Stereotypes In Citizen 13360

Race, ethnicity, and gender roles are classified as socially constructed identities rather than biological categories. These are well shown in the "Citizen 13360" by Miné Okubo and "Sultana's Dream" by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain. In “Citizen 13360,” Japanese Americans were viewed as threats simply based on their appearance and as a result, subjected them to internment camps. There is no such thing as a pure race except when there has been no racial migration. Today's race is more determined by borders, continents, and even by appearance, which are all a social construct in our society. Racial identity can be fluid just as shown in “Citizen 13360” that Japanese Americans identify as American; however, others are still classified as Japanese. In

Upon hearing that Japan had attacked the United States, Okubo was certain that there would be racism and backlash against Japanese Americans. Okubo states, “Then on December 7, 1941, while my brother and I were having late breakfast I turned on the radio and heard the flash—“Pearl Harbor bombed by the Japanese!” We were shocked. We wondered what this would mean to us and the other people of Japanese descent in the United States” (Okubo 8). The belief that people of Japanese descent were a threat to national security was based on stereotypes and prejudices. Racial identities are fluid and complex that these Japanese Americans could change their identities from Japanese to American over time; however, they are still viewed as Japanese, at a time of conflict. The attack on Pearl Harbor certainly led to the internment of Japanese Americans and this can be seen as a result of the social construction of race and the perception of Japanese Americans as a threat to national

In Ladyland, women use their brain, invested in education and scientific technologies to survive and keep their land successful. The queen of Ladyland states, “If you cannot save your country for lack of physical strength, said the Queen, try to do so by brain power” (Hossain 13). By shifting the focus from physical strength to intellectual thinking, the women could successfully operate their Ladyland. The typical gender role and discrimination are only formed by society and cultural norms. Because it is formed socially, it can be fluid and go beyond