Appearance-Based Discrimination In David Kirby's 'Inked...

Have you ever been in a situation where you have been looked at differently because of your appearance or stereotypes attached to your appearance? Appearance-based discrimination has a vast influence on many aspects of life and can impede the lives of countless people. Appearance-based discrimination can be based on countless factors such as race, ethnicity, social standing, beliefs, and experiences. These topics are discussed in Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and, me” as he talks about his experience with appearance-based discrimination and how he overcame it and tries to help others overcome it as well. In David Kirby’s “Inked Well,” he talks about tattoos, the background and the beauty behind them, how they allow people to express themselves, …show more content…
Being labeled as a dangerous person and being widely feared and ridiculed just because you refuse to succumb to a stereotype placed on you because of your appearance can be a very difficult thing to overcome especially when the same people around you who are also being stereotyped fear you and ridicule you for trying to be more than what society and outsiders allow you to be is quite the challenge. These types of stereotypes and discrimination can make it exceedingly difficult for an individual or community to overcome them. The impact these stereotypes have is detrimental as it shows how devastating it can be to a community and when someone tries to overcome it, how the same community tries to bring you back down to what they consider normal. Contrary to popular belief, breaking away from stereotypes can be a challenging task to complete as they persist in a person's life in many ways. Stereotypes come in many forms and may affect a person's life in diverse ways hence why breaking away from and above the stereotypes can be a challenging task for many people as they have grown accustomed to …show more content…
These are examples of how stereotypes can be persistent due to the environment and circumstances around them. Another example of how breaking away from stereotypes can be difficult due to how persistent they are. David Kirby points out “it is OK for a Pacific Islander to cover himself and all his possessions with ink and carvings, whereas "a modern person [i.e., a European] who tattoos himself is either a criminal or a degenerate.... People with tattoos not in prison are either latent criminals or degenerate aristocrats” (692). This is a clear-cut example of how stereotypes can be persistent as the author elaborates how it is okay for a Pacific islander to cover themselves in tattoos as it is a part of their culture, but when a modern person wants to cover themselves in tattoos as a form of expression or culture, they are seen as criminal or degenerate. Being labeled as a criminal degenerate aristocrat for simply having tattoos is a very persistent stereotype with all types of people suffering from it. Breaking out of stereotypes can be one of the most challenging things to do, especially in different

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Appearance-Based Discrimination In David Kirby's 'Inked Well'

Discrimination In David Kirby's Inked Well

Appearance-Based Discrimination In David Kirby's 'Inked Well'

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Discrimination In David Kirby's Inked Well