From: Jessica
The photograph speaks a million words, through faces/senses, background and symbolism. My bestfriend had her quince on March 16th 2024. Growing up she never liked wearing girly clothes or makeup. Her mother constantly reminded her that her gender role was to be pretty everyday and presentable in order to find her future husband. In my culture our quince is very important, it resembles us becoming women and opening a future to a beautiful mother or housewife. In mexico it shows that the female is now available for marriage. In the picture my bestfriends smile looks forced, her parents are happier than ever but deepdown she feels uncomfortable. The background in the picture was meant to show that they are now living in paradise because their daughter is now a woman and can start the future they dreamed of her having. Her dream is to go to college and travel the world, but unfortunately our culture wants a mother who can cook and look after their kids.
4 comments:
From: Jasmine
I think the message here is pretty powerful. The expectations forced upon the child by the parents and other major adult figures in one’s life can drastically affect one’s self and being. The smile forced, showing the clear disdain for the event at hand, of the makeup and dress and all these things that aren’t her. The mother smiles, for they have gotten what they wanted. The cycle repeats itself, and another generation is groomed to repeat the traditions of their forefathers before them. The father’s face I find conflicted, though the event may just be awkward for him as the event is mainly a feminine occurrence. But it could also hide some feeling of regret, maybe knowing that it isn’t what the daughter wants, or maybe that something at the party has gone wrong in his eyes, or any other manner of things. What matters is that just these three faces show a wide range of emotions and responses to the event, and it shows the nuance that can be held. The drive to break one's chains can be broken, and hearts can be crushed. I hope that this woman follows her dreams, goes to college, and explores the world as she wishes to do. One’s dreams should not be destroyed because of the wants of society and the mother, and the drive that carries people onwards should always remain in one’s heart. The pressure from her mother way be immense, to find a man and be a ‘woman’, and I hope that instead she chooses her own path to her own future.
Your message reached me but I wish it could reach society. Throughout life I’ve been taught that men should be stronger both mentally and physically. Without even knowing I was already falling into gender roles and believing that a man will always automatically be more capable of things than I was. When I saw your photo and the true meaning behind it I felt ashamed of what my mentality was. I realized that the word “men” had nothing to do with how you should act or appear, it’s just a word that society has attached rules to. Who am I to say men can’t cry and feel all these emotions just like I do. And the worst part is that even some men believe that they aren’t entitled to having emotions, specifically sad ones. I wish the world was nicer to not only you but also every man out there that believes their weak or fragile because of what society says. I want to finish my comment by also thanking you for sharing something deep with the class and I’m sure it's not easy to talk about a loved one passing away.
This picture really does speak a thousand words. Not only does this show how women very rarely have an actual say in how their life goes, but how women are seen as nothing more than a gift for a man. Just the act of a woman/girl being expected to dress up, wear extravagant clothes and completely change themselves to be presented as “ready for a man” shows that society literally views women as a present; wrapped up with a pretty bow to hide the greatness underneath. As women, we are constantly trying to prove ourselves as ‘worthy”, but worthy of what? Life with a man who only wants us for how we present ourselves?
She does look beautiful, though!
-Ava
As a Latina, it is heartbreaking to see, firsthand, how deeply sucked in we are in these societal and cultural ideals, even in today's world. Despite significant changes, cultural traditions continue to serve as the framework for our lives. The image of your friend at her quinceañera, dressed in the perfect dress, makeup, and tiara, highlights the great pressure to conform to a certain image of femininity that aligns with societal and cultural expectations. Despite the outward appearance of celebration and happiness, there is a recognizable sense of inner conflict, as shown by the forced smile, which shows the push-and-pull between fulfilling cultural norms and pursuing personal dreams. While her mother appears happy, having once been in her position and now passing the torch to her daughter, there is a natural struggle between tradition and individuality. These traditions seem to continue as women forget about their past emotions relating to this period. The choice of a tropical backdrop for the celebration may seem peaceful, but it symbolizes the contrast between societal and personal expectations. Although not pointed out, I see a trend with many quinceañera's attire, often being a light color symbolizing innocence, further upholding societal norms that prioritize purity, despite the celebration marking the transition into womanhood at the age of 15. Latina women are ingrained with the belief that they should aspire to be caretakers, wives, and mothers, sacrificing their own wants for the sake of tradition. Despite her discomfort with makeup and "girly" clothes, she must conform with tradition to be ‘perfect’. The pressure to follow ideals often leads to a loss of personal identity, as individuals feel compelled to obey societal/cultural expectations rather than express their true selves. Really good job with this!!
From: Connie
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