Answer:
Hurston describes herself as a brown bag among white, yellow, and red bags. Each bag has a jumble of contents both marvelous and ordinary, such as a “first-water diamond” or a “dried flower or two still a little fragrant.” The differently colored bags are Hurston's central metaphor for her mature understanding of race.
Too many ways. One being that some cultures encourage women to be more womanly and to wear makeup and dress more feminine. Or some will influence men to be "strong" and not show their feelings.