The pressure to obey the expectations of family roles causes a conflicting sense of self among the two young protagonists. In Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing," the clarity of Emily's image is greatly hampered 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 preparing lunches, she further insinuates Emily's internal conflict when she states, "she had to help me to be a mother... she was lost, she was just a drop; suffering from lack of preparation, stuttering and unsure of his abilities.” It is evident that Emily's forced submission to her mother's expectations contributes to the dismantling of her self-esteem, as she is forced to adopt her mother's temperament and abandon the identity she once barely possessed . Likewise, as Emily begins to assume her expected family role, she develops emotions of unease and overwhelming confusion, which stimulate the opposition of her individual and maternal identities. In Amy Tan's "Two Kinds," Jing-mei's self-esteem is challenged by her mother's expectations of having an obedient daughter rather than an independent child. Jing-mei's conflicted feeling is illustrated at its peak 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: "In saying these things, she was afraid." At this time, Jing-mei's conflicted feeling is explicit, as she longs to be her authentic self while battling 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 in young people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The pressure to conform to beauty and body expectations sparks a conflicted sense of self in young people. In "I Stand Here Ironing", Emily's image is challenged by her desire to conform to her personal standard of ideal beauty. The protagonist's afflicted self-esteem is further illustrated when her mother describes Emily's jealousy of copper-haired girls, stating, "She tormented herself enough not to be like the others." As Emily is forced to look different, she is conflicted between the body she desires and the body she is imprisoned in, initiating a conflicting sense of self and perception of body image. Then, in “Two Kinds,” Jing-mei’s perception is obstructed 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 norms of Western culture at a beauty training school, Jing-mei's inner conflict intensifies, noting that her mother "deplores" the somatic similarity of his daughter with a “black Chinese”. Furthermore, Jing-mei's contradictory sense of beauty reaches its peak when she states that she "realized that her reflection would always be this ordinary face... such a sad and ugly girl." Here, Jing-mei's contradictory feeling is evident, as she longs to conform to her mother's beauty standards while understanding her inability to do so. In conclusion, it is evident that the pressure to conform to beauty expectations set by oneself and by society.