EXPECTATIONS

Preface

The socio-political intent of my multi-text is to accentuate the capability external influences and societal expectations possess to dictate the perceptions of our identities, lives, and success. Factors from social media and the people around us shape the standards and norms we choose to enforce on ourselves. Through my multi-text, I spotlight an assortment of external influences, including helicopter parenting, hustle culture, the glass ceiling, and the model minority myth. The chosen elements are based on my personal experiences and will presumably resonate adequately with readers similar to my circumstances, generation, gender, and ethnicity. However, I hope all readers preserve an open mind and attempt to understand each character’s situation and how it impacts them.  

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I decided to use mirrors as my motif because there is a diverse selection of representations. Mirrors carry a double meaning where there is a positive and negative perspective. For example, it can showcase truth, self-reflection, and discovery. However, mirrors can amplify our insecurities and deteriorate how we regard ourselves. Listening to expectations and societal standards alters and skews how we perceive ourselves in the mirror. Nevertheless, if we learn to look beyond the opinions of those near us, we can self-reflect and uncover who we are, who we want to be, and how we want to live our lives.

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The texts explore the stories of four characters: Holly, Elisha, Alyssa, and Lorena. Each girl is at a distinct milestone in their life. The series starts in elementary school, then secondary school, followed by university, and finally, in the workplace. The stories are intentionally ordered from the youngest character to the oldest character. Reading in chronological order allows the readers to believe the four characters are the same individual growing up and experiencing the next challenge in life. Although they are separate characters, they experience some form of external factor from their parents, social media, or society that controls their dreams, objectives, and judgments. Gradually, they begin adopting external opinions and strive to become what is expected of them. 

To shift away from using only traditional mirrors in the series, a broad range of reflective objects are utilized throughout the six texts to enforce my motif. I used items including mirrors, phone screens, windows, glass, and tears. “Polishing” shows the mirror as Elisha’s phone screen. She scrolls through social media, which displays influencers being productive. Then, she notices herself relaxing in the reflection on the phone's glass screen. It is clear that social media pressures her to get up and start studying. The subsequent text, “Cracking,” has readers observe Elisha breaking away from her mother’s expectations and the strained relationship that follows. Essentially, my multi-text explores the impact and dangers external opinions have on each person. The ultimate goal for the characters is to heal and re-discover themselves. Thus, if you combine the first letter of each character’s name, the word, heal, is spelled out. 

The message I hope to leave with the readers is the importance of self-reflection and the consequences of always mirroring and following the expectations others have of us. Self-reflection allows us to determine whether our identity is truthfully ours or if it is a reflection of who society wants us to be. Therefore, practicing reflecting on our identities will help break the hold external influences have on our lives so that we can be authentic.