Short stories
What factors influence how individuals are perceived as different within a community, and how does society respond to differences?
What factors influence how individuals are perceived as different within a community, and how does society respond to differences?
Choose at least one of the short stories/excerpts below to read. Located at the bottom of the page is a supplemental activity you can use to take notes as you read.
A mother-daughter story exploring the clash of immigrant and American values. It raises questions about expectations, identity, and the complex dynamics within family relationships, especially around cultural differences.
This coming-of-age story reflects on how two young Mexican-American boys view the world as they transition from childhood to adolescence, examining themes of cultural identity, change, and the inevitability of growing up
This dystopian short story explores the dangers of government overreach and the suppression of individuality. The story is set in 2081, where the government has enacted laws to ensure that all Americans are equal in every way. This story satirizes the concept of enforced equality, raising questions about individuality, perception, and societal responses to difference.
This story is a mother’s monologue to her daughter, laying out societal expectations and addressing cultural differences in gender roles and identity formation.
In Terry Bisson's clever short story They’re Made out of Meat, two beings grapple with a baffling discovery. Through sharp, humorous dialogue, Bisson explores themes of perception, bias, and the absurdity of dismissing the unfamiliar. How would you react if your whole existence was dismissed as too strange to be real?
"Make a copy" of the following activity and use to takes notes over the short stories you read.