Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe Essay - 1172 Words

Just like Us by Helen Thorpe was on systematic study of four young Mexican women growing up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado with two of the women living in the country as legal residents and the other two living as undocumented. The definition of sociology is defined as â€Å"the systematic study behavior and human groups.† (Scheuble, 2014). Thus definition and can be directly applied the Thorpe’s novel and specifically to the illegal immigrant status of the girls. Throughout her novel she explores situations and problems that occur in America specifically relating to illegal immigrants. For example Thorpe goes on to write about how Yadira was forced into purchasing a fake social security card through the black market. After Raà ºl Gà ³mez†¦show more content†¦Marisela fell under this category of youths that could not further themselves and their education due to their illegal status. Marisela had been a victim of being a proletariat since she did not have legal status and was struggling to become a citizen which would characterize her as bourgeoisie. Furthermore, when Marisela went off to college to the University of Denver she meets a boy named Luke who happens to have strong opinions on the subject of immigration. Luke felt that the United States would be better off if somebody could stop illegal immigrants from pouring across the southern border. He stated that the reason the country was poor was due to illegal immigrants taking all of the jobs and that the government should secure its borders and block new people from coming in as well as have the immigrants who are already here make a stronger effort to get legalized. (Thorpe, 2009 p. 118). Luke was coming from the point of a bourgeoisie, someone who has had no problems of experiencing what it was like to struggle to afford to be in the country or experience what it was like to live in the country with no papers. Coming from the side of the proletariat, Marisela tried to explai n to Luke the difficulties of retrieving papers as well as the hardships that many illegal immigrants face living in the United States. In Just Like Us the sociological concept of alienation is highlighted during a conversation between Helen Thorpe andShow MoreRelatedJust Like Us1218 Words   |  5 PagesArgumentative Essay about Helen Thorpe’s Just Like Us Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe is â€Å"The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America.† The story revolves around four high school students; Marisela who is a gaudy, driven, dramatic girl who wears â€Å"twice as much makeup as anybody else in her circle.†(8) Yadira who is a strong and reserved girl who â€Å"never gave away anything important with her facial expressions.†(8) Elissa is a star athlete and Clara usually dresses like a tomboy. They areRead MoreEssay on Just Like Us2068 Words   |  9 PagesCynthia Camacho Vindrola Steven Mayers English 1A 06/09/2013 Just Like Us The immigration problem in America has been dividing the document and undocumented people, in the book Just Like Us, by Helen Thorpe, she tells the story of four Mexican – American girls who live in Denver Colorado. Marisela and Yadira, were born in Mexico and are undocumented while Clara was born in Mexico too it is a permanent resident, and Elissa is a U.S citizen. They are best friend and their relationship it is notRead MoreBernie Sanders : A Strong, Democratic Standpoint?1210 Words   |  5 Pagesaddressed by Bernie’s plan. In the book, Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe, the author follows the lives of 4 young Latinos, two of which were legal, and the other two illegal. The book goes through their everyday issues, and their immigration issues. A girl named Yadira was illegal, and so was her mom. Her mom was using a false identity, and got caught and sent back to Mexico. When she left, Yadira’s younger sister lived with her, alone in an apartment. Helen talks abo ut how this tore the family apartRead MoreA Strong, Democratic Stand Point, By Bernie Sanders1212 Words   |  5 Pagesaddressed by Bernie’s plan. In the book, Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe, the author follows the lives of 4 young Latinos, two of which were legal, and the other two illegal. The book goes through their everyday issues, and their immigration issues. A girl named Yadira was illegal, and so was her mom. Her mom was using a false identity, and got caught and sent back to Mexico. When she left, Yadira’s younger sister lived with her, alone in an apartment. Helen talks about how this tore the family apartRead MoreIs Bernie Sanders A Better Opportunity For All People?1308 Words   |  6 Pagescountry illegally. Sanders stands for equality for all Americans, not only the ones with papers. This candidate stands for an America that takes pride in caring for thy neighbor and being a haven for the oppressed. Bernie Sanders stands with us, not against us. Currently in the United States, there are eleven million undocumented people living here. â€Å"4.1 million† (Undocumented Americans.) of these immigrants have grown up here and considered themselves Americans. They believe in the American dream