Culture and Women In “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, and “How to date a browngirl, blackgirl, whitegirl or halfie” by Junot Diaz, both authors elaborate on culture, and how it shapes the outlook on women. In Jamaica Kincaid's “Girl” a mother enforces her cultures strong beliefs on appropriate female behavior onto her daughter. To do so, she displays her parental authority with a series of short commands influenced by her culture. A sense of naivety can be seen in the young girl after questioning her mother's request. The culture associated with “Girl” has a definite attitude towards women, believing they should live a modest, conservative lifestyle.
Once a child's gender is evident, others treat those in one gender differently from those in the other, and the children respond to the different treatment by feeling different and behaving differently. Pg. 122 The process of gendering and its outcome are legitimated by religion, law, science and the society’s entire set of values. Pg. 122 As a process, gender creates the social differences that define “woman” and “man.” In social interaction throughout their lives, individuals learn what is expected, see what is expected, act and react in expected ways, and thus simultaneously construct and maintain the gender order pg.
In other words, this poem shows the outcomes of dissatisfaction with one’s self as a result of societies expectations for women. By comparing the young lady in the poem to a Barbie doll, the author reveals the irony of the title. Irony is defined as a situation or statement characterized by significant differences between what is expected or understood and what actually happens or is meant. Specifically, Piercy uses irony to convey her attitude on the subjects of both inner and outer beauty and the significance of words interfering with a woman’s confidence and life choices, as related to society’s expectations. The poem starts out with a happy beginning explaining the life of a young girl.
Dee becomes a member of this group in hopes of gaining as much attention as the group itself has been receiving. When she joins this group, Dee feels the need to reconnect with her culture. Unfortunately, the way Dee tries to re-link herself with the African ideology only leaves her further away from her family’s heritage. From the beginning, the author portrays Dee as a beautiful but selfish girl who conceited and thrives off attention. Dee’s sister Maggie is described as being more restrained, and intimidated by her sister’s success.
In “Girl,” by Jamaica Kincaid, the author portrays a mother’s concern for her daughter’s behavior and upbringing in her community. The story portrays life from Kincaid’s childhood in Antigua during the 1950s.This short story warns of the dangers of female sexuality and the importance of the power of domesticity. Throughout the the story, the mother, who is also the main narrator, seems to teach her daughter important lessons, but also scold her on her improper behavior. This story expresses the importance of female domesticity. The mother figure in the story makes a list of tasks she is teaching her daughter.
In the short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, the mother is protecting her daughter through her parenting style in many ways. The mother in the story only wants whats best for her daughter and is teaching her daughter from life experiences. Others might argue that this is a verbally abusive relationship, but the mother is really looking out in the best interest of her daughter. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, is a story in which the daughter describes all the rules her mom used to discipline her daughter in a way that would prepare her for life. Many may argue that the way Jamaica’s mother spoke to her was “verbally abusive” but in reality her mother was showing her how to prepare for the world and everything in it.
Body: Main point I: There are many reasons why female circumcision is done. First, it is a Rite of Passage from childhood to complete womanhood, who is chaste, pure, and ready for marriage. Families want their children to be successful and children themselves want to attain status. There is status to both the elder, who circumcises, and for the circumcised. Female circumcision for women is a way of purifying them of their masculinity.
Based on the mother’s tone in the text, she wants to create a mirror-image of herself to her daughter. Girls are often taught how to be inferior of boys by teaching them how to be the “typical” woman that stays home, cleans, and serve men. Families and cultures have a positive and negative
Pizan so obviously from the start of her writing, introduces how women should behave (from the perspective of a princess), so that her actions shall be beneficial to her and her husband. By talking about the finances, which is radical, Pizan degrades women in all other aspects. Degrading is used in the sense that she does not promote equality in any other way other than the financial aspect. These women could be considered early feminists if they looked for equality in other things as well not just a specific
Alice Walker’s, “Everyday Use” gives readers a narrow glimpse of how a mother views her daughter. In “How It Feels to be Colored Me”, Zora Neale Hurston shows readers how one woman develops her identity, and changes with those around her. One theme that stood out in the readings discussed in