On top of the immense stress of striving to become a soloist, Hodges feels the added pressure of being a "model minority." "Fail to make the most of your opportunity, and all your family's sacrifice was for naught," she writes.
How does her experience as a Korean American shape her relationship with classical music? How do the internal pressures of her family and the external force of assimilation influence her identity?
6. How do culture and family pressures shape Hodges’s identity and musical journey?
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Our program is here to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment for all readers. To keep our community respectful and engaging, please follow these guidelines:
• Be kind and considerate to others.
• Stay on topic, keep discussions constructive, and use appropriate language.
• Trolling, spamming, harassment, or hate speech will not be tolerated.
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smkelly
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lanlynk
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Re: 6. How do culture and family pressures shape Hodges’s identity and musical journey?
The view that Asians have an affinity for classical music is a stereotype, almost a cliché. Since Hodges already felt pressure to honor her parents' sacrifices for her future success, this expectation about Koreans just added more stress. She longed to just be "American," yet still wanted to live up to her family heritage. Often it was difficult to merge the two desires/drives. She began to lose personal fulfillment and sense of self in this tug of war. Finally, Hodges had to make a choice in order to preserve her own wellbeing. As the old song goes, "You can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself."