The pressure to obey the expectations of family roles causes a conflicted sense of self between the two young protagonists. Within Tillie Olsen's “I Stand Here Ironing,” the clarity of Emily's self-image is greatly hindered by her expectation to conform to her mother's forced parental responsibilities. As Emily's mother describes her daughter's obligatory role of cleaning, shopping, and making lunch, she further insinuates Emily's internal conflict when she states, “she had to help me be a mother… she was lost, she was a drop ; suffering from unpreparedness, stammering and unsure of his abilities.” It is evident that Emily's forced obedience to her mother's expectations contributes to the dismantling of her sense of self, as she is forced to adopt her mother's temperament and abandon the identity she once barely possessed. Likewise, as Emily begins to embrace her expected family role, she develops emotions of discomfort and overwhelming confusion, which stimulate opposition between her individual and maternal identities. Within Amy Tan's "Two Kinds," Jing-mei's sense of self is challenged by her mother's expectations of possessing an obedient daughter rather than a self-governing daughter. Jing-mei's conflicted sense of self is exemplified at its height when she exclaims to her mother, "I wish I wasn't your daughter, I wish you weren't my mother." Here, Jing-mei expresses her desire to pursue her own lifestyle and make unique decisions. However, after this statement, she meekly notes that: "She got scared by saying these things." In this moment, Jing-mei's conflicted sense of self is explicit, as she longs to be her authentic self while grappling with her mother's fatal disapproval. Overall, it is evident that the pressure to fulfill family roles causes a conflicted sense of self and hints at the catastrophic impact of conformity among young people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The pressure to conform to beauty and body expectations incites a conflicted sense of self among young people. In “I Stand Here Ironing,” Emily's self-image is challenged by her desire to conform to her personal standard of ideal beauty. The protagonist's distressed sense of self is further portrayed when her mother describes Emily's jealousy of auburn-haired girls, stating that "She tormented herself enough that she wasn't like the others." Because Emily is forced to look different, she is conflicted between the body she desires and the body she is imprisoned in, initiating a conflicted sense of self and perception of body image. Later, in "Two Kinds", Jing-mei's sense of self is hindered by her mother's expectations and perceptions of female beauty in America. When Jing-mei's mother attempts to conform her daughter's appearance to the apparent standards of Western culture at a beauty training school, Jing-mei's conflict with herself intensifies, noting that her mother "complained" about her his daughter's somatic resemblance to a "Negro Chinese". Furthermore, Jing-mei's contrasting sense of beauty reaches its peak when she states that she "understood that her reflection would always be this ordinary face... such a sad, ugly girl." Here, Jing-mei's conflicted sense of self is evident, as she aspires to conform to her mother's standard of beauty while understanding her inability to do so. In conclusion, it is clear that the pressure to conform to one's own and Western society's expectations of beauty has important repercussions.