Reading Lesson: Breaking Beauty Barriers
Breaking Beauty Barriers Read the news articles below and do the quiz. Karolina Shiino is a 20-year-old student at Waseda University in Tokyo. Her mother is Japanese and her father is Brazilian. She was born and raised in Japan, but she also speaks Portuguese and English fluently. Karolina loves studying languages and cultures and she wants to be an interpreter or translator one day. She is very proud of her mixed heritage and she believes that people should be free to choose their own identity. “I am both Japanese and Brazilian,” she says. “I don’t see any reason why I have to choose between the two.” In 2024, Karolina will represent Japan in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. She is excited about this opportunity to meet women from different countries and learn about their lives. However, not everyone is happy about her decision to take part in the competition. Some people think that she is not ‘Japanese enough’ to be Miss Japan. Karolina is not worried about what other people say. She knows that she is not the first mixed-race person to represent Japan. In 2015, Ariana Miyamoto, who has a Japanese mother and an African American father, won the Miss Japan competition. Like Ariana, Karolina has also had to deal with racism and discrimination. “When I was a child, I was often teased for being different,” she admits. “But my parents always taught me to be proud of who I am.” In recent years, there has been more discussion about the issue of race in Japan. The country is becoming more diverse, and many people believe that it is important to accept and respect people from different backgrounds. Karolina hopes that by taking part in Miss Universe, she can help to change people’s attitudes towards race and nationality in Japan. Discussion 1.Have you heard about the recent controversy surrounding Miss Japan 2024, Karolina Shiino? 2. What do you think about the criticism she has received for not being “Japanese enough” to represent the country in a beauty pageant? 3. Can you explain why some people believe that mixed-race individuals should not be allowed to compete in national pageants like Miss Japan? 4. Do you agree with the decision to allow Karolina Shiino to participate in the pageant despite her dual citizenship and background? 5. How do you think this situation reflects on Japan’s views on diversity and inclusion? 6. In your opinion, should beauty pageants focus solely on physical appearance or also consider cultural representation and diversity? 7. Do you think Karolina Shiino’s win as Miss Japan would have a positive impact on promoting diversity and breaking stereotypes in the country? 8. Can you share any examples of other countries where mixed-race individuals have faced similar challenges in participating in national pageants?9. How do you think Karolina Shiino can use her platform as Miss Japan to address the criticism and promote acceptance of diversity in the country? 10. As an English student, how does learning about this topic help you understand different perspectives and cultures?