Running head: APPEARANCES

Munoz 1

Raquel Munoz
May 30, 2015

HD 361
Social and Political Contexts of Human Development
Cheryl Greer Jarman

Appearances

APPEARANCES

Munoz 2
Appearance

Personal appearances reflect the way people perceive you. Base on the way you look, for
instance your nationality, religion, gender, socio-economic status, disability, make- up, dressed,
tattoos, hair, height and weight, people tend to judge before getting to know you. There has been
several occasions where I have felt different, judged or in secured about myself.
I am always told that I look Filipina or Hawaiian. Few years ago as I started a new job as
a co-teacher, I was approached by another teacher from the same class that happen to be Filipina.
She was very excited that I also was Filipina or at least she assumed I was. In the morning, as a
started to work, she was very helpful, polite, and her attitude was welcoming towards me. By
lunch, when the children were taking a nap, she started to talk to me in Tagalog. I had no idea
what she was saying. I told her that I wasnt Filipina. Right after, I saw and felt her attitude
change towards me. I, also felt disappointed that I disappointed her. The environment was
different. Other situations have also happen where if Im wearing make-up and dressed like if
Im going to dinner at a nice restaurant, people automatically speak to me in English. When I
have no make-up and Im dressed down, and Im at the market or the mall the employees or
cashiers automatically assume I dont know any English. There has been times where I answer
the cashiers in English and they have apologized or once they know, that I know English, they
continued to finish the transaction in English.
I feel I have used my appearance to my advantage as I know two languages (English/
Spanish) and it has help me along the way. Media does play a big role in society as to how
people perceive the world. Through the news, we are able to see what happens around the world
but at the same time news reporters report only what they want to show or talk about. They

APPEARANCES

Munoz 3

report what will make high ratings and will add more to the story. Which will make the viewers
judge the situations. To me, television shows played a major role growing up. Watching The
Brady Bunch Home Improvement and other American shows. I perceive that American
families were perfect not having problems and having money. Now a days, media is
everywhere, from television, bill boards, radio, phones, tablets, and iPads.