, nor able to stand it after I got there..." (p. 113). John feels that because he is a doctor, he knows better than his wife about everything and has more authority over her. For example, "I am a doctor, dear, and I know... I feel really much easier about you" (p. 314). John does not listen to how his wife is feeling or what she is thinking, he assumes he knows what is better for her because of his degree and because he is superior to her.