Being an outsider can be tough because we all have a natural desire to feel like we belong somewhere. Belonging means feeling understood by both the individual and the group you’re trying to be a part of. If that back-and-forth fails, then exclusion happens, which isn’t great for anyone involved.
An individual can feel alienated in society when they don’t have a sense of belonging. This can be due to many reasons such as not feeling like you fit in, or feeling like you are an outsider because of your race, religion, or beliefs. Alienation can also occur when you are treated unfairly or differently from others. When this happens, it can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression.
There are many ways to cope with alienation. One way is to find or create a community that accepts you for who you are. Another way is to try to understand and empathize with those who don’t understand or accept you. Finally, you can also work on improving yourself so that you feel better about yourself and your place in society.
No matter what the cause of your alienation, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are others who feel the same way, and there are ways to cope with the feeling.
These ideas are demonstrated in Alex Buzo’s play “Norm and Ahmed” and in the poem “Kimberley” by Jackie Kay.
We oftensearch for a sense of belonging to place and when we do not find it, we are unfulfilled. In the play “Norm and Ahmed,” Ahmed is Indian and feels like an outsider in Australia because he doesn’t share Australian culture. This is clear from how he dressesin his traditional Nehru style suit compared to Norm’s typical male western clothing of open-necked white shirtand grey trousers. (Buzo, Norm and Ahmed, 1968, p. 1) This clothing represents the cultural divide between the two men.
Ahmed is also an outsider in terms of his occupation as a taxi driver. He is not part of the “white-collar” working class that is prevalent in Australia at the time. He is further alienated as he cannot find common ground with Norm, a white-collar worker. The two men are unable to connect with each other on a personal level as they come from such different backgrounds.
The idea of being an outsider and feeling alienated in society is also explored in Jackie Kay’s poem “Kimberley”. The poem is written from the perspective of a black girl living in Scotland who feels like she does not belong. The girl is “from the other side of the world” (Kay, Kimberley, 1995, p. 1) and feels out of place in her Scottish home. She is constantly reminded of her difference, which makes her feel alienated.
The poem explores the idea of race and how it can make someone feel like an outsider in their own country. The girl in the poem is made to feel like an outsider because of her skin colour. She is also isolated from her peers as they do not understand her experience. This feeling of being an outsider can be very isolating and lonely.
These texts explore the idea of being an outsider and feeling alienated in society. They show how this can lead to a sense of isolation and loneliness. They also highlight how important it is to feel like you belong somewhere.
By repeatedly saying “a visitor to this country”, Norm makes it clear to Ahmed that he is an outsider. In addition, he assumes that all South Asian people are Indian, which creates a stereotype of India being an uncivilized nation full of dangerous criminals.
In addition, Norm $ secretary make a number of negative comments about Ahmed’s culture and way of life. For example, they say that South Asians are “smelly” and have “bad teeth”. In contrast to the negative view of South Asians held by Norm and his colleagues, Ahmed is shown to be a hard-working, intelligent and successful man.
He is also shown to be more comfortable with Western culture than his own, as he is able to speak English fluently and has adopted Western dress. However, despite his success, Ahmed feels like an outsider in both cultures. In India, he is seen as someone who has betrayed his culture by adopting Western values. In the West, he is seen as a “dirty foreigner” who does not belong.
Ahmed is not the only character in the play who feels like an outsider. Sarah, Norm’s wife, is also shown to be an outsider in her own way. She is a woman living in a man’s world, and she is not able to fully participate in the world of business that her husband inhabits. She is also alienated from her own body, as she is uncomfortable with her physical appearance and she has difficulty achieving orgasm. Like Ahmed, Sarah feels like she does not belong anywhere.
The theme of alienation and exclusion is also explored through the character of John, Norm’s son. John is a university student who has dropped out of school and is living at home. He is aimless and directionless, and he feels like he does not fit in anywhere. He is constantly searching for something to believe in, but he can never find anything that truly satisfies him. John’s alienation from society leads him to experiment with drugs, and he eventually becomes addicted to cocaine.
The play ends with a monologue by Ahmed, in which he reflects on his experiences as an outsider in both India and the West. He talks about how he has always felt like he is “straddling two cultures”, and how he has never really belonged to either one. Ahmed’s monologue speaks to the universal experience of feeling like an outsider, and it reminds us that we all share a common humanity.
In addition, Norm is constantly making Ahmed feel like more of an outsider by calling him names such as “boong” and “chow.” This is because Norm feels confident in being part of the Australian culture. The way Nora moves — described with words such as “prowling,” “circling,” and “grabbing”– makes it clear that he is trying to intimidate Ahmed and make him feel unwelcome.
Societal messages that tell people of a minority group that they are not wanted or do not belong creates a sense of alienation. This is what is happening to Ahmed.
Ahmed feels alienated in society because of the way he is treated by people like Norm. He is seen as an outsider and is constantly made to feel like he does not belong. This feeling of alienation can lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. It can also lead to physical health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Alienation can also lead to social problems such as isolation and withdrawal from society. All of these problems can have a negative impact on a person’s life and make it difficult for them to function normally.
If you or someone you know is feeling alienated, there are things you can do to help. Talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling. This could be a friend, family member, teacher, doctor, or counselor. They can offer support and advice. There are also many organizations that can help, such as Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue ( 1300 22 4636), and Headspace (1800 650 890).