Sherman Alexie's Barbie-Q

Imagine living in a world without diversity, uniqueness, or hope. Everyone would have similar interest, no differences, and no social standards would be set. Unfortunately, in the world, we live in today discrimination exists, if a person who's not powerful or white tried being unique the society would bring down his hopes because he isn't like the normal person. In Sandra Cisneros's "Barbie-Q," and Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven," both of the authors write about the world with no diversity, hope, and role models. Both stories reflection of upper middle white class dominant control and exploit of the poor lower class. Cisneros and Alexie both needed role models because they both didn't see a way to improve

Barbie is rich, she wears the most expensive clothing and accessories. Barbie symbolizes the societies norm for the perfect women. Just by staring at the Barbie dolls you wouldn't see any negative imperfections. However, if we go far beyond the plastic we can reveal the wide phenomenon the world has of all the types of people in society as a whole. All the products that consumers buy can be used to establish self-identities and social relations. In "Barbie-Q," we get introduced to the two little girls and their Barbie's: "Yours is the one with mean eyes and a ponytail. Striped swimsuit, stilettos, sunglasses and gold hoop earrings. Mine is the one with bubble hair. Red swimsuit, stilettos, pearl earrings, and a wire stand." (Cisneros 285). It is very interesting when one of the two little girls' mentions that one of the Barbie's has "mean eyes,". In that little girl's observation, the reader wonders why would a young little girl thinks that way about a Barbie doll. This young child observation could mean she might have encountered an unpleasant experience with a Caucasian woman. In "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," Native Americans have been conquering under the white man through domination, betrayal, and false promises by the dominant rich white men which shaped the lifestyle of the Indian tribes. In the story, the narrator is the main

Hope is what kept the narrator from "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," from not giving up on his tribe and his life. The way the two little girls were describing the Barbie Dolls seems that they've been swamped with that image of a Caucasian, perfect woman who lives the perfect life with her boyfriend and her perfect friends. Since Barbie was made she's been always rich and stylish, everything about her and other dolls around her is perfect. Since the girls mentioned that their parents didn't have a lot of money, they were full of happiness when they found out that the flea market suppliers went through the damaged toys and collected merchandises. Especially when they found out that a lot of the Barbie's were being sold. The two little girls bought new Barbie's and more outfits, and they were willing to disregard the smoke damages and play with the dolls. When the two little girls bought the dolls that they were hoping to get. They did what many women couldn't do, which is to be satisfied with that you have, rather than what you don't have. The two little girls willing to disregard the melted parts and just enjoy the Barbie's the way they are, not the way they are not. What others attempt for years to comprehend, the two girls understood. Not all woman are perfect but they are still cherished and loved. Society as a whole needs to pass by the physical beauty and find