Being An Outsider Analysis

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Human social interaction can be defined in many ways. The terms insider and outsider show the interactive and acceptance levels of human behavior and nature. But what defines someone as an insider or an outsider? How and why will a group accept an outsider and make them an into an insider? What makes a group decide that they no longer accept someone as an insider? After examining my personal experiences and reading other works such as, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “America and I” by Anzia Yezierska, I was able to configure my own definitions for the terms insider and outsider. There are many ways one could describe an insider or an outsider, based off of my views, being an insider or an outsider has all to do with how people …show more content…
In the beginning of 7th grade, I did not have many friends. The one I did have was apart of a group. One day, she introduced me to that group and I felt like an outsider. I did not know what to say to them or how to interact with them, things felt awkward. As time went on, I was able to connect with two other people in the group through our Albanian culture. Soon after, I started feeling like I was more of an insider. They were open and welcoming and brought me in. I was able to have conversation with them and felt comfortable sharing my secrets and they in turn shared theirs. The one girl from the original group is now my best friend, …show more content…
An insider is someone who conforms with the group. Having different viewpoints will make the person an outsider to that group and they will not be listened to. In order to become an insider, one must be of some use to the group. Once you are no longer needed you are thrown aside and become an outsider.
Anzia Yezierska demonstrates that without purpose you are not wanted and will not be taken in. At the start of her quest to become an insider to the Americans, Yezierska describes why they would not take her in: “Here I was with so much richness in me, but my mind was not wanted without language. And my body, unskilled, untrained, was not even wanted in the factory” (Yezierska 2). She has nothing to offer to the American people. Her lack of skills makes her undesirable and until she has something to offer people do not want her and will see her as an