Although I am a critic of popular culture because of the institutionalized perpetuation of dominant norms which are oppressive to various communities, I can not help but like and relate to certain shows. Ugly Betty was a show I’ve liked because of it’s comedic genre as well as being a narrative about a womyn of color working her way up the fashion industry. Betty Suarez in my opinion is a strong willed, ambitious, and empowered woman who takes charge of her own destiny.
Betty occupies a space where she is labeled as an outsider-someone who doesn’t fit the norm. She doesn’t let others decide her faith, she takes charge of her own destiny and makes her own career. She doesn’t let any obstacle come her way. She proves herself by her talent rather than her mere appearance. I relate to Betty in so many ways that I admire her. I love that she doesn’t let others dictate who and what she can be, she goes for what she wants and breaks the expectation of others. The saying don’t judge a book by its cover is relevant in her situation. Often we like to exclude people who do not look like “us” or abide by the “norms”. I think the characteristic that I like about the show is that it shows how we shouldn’t let others dictate what and who we can be, if we want something we should go at it with all our hearts.
