Understanding Gender through "Context Clues"
             Although many issues form an umbrella under identity; gender has prevailed as a strong issue that enhances and encompasses other themes while at the same time maintaining its on firm distinctiveness. Across all cultural and social borders gender plays an important role in defining cultural and racial identity, modernization, war effects, and sexual orientation. Collectively these issues divulge into how one views gender in these contextual clues. Through the following discussions of Global Cultures selections, Kiss of a Spider Woman, Europa, Europa, and Being John Malkovich the significant role of gender in ones identity will be revealed.
             Race and Cultural Identity are heavily influenced by gender. Examples of this are found in "An American in New York" and "Exiles" both found in the Global Cultures. In "An American in New York" the central character, she is of both Native American and Caucasian decent, lives in Oklahoma and travels to New York City on business trip. "I saw this assignment as a kind of reversal of historic roles. This time an Indian was going to buy immigrants. And I though it a perfect opportunity to trot out my Tonto-with-tits garb," she declares with a hint of dry humor (5). While her cultural identity makes the situation ironic, her gender enhances it. She is now not only a minority by race but also by gender in the business world. And her "Tonto-with tits garb" phrase candidly shows her attitude towards these facts. On the other hand, Zach's views in "Exiles" are dreary. "I am this displaced person with no roots and no reason for being here except that I can't go home. Sometimes I walk a!
             long the pavement and I feel it all slip away from me," he states to Mark (77). Zach is in America because he cannot return home to South Africa. If he did then he would be jailed. His g...