5/16 Said Orientalism Film & Shah

         While reading this week’s article about Laotian daughters, I recognized several connections between the experiences of second-generation Laotian women and myself, a second-generation Filipino daughter. The article primarily focuses on these Laotian women dealing with “dual identities, loyalties, and feelings of belonging” among the two cultures of their Laos heritage and American culture. The reading points out that although they don’t directly engage in traditional ceremonies or celebrations, they are still surrounded by “ethnic networks that reinforced the original culture and its values on a daily basis.” Similar to this, I don’t participate in Filipino celebrations or watch Filipino TV, but I am nonetheless surrounded by the teachings and values that my parents and grandparent raise me by at home. The highly pressuring role of the “ideal” Laotian daughter is both similar and different to that of the “ideal” Filipino daughter. I’ve recognized first hand gender inequity within the family with my older brother. My parents allow him to go on road trips across California and stay out late, whereas I’m typically at home studying or given a curfew. Additionally, Laotian women are expected to have a continued “loyalty, interdependence, and cooperation” with their families.  For Filipinos, it’s important to regularly practice our faith in God, therefore I regularly attend church with my parents; my brother, however, doesn’t. A difference I recognized between the two ideal images of both cultures is that for Laotians, fulfilling parental expectations will be beneficial in the long run for marriage purposes and becoming an acceptable potential daughter-in-law in the community. For Filipinos, however, fulfilling these expectations are meant to be beneficial for my own self in the long  run by teaching us early on how to be independent, able to provide for ourselves, and not have to rely on others to build my success.

         Edward Said's film elaborated on the notion of Orientalism. Said first thought of the concept when he recognized the differences between his Arab upbringing and how Arabs are written about in novels. This made him feel that the representations of the Orient had little background to what he personally knew from his own life. In regards to American Orientalism, considering the U.S. didn't directly occupy parts of the Middle East, it is more based on "abstractions" and is highly politicized by the presence of Israel, its main ally. Orientalism today places a highly negative connotation on Islam culture and Arabs themselves. I think since 1996, this violent and mysterious image of Arabs has gotten mildly worse in today's popular culture.