The ways in which we think about gender--what constitutes masculinity or femininity--are products of a socially constructed ideology so ingrained in our beliefs systems that it dictates how we think about ourselves and how we act in relation to one another. Think about the role that gender plays in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street. How does gender affect characters' beliefs about themselves and the ways in which they act in the world? More specifically, in what ways do characters adhere to what is socially acceptable according to their gender roles? In what ways are these roles defied?Now consider this issue beyond the scope of the novel. Do they function the same way in the world today? In what ways do our genders dictate our behavior and influence the ways we think about ourselves and our place in our communities (family, workplace, school, etc)?
The female characters in this book are seen as objects to be owned or taken. The characters themselves believe they must look and act a certain way to gain attention from men and other women. The young girls find this out when they are messing around with the high heel shoes. They even realize it by the older girls and what they do to try and escape this boundary of control. The girls start to think that if they can act and dress a certain way they will attract a good man to take they away from the life they are living now. There is evidence this isn’t true. The character of Sally is beaten by her father because she is “too beautiful” and she is caught talking to a boy her father finds unworthy. She later is married and her husband won’t let her leave or have anyone visit. But because they are Latin women in a poor neighborhood there really isn’t any other proof of life a different way. The same thing is true today in all the classes of America. Wealthy men control their women by controlling money. The middle class control them by making them work more. The poor men control “their” women by making promises they will never keep. Women in high positions of the world are still thought of as less worthy of their position. There is always another side to everything though. There are women in society who want nothing more than a man to tell them what to do and how to do it. There are also women who spend their lives telling men what to do and how to do it. All of them are looking for someone to remove them from their misery, the bull shit life they are living instead of taking responsibility for their own happiness. The girls in the book do what they do because it’s what they know and the women in our society fall into the same category.
ReplyDeleteGender Roles:
ReplyDeleteThe House on Mango Street is written by Sandra Cisneros. The characters in The House on Mango Street comply with spoken and unspoken gender roles for their society. The women in the novel like to dress in feminine clothing and wear high heeled shoes. It is funny to think about high heels. High heels are a tool women like to use to appear more feminine. The high heels are not worn by men (with good reason too). High heels become a way for women to feel or appear more attractive. What is ironic is that women wear the high heels and men don’t. Women can’t run in high heels but men don’t wear high heels, so they are able to run. High heels definitely seem to slow women down. Yet women continue to wear high heels despite not having as much freedom and have aching legs. Wearing high heels is acceptable for women to wear. However young women do not have as much choice. According to Cisneros: “My mother says to wear black so young is dangerous, but I want to buy shoes just like yours, like your black ones made out of suede, just like those. And one day, when my mother’s in a good mood, maybe after my next birthday, I’m going to ask to buy the nylon’s too” (82). It is evident from this passage that women are allowed a step at a time until they are fully clothed with the feminine attire. Little girls play with high heels on, practicing for the day that they are more restricted. One day the females are allowed to add high heels or nylons. Then it is make up for their face to be painted in an artificial way. These are some unspoken and spoken ways of adhering to gender roles in their society.
The expectations put on the women of Mango St. include subservient, chaste, week, and helpless. Most of the girls adhere to all these expectations with the exception, in part, of Alicia who is going to college to try and better her situation and Esperanza who believes her writing will allow her to escape instead of a relationship with a man. The other girls fit the descriptions men place on them. Many of the little girls believe that the only way to leave the neighborhood is with the help of a man. The older women are forced to live cloistered lives and they don't seem to fight against it. Rafaela is locked in her apartment, but it never says she tries to escape. She probably doesn't believe that she can make it on her own. Minerva's self-esteem is also very low. Her husband comes home infrequently which only results in yelling and beating, thought it never says that she denies her husband entrance to the house.
ReplyDeleteAcknowledging that this story was set in the 80's the situations the women are in seem more likely, but today (at least in the culture I've grown up in) I don't see them happening. Though the gap between genders has reduced drastically it still is present. Women on average earn less than men. I do not get asked to help move things even though I am capable of lifting them. An episode of Glee has also brought to my attention that it is okay for a girl to dress like a guy (to wear pants and t-shirts), but guys who wear feminine clothes are ridiculed. The reason is that being a guy is okay, but being a girl is not and viewed as inferior. Even though this is wrong I've watched girls adhere to this belief as the girls in House on Mango Street do. There is a stereotype that girls are week. Girls who could do things by themselves if they tried ask guys to lift, move, or carry things. Also I know men who refuse to clear the table or wash dishes. Though all these things still happen they happen less frequently. I've noticed that little girls and boys are less separated when they play, and most importantly there is an effort being made to close the gap between genders completely.
Gender Roles have been defined since the birth of human kind. Men and women were made differently, but does that mean they have different roles? The question can be somewhat answered in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street. Gender roles mainly influenced the main character, Esperanza, into realizing that women can achieve the same things as men. When Esperanza met Sally, she looked up to Sally and envied her in many ways. As Esperanza got older, she realized that Sally was using sex as a coping mechanism to get away from her abusive father. This pushed Esperanza into wanting something better for her own self and helped her understand that women do not have to be contained at home. Through this, Esperanza sorts out what is socially acceptable and what is not. For Sally, she seems to be on the inside of the sexist “box” not able to look beyond it. Esperanza’s pity for Sally helps Esperanza understand that there is more to life than boys and sex.
ReplyDeleteThe world is full of sexism, from sea to shining sea. No matter where we go we can see it, read it, and experience it. Most people do not realize that women have been discriminated for centuries. It took longer for woman to gain the right vote than African Americans, which implies that sexism is stronger than racism. Gender dictated many things in history as well. For example, we finally have an African American president but have yet to receive a woman as president. As a man, I cannot speak for any woman, but my observations have leaded me to think that any young woman wanting to become president could be discouraged since there has not been one. In some societies, woman are destined to be the “lesser” and that to me is the saddest reality of all.
Gender role happened when men got the big head that they are smarter and somehow have more power over women. It also happened when women had no respect for themselves and let men do whatever they wanted to do to them, and do anything a man wanted. They brought it on themselves. Now days its different some women want to be equal others still like the olden days and others prefer being the smarter one over the man. In house on Mango street Esperanza wants to be noticed by guys when she puts the red high heels on. She also feels ugly and disgusting because she is not developing curves until she gets older and realizes when they really do come in. As Esperanza met different friends she realized what different body types should be and gets jealous of one girl named sally because she is prettier then Esperanza.
ReplyDeleteIn "The House on Mango Street", the dominant voice seems to be predominantly males. The males are the cats and the females are the mice. The majority of the females, minus a rare few, seem to accept being submissive and treated with a lack of intrinsic value. Due to this treatment and the acceptance of it, the females come off as having lower self-esteem. They are convinced they will never amount to anything more than a live in housekeeper and babysitter for their husbands. This kind of behavior is acceptable by the community and considered a social norm to marry young and remain sheltered. A few of the rare females, like Esperanza, defy these expectations. That kind of life is not what she wishes for herself and she takes every opportunity to avoid falling into it. An example would be her anger at the situation with Sally, the boys and they keys. Another example would be something as simple as Esperanza refusing to clear her plate from the table.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a family where my dad worked and my mom was expected to have dinner ready when he got home. My father was a good man and worked incredibly hard just as his father did, so he was worn out when he got home. Also, his mother was the epitome of a traditional female role. At my aunt’s house, it was just automatically expected that the females would prepare the food and also clean up after dinner. Sadly, I grew to resent this forced gender role later in life. I was of the opinion that if you could do a task, male or female, then you do it. Why not occasionally swap duties? Why am I labeled the dishwasher just because I am a girl? So if a guy wants to cook dinner or a female wants to build something in the garage, then it should be ok. I have noticed that here in the US people are slowly starting to come around. Women have careers and sometimes the dads tend to the children.
I feel gender plays a big role in how people view others. Our genders dictate our behaviors and how we are received in certain environments. Actions are judged based off of whether or not you are male or female. It is etched in us from birth on how we should act. Men don’t cry and women are expected to wear make-up in a professional workplace, etc. These are all practices that hold us back as humans. One time I got a new job at a hospital. During our orientation the man actually told the women they should make sure their faces look professional and to try and wear some make-up. He took it way past the personal hygiene speech and into a discriminatory one. I was seriously offended by this expectation. Some females look wonderful with no make-up and just as professional.
Some of the gender issues are still very real in the world today. I can’t claim to know what it’s like to live in another country but I do try and observe closely when people watching. It does seem that much of the stereotype still sticks.
This idea of gender roles has constantly caused a division between men and women in society. I have always been disturbed by the fact that women are supposed to act one way and a man is supposed to act a totally opposite. I understand, at times, that there are situations that men are required to act one way and women vice versa. In the story, the idea that women are supposed to be some beautiful, curvy model is demonstrated through Esperanza and her envy towards Sally. Esperanza is jealous of Sally because she is gorgeous and has curves and hips. She uses these assets to help her get many different men and develop sexual relationships. In the beginning of the story, Esperanza strives to get men to notice her by trying different things like wearing the high heels. As the story progresses though, Esperanza realizes that Sally has always been abused by her father, so she in turn uses men for sex as a way to deal with her frustration she has developed from her father. She does not extend her relationship with men past sex. Once Esperanza realizes this is the case with Sally, she discovers herself. She figures out that she can make something of herself and that a man is not necessary for any of that to happen.
ReplyDeleteIn reading this book, I think it highlights this bogus theme that women are supposed to be such curvy and gorgeous people all day, every day of their life. It is pathetic that society has created such a strong division between men and women. Women are supposed to be for looks and to stay at home to cook, clean, and take care of the children. Men, on the other hand, are supposed to be the rough and tough guy who goes out and does the hard work and brings home the money. Although times have changed, men are always presented as being the stronger individual that can achieve more. Being that I am a woman, this idea obviously bothers me. I believe that women can achieve just as much as a man, if not more. It is amazing to see the amount of female teachers, nurses, athletes, etc. out in the working force these days. Women do not always have to put on this exterior that requires perfect hair and make-up either. It is engraved in people’s minds that women are supposed to take hours to do their hair and make-up before leaving the house as well. All of this stress that is laid upon women to be perfect all of the time is not right. Although these gender roles are not really true, they have been pushed into everyone’s minds for so long that they are hard to break. Our society needs to work at breaking these gender roles and making the world realize that men and women can do the same exact tasks.
As Michelle Sugiyama says in “Of Woman Bondage: The Eroticism of Feet in The House on Mango Street:” “the women of Mango Street are cloistered” (13). Being a woman or a man bears responsibilities. The men expect women to be obedient and dependent. Virtually, these roles are programmed in their heads. Women believe their roles are guidelines to follow and achieve. They adhere to their expectations placed upon them without question. In other words, they follow their standardizations to the T. Women believe they have to act a certain way, in order to be accepted in the world, more specifically to the men of the world.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street, portrays her women characters as people without backbones, inferior to men, maintaining the norm. The men require their women to be obedient. Sally portrays the role of the daughter; she must be compliant to her father. Girls at that age cannot talk to boys, be that beautiful, or else their fathers like Sally’s father will beat them. Not that Sally had a choice to interact with boys; for example, in the Monkey Garden, the boys would not give back her keys unless she kissed them. In this sense, Sally plays the role of women without choices. It does not stop even when a woman marries a man; the commitment does not suffice. “He won’t let her talk on the telephone. And he doesn’t let her look out the window. And he doesn’t like her friends, so nobody gets to visit her unless he is working” (Cisneros 102). Sally trying to escape her expectations only trades them.
Esperanza defies these roles. The novel finishes by her stating that she does not belong, she will have a house on her own, and one day she will leave. She goes against the norm of becoming married and living for her spouse. Esperanza desires to live for herself, without expectations from others, especially men. On another note, Esperanza also defies the role of not having concern with how men expect other women to be. “I don’t know why, but something inside me wanted to throw a stick. Something wanted to say no when I watched Sally going into the garden with Tito’s buddies all grinning” (96). Esperanza helps women, the prisoners of men; for example, she attempted to help Sally in the Monkey Garden or gets juice for Rafaela on Tuesdays who husband keeps her locked up so she does not run away.
In the fifties, men worked, while women stayed at home with the kids, cleaned, cooked, etc. Although, there are many years from then until now, men and women are subjected to certain roles. For example, my father cuts the grass, takes care of the vehicles, and brings home most of the salary. On the other hand, my mother cleans the house, pays the bills, and runs errands. There is not a rule; it is just implied. My parents have taught me to be a lady: sit with your legs crossed, chew with your mouth closed, speak kindly and gently to others, do not play in the dirt, etc. When I am in church, at work/school I try to be more lady-like, because there are people watching me, expecting me to act properly. I feel more elegant when I dress up; people notice me more and I have more confidence in myself. I do not resist people’s expectations of me, because I too have been programmed. Our roles are our guidelines, goals to strive for; however, reforming these roles is like learning to speak a new language. We have grown up with a certain language (role); it will be extremely difficult to adhere to a new one or even realize there is something wrong with the old one.
Gender roles are a part of everyone’s life, for some situations it’s to an extreme where as others is just a minority. The difference between men and women in this novel is to an extreme. The men think they are high and mighty and have all the control, because “it is supposed to be that way”. The women are supposed to look beautiful and show off their looks. Throughout the novel some of the women were locked in their rooms or chose to stay because either they were too beautiful the men thought they would leave or not pretty enough. The reason why these gender roles are an extreme is because no one should feel they aren’t good enough to be seen in public or trusted. Esperanza thought see wasn’t beautiful so she buried herself in writing. It truly bothers me that women are supposed to look and act a certain way, we are our own person and no one should control that. Pretty or not, skinny or not, smart or not; we deserve to be treated exactly like the men. I find in interesting that men seem to have it in their heads that women and suppose to clean and take care of the children, and the men work and do chores. Whether you’re a women or a man, one should not be discriminated against, women should be treated the same as men and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel “The House on Mango Street,” written by Sandra Cisneros, genders play a very important role between each other. The roles between male and female are quite distinct in the story. The men have almost every power of the women, except one power that men cannot take from women: the power to sexually arouse men. The women and young ladies in the story exorcise this and adapt to this role by wearing high heels. Throughout the story, men confine the women to their residences keeping them locked up and left to take care of the house and family. Men are given all the freedom and the women have hardly any. In today’s society, this is still true in some parts of America. But in most parts, the majority of men have been taught to respect women. However, the idea family is a working father and a house mother who keeps the house in order as well as cooks, cleans, and takes care of the kids. In most of society the house is not such an actual prison. Women have the freedom to walk straight out of the house and never come back if they so desired. Although it is different in most of our modern society, there are still parts of the world who keep women “locked” up. For example, the Middle East covers their women’s faces and bodies so no other man can gaze upon them and the female role is to take care of the house and kids. Taking care of the house and kids has always been a major role for women since the beginning of time and I believe that women will always have that role. The amount of freedom they are given is limited to their society and their male partner.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cisnneros’ House on Mango Street tells the story of an adolescent girl trying to understand her surroundings. A common motif throughout the story is the idea of gender roles and the narrator’s hope to break common tradition. An example of an old-fashioned belief about gender roles is Sally’s story with her father and later with her husband. Sally’s father hits her, but never hard, “just because [she’s] a daughter” (85). She tries to leave, but her father comes for her and she returns home. Later Sally gets married, probably an attempt to get away, but her husband is not much different from the abusive father. He controls her and won’t let her talk on the telephone or go anywhere. Sally says she is mostly happy but yet she continues to let a man control her. Esperanza on the other hand does not want to allow a man to control her. Instead she wants to break tradition and become the “beautiful and cruel” woman who’s “power is her own” (82). She begins her silent fight to defy common gender roles when she leaves the table without cleaning up, like a man does. Her mother tells her that she could’ve been somebody, but felt shame so she quit school. She married and had children and relies on a man now, conforming to society’s idea of a housewife.
ReplyDeleteThese ideas about the role men and women play in society are still present in today’s world. They may not be as extreme as domestic abuse, but it is still commonly believed that a woman should take care of the children while the man works. I would say society is straying from these traditional beliefs however because some women want more than just a household; they also want careers. However, a woman who chooses a career path over motherhood might be looked down upon by society. These roles are still present and will most likely continue until enough women break with old-fashioned tradition to start a new one.
Gender roles play a large part in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. The world that Esperanza lives in is a male dominated society. From birth, the girls have been taught to obey their fathers, and then when they are old enough, they can marry a man who they are in turn supposed to obey. The girls were thrown into the social web of men, and it would be very difficult for them to escape. Generally, gender alone affected the characters’ beliefs and actions. Men were, for the most part, entitled to a controlling power over women. This power allowed the men to give themselves justifications for their actions. If they were to hit a daughter or wife, they would easily justify it as protecting their family. The entitlement that the men possessed also gave them a sense of authority. The authority made the men the head of their own family. Women were affected differently by gender roles. Unlike men, women were not given an authoritative power. If gender roles gave them anything it would be a sexual power. The sexual power gave the women a false hope that they would find true love, and that they would escape their fathers overbearing nature. Sadly, the women of Mango Street fell into this trap. Many of the girls would leave one abusive man to go into the arms of another. The sexual power of young girls gives them the impression that they finally have control over the opposite gender, but they were mistaken. The girls would use their “power” to find a man to take care of them, but then when the woman was in his grasp, he would control her sexuality. Women were affected most by gender roles in respect to their beliefs and actions. While younger, the girls had a sense of freedom while thinking of their futures, and they experimented with their appearance. When married, the women would become more docile, and they would obey their husbands’ every command. At times, there would be that one girl who would escape the social norms. A girl could defy the social norms by leaving her neighborhood and becoming independent.
ReplyDeleteIn today’s world, the social behavior seen in The House on Mango Street is not seen everywhere. Granted, there are some places where women have not found their voice and independence. Even in the United States some women still bow down to the power of men, but then on the other side of the spectrum there are women who live independently. Gender still dictates people’s beliefs and actions. There are some men who still do not believe that women are equal to men. This causes some men to act harshly to women. Some women have retaliated against men, not by violence, but by actions. Some actions of women have been defined by the actions of the opposite sex. Women have been trying to prove for years that they have the same abilities as men. Women have been promoting equality in the family, workplace, and school. At one point, it was the man who “brought home the bacon”, but now men and women are equally contributing to the home. Many changes have occurred in past decades, but there is still room for improvement.
The women in Sandra Cisnero’s The House on Mango Street live within the social construct of the Latino culture. Even though they have relocated to the United States of America, their gender roles and norms are alive within the diasporas that they live. In the Latino culture described by Cisneros, women live within the emotional and physical confines of their male authority figure—whether it is fathers or husbands. Women are only allowed to do what they have been given permission to do, and they are often isolated to the walls of their home. Many of these women succumb to living unhappily within their uncontested realms only to escape their fathers’ authority through marriage and be shackled into the authorities of their husbands’. In particular, Minerva serves as a prime example of this cycle. Minerva, who had only been slightly older than Esparanza, marries at a young age and has two children and an intermittent husband who comes and goes as he pleases and hits her when he is not. With the exception of Alicia and Esparanza, who find their escapes through academia, the women of Mango Street pass on a tradition of fear of male dominance that can only be fought with determination.
ReplyDeleteBeyond the scopes of this novel, gender roles play a large part in society today. Society expects mothers to stay at home and be a traditional nurturer; it also expects fathers to work for a living. Home economics, a class offered in most high schools to students of both sexes, is traditionally taken by female students, while classes such as auto-mechanic and woodshop are traditionally male classes. Secretarial positions are traditionally held by females, while positions of power, such as presidents and CEO’s, are traditionally held by males. Even if these expectations are starting to become more and more thwarted by modern technologies, they are still alive and well. In fact, due to the strict gender roles, many can argue that it is why androgyny, used here in reference not to the physical condition but in relation to the blending of characteristics in appearance, is so popular in eastern cultures. In Japan, particularly, the Kabuki theater and the Takarazuka Revue, an all-male and an all-female theater group respectively, reflect best the “scrambling of gender markers” mentioned in Jennifer Robertson’s “The Politics of Androgyny in Japan.” This blending of gender markers is often viewed as an act of rebellion in an attempt to thwart conventional beauty and traditional gender roles—roles that, as one reach full maturity, one must resume. In fact, one may even say that this concept is applicable to Shakespeare’s all-men theater as well, where men take on the identity of a woman and return to conventional, traditional gender roles afterward.
As for me, I would like to think that gender roles have a smaller influence on my life than I would like to believe—even though I know for a fact that that is far from the truth. Compared to most American girls, I have been taught “to be a girl” since my childhood. While gender roles in America are present, they do not feel nearly as enforced as do the ones in China. In America, boys and girls have the option of choosing to do home economics. Even in play time, whereas I had always been placed in the “doughnut shop” playhouse, boys are typically outside playing soccer. All of these experiences certainly serve as a “guideline” for me now, but I find that as I live longer and longer in United States, choices are made more and more with me in mind and with less regards to “gender decorum.” Sure, when I have to, I act like a lady, social niceties must be observed at times, but in regards to my future, I find the idea of a female leader less and less unlikely—hopefully, this is a reflection of personal and societal growth.
Gender Roles:
ReplyDeleteThe female characters in the book are looked at as objects. They either are owned by their fathers or husbands in the book. The girls Sally, Lucy and Rachel are playing in high heel shoes that were given to them. The girls are expected to act a certain way in high heel shoes as Rachel teaches them to cross and uncross their legs like a women should do. They also learn to strut down the streets and the men are yelling at them because they are in high heels and the other girls that live in the neighborhood looked at them a certain way. The girls start to think that if they act and dresses certain ways that a good man will come take them away. Then men in the book are controlling over the women. Sally’s dad beats her when she was caught talking to a boy. Sally couldn’t come out. The women are expected to stay in the home and take care of the house.
Gender roles today are a lot different from back in the early 1900’s. Women were expected to clean, cook and take care of the children and the men were working, hunting and provide for the family. Today women are more independent and work in the home and outside the home. Depending on the culture women are still controlled by their father and/or husbands. I know that in my Korean culture the mother-in-law likes to control a lot and the husband just works outside of the home.
Gender effects the roles assigned to the characters in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street by many different ways. Throughout the novel the main character, Esperenza, is constantly tormented by the more dominant male culture. She constantly day dreams about having her own house and moving far away from the Mango Street giving the reader an overall feel that she is not happy there. When Esperenza puts on the high heeled shoes she instantly finds out that her and her other friends, also wearing the shoes, have become attractive and are drawing much attention from all the other people in the community. This attention comes from sexuality assigned between gender roles and up until this point Esperenza and her friends did not really understand that there was so much division between genders; it was as if they found a whole other sub-division between male and female. The characters adhere to what is socially acceptable according to their gender roles by doing many different things. One example would be the women on Mango Street dressing up to attract attention from males hoping to find one that will take care of their problems, be it their fathers, financial, or their own unhappiness with their current situations like living on Mango Street. Different men in the story also adhere to what society deems socially expectable for them. One example of that would be Esperenza’s father, who works long hours to support the family and the Earl of Tennessee, who works the long night shift to support himself and his habit of chasing women. Looking at ways gender roles function today they are, for the most part, the same way they function on the house on Mango Street. I know for myself I try to secede so I can have a good career, a great family, respect amongst friends and family, and someone to be with. If women went for guys who had nothing going for them I think our society would be a much different place. That’s not the case though women want a stable man, like in Mango Street, and men want an attractive women to be with. It’s a tale as old as time and I believe it will continue on to be this way.
ReplyDeleteThe character's in this book are defined by their gender in ways that is almost degrading. Throughout the novel we see the Esperanza who is the main protagonist in the story talk about how all the women that live in or around her house at one point or another have been taken advantage of, though not necessarily sexually. Esperanza and her friends find that wearing high heels gain's the attention of the men around them. At first they enjoy all the attention. They find it nice to be noticed and have all the attention on them, but then they soon realize that not everyone has the same intentions with their compliments. Hence the homeless man who had asked Rachel for a kiss in exchange for a dollar. They then decide that they shouldn't wear the shoes. We see this kind of thing in much of the novel. It's almost as if the women within the story are treated as objects or almost property. Some examples of this we see is that there are women who are being locked in their own house not to be let out, by there husbands or even fathers. There is the character Sally who is forced to come home from school everyday and not leave or else she will be beaten by her father. These gender roles we see in the novel are almost the stereotypical roles, but a little more extreme in some cases. The men are seen as controlling fearful. This fear to control the women is the fear of a woman's power. Women have this certain power over men and they know it. In the book they describe something like that when talking about the guy who locks his daughter up in the house for fear that someone would come take her away for being beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIn the book by Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, the roles that the characters play are directly defined by their genders. The protagonist, Esperanza, is the only character in the story that seems to go against the grain of what society expects of a female. The females in the story are described as homemakers, baby factories, and obedient and quiet. The males are the ones who work outside of the home, they are strong and the ones with the power. This is easily seen when Esperanza talks about her friend Sally in school. Sally longs to act like the other children in her neighborhood and for that, her father constantly beats her. She remains quiet about the abuse and she even stands up for her father, saying that he doesn’t hit her hard. Esperanza is told by her mother that she will act like a lady and get married one day. She explains that Esperanza will have hair that will lay flat and her shirt will learn not to get dirty, but what she means is that Esperanza will grow up and show interest in boys. The way society today portrays gender roles is somewhat similar to the story, although it is changing. Boys are expected to wear blue clothes, to like toy trucks and to get dirty, while girls are supposed to wear pink, play house and mind their manners. I think that this is typically the idea that people have when it comes to gender roles and their identity. As people grow older they learn that they either agree or disagree with these stereotypes. Most people expect men to do the “tough” jobs, such as firefighters, carpenters, construction workers, or police officers. Women are usually seen working in offices, behind desks, then going home and making dinner and cleaning. I have decided to make law enforcement my career, and when people ask me what I’m going to school for and I tell them, I often get strange looks and remarks such as “you don’t look like a person that would want to be a police officer”. I usually reply with, “thank you, that’s exactly why I want to do it.” I think that it is ridiculous to think that women cannot do things that men can do and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteThe female character in The House on Mango Street all judge themselves based mainly on looks and their ability to find a mate/husband. This leads to low self-esteem and little self-worth. They typically act skanky so that men will notice them. It seems, as said by the author, that this is pretty common in the Latino and Latina communities. A good example of this is When Esperanza gets her first pair of high heels. She feels noticed by men and envied my women.
ReplyDeleteToday it is similar but there are many exceptions. The typical “woman takes care of the kids and the house and the husband makes the money” idea is pretty much dead, in most cases. Women and men are much more equal now than ever before, but there are still many things considered manly of feminine. Examples of manly things: contact sports, outdoorsy stuff, beer, video games, etc… Examples of girly things: theater and musical theatre, choir, sappy love stories, crying, etc… I find that I show traits of both the manly and the feminine side. All of the previous examples are things I enjoy doing or do on at least a semi-regular basis. So yes there are still gender roles today but they are much more lax then they have been.
In the book the characters feel they have to act a certain way and do certain things because they are females. In the book they talk about how the women stay inside and can not leave the house and have to stay inside to clean and cook and take care of the children. In the book they also talk about how women have hips and are supposed to have big hips to make room for children and how they are supposed to have small feet because its more attractive and elegant to have small feet and not have big feet. This is not how things are in the world today because women do not just sit at home anymore and take care of the chores and cook for their husbands. In the world today women have jobs and in some cases are more independent than some men are. I think gender definitely influences how we act in society like women for example all want to be skinny and tan because that’s how the world today projects women as pretty. And males today want to have big muscles and look good for the women. I definitely feel like women today are more powerful than they ever have been before in history. Today women can get good jobs sometimes even better jobs than a male can get. Women go to school a lot longer now then they used too. In the past women never went to school past high school or even through high school now women are going to college and getting prestige degrees from universities. I think women feel like they can do anything in the world today and feel like the world is as much theirs as it is a mans world to succeed in and to be successful.
ReplyDeleteGender affects most of the people in The House on Mango Street because everyone acts according to their gender. The men are controlling and possessive of any women that is “theirs.” Conversely, most of the females in this novel are possessed and controlled by men. However, Esperanza sees passed these roles, and thinks she does not have to conform to this. Some of the females in the book assume the role of being paid for services. Another role Esperanza sees through. By seeing through these roles Esperanza seems to be the best narrator because she can view the world from a different perspective of everyone else. Rafaela stays in her room because her husband has ordered her to because he is scared that she would be scooped up by a different guy if she left. She listens and stays in her room, which conforms to what is accepted in her gender role. Also, Sally, who marries young, marries only to escape from her abusive dad, but goes to another abusive relationship, but does not leave. The roles are defied because Esperanza has a dream to escape where she came from, and her house that she is ashamed of. Normally she would need to meet a man to do this, but she has a dream to do it all by herself. I do not think these roles are as important today because now many women have high paying jobs at the heads of a company. I think certain genders are still thought of in the same way though. Some females may not think they will get any further than where they are, so give up, but others work just as hard and get to the top. I think it is all about how people are trained from birth. If they think they are nothing and will amount to nothing, then there is no reason to try. Conversely if they are told to be the best and they will be the best, then the best they will be.
ReplyDeleteGender has a huge effect on all of the characters in The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The men believe that they have all of the power and that they are entitled to whatever it is that they want. They believe that the women are there to serve them and to do exactly as they are told. They are only there to cook, clean, reproduce, and take care of the children. Women know that they are to obey their husband, father, and/or any man that gives them an order. They know what their place is and that they are the primary caretaker of the family. They realize that the men make the money to support the family, but that they are to stay in their house and be a “wife” or a “mother” and follow those roles day in and day out. These roles are defied in a certain way by the children that live on Mango Street. Esperanza, her sister, and their two girl friends are constantly out and playing. They believe that they have some freedom to do as they please. In a way, they are able to do as they please, but they are still stuck in the socially acceptable role that is assigned for a female. In the world today, some people believe that women are still around to be the caretaker, and in a way, they are. Females have that built in maternal instinct that causes them to want to take care of the things around them. Males are more the providers and that is still seen today in some ways. The male tends to bring home more of an income than females do and is usually seen as the enforcer of the rules, meaning that he is the sole authority of the family structure. As far as gender roles in our community, such as school or the workplace, I believe that some people are able to defy that socially acceptable role, while others are stuck being that stereotypical male or female. Today, though, it seems to be more accepted to be an individual, gender roles aside.
ReplyDeleteThe gender roles of the characters in The House on Mango Street were divided into typical stereotypes of males and females. The males were seen as controlling and in charge as well as being the bread winner of the family. The females were seen as the ones that had babies and stayed at home. Many of the female characters had to deal with sexual and physical abuse. They were also confined to stay in the house because their husbands felt they may stray from their marriage if they left the house. The females equated being a women with materialistic items - beautiful clothes, make up or high heels. Esperanza also felt embarrassed by her shoes when she went to a dance because she felt the boys would not like her because they were school shoes and not new. Her self-esteem hinged on her shoes. Another character wanted to wear beautiful clothes and work downtown so she could meet a man who would marry her and buy her a house. The females were concerned about their looks because they wanted to attract a male.
ReplyDeleteIn today's world, women are so much more independent than the characters in this novel. I know of many women who make more money than their husbands as well as have an equal partnership in the household. Of course there are still issues of sex discrimination in the workplace but there are so many more opportunities today than in the past. Our gender can affect how we see our place in our communities. Anyone can be anything in our community, but we still have a traditional outlook on certain jobs ... such as a male for construction worker or fire fighter or a female for an office worker or nurse, but this notion is drastically changing with the demand of technology professionals and the need for nurses in the medical field. With so many people unemployed and financially struggling, the line is blurring between genders and occupations.
Gender greatly affects the way that many of the characters behave within the story. The protagonist Esperanza struggles because her desire for personal autonomy is in direct opposition with her role as a woman in her culture. In the story Esperanza’s brothers will not speak to her outside of the house because they don’t want to be caught associating with a girl. Many of the women in the story adhere to the social structure that is imposed upon them. The story is surfeit with “woman at the window” characters or in other words women who are trapped in their role as a dutiful wives and mothers. One example is Esperanza’s great grandmother with the same name. Her great grandmother dos not want to get married, but Esperanza’s great grandfather essentially kidnaps her and forces her into marriage. Esperanza is the main person that defies of social norms in the story. She desires to move away from Mango Street and be independent with bums living in her attic. Gender roles are much different nowadays than depicted in the story. Gender roles in post millennium America are shifting constantly. Throughout most of the twentieth century it would have been strange to see a female construction worker or a prominent female politician. I think one of the most lasting gender role impositions on women is the tradition of the bride taking the grooms last name instead of her fathers. Many people however, still believe in the idealized nuclear family with a man that works and dutiful stay at home wife and mother. In general men are still supposed to be tough, strong and work to provide for the family. In many cases women are still supposed to cook, clean and do laundry. The difference nowadays is there is less opposition if a person rebels against those gender roles.
ReplyDeleteGender roles have been defined and have divided men and women. Women are supposed to act a certain way while men can act another. And when you branch out from what you are supposed to do you are looked down on. There are situations where I understand why that is true but in others I do not understand why they have to be different. In the novel A House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the characters live their lives by these roles. The women are supposed to be feminine and the girls try hard to be that way. But while living on Mango Street she starts to see that women can do the same things as men that is until she meets Sally. They do it by wearing the high-healed shoes and teaching the younger ones to be lady like. They notice that the men watch them and the other girls get jealous when they wear the new shoes, so they decide they do not want to go back to the old ones. Sally seems to be stuck in the mindset of gender roles and can not get out of it. Esperanza is envious of Sally because she has the ideal body of a woman. She has the curves and she is beautiful that is why Esperanza looks up to her so much and because she knows all the things a woman should do. These roles do function the same way in society today in certain households. At my house it is more even than what usually happens. But I know a few families that the women does all of the work at home and has to have dinner done around the same time and the man does the work and brings home the salary for both of them. They could influence our behavior because we just expect things to be a certain way. For example men are to be the strong ones and provide for the family while the wife is dependent, does the housework and takes care of the kids. I think that these roles should be shared and that things be more equal because the gender roles are harmful at times.
ReplyDeleteGender roles have been what we have learned since we were born. Men are supposed to act one way, and the women another. In the novel The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros there are many examples of gender roles. The men in this novel are the ones who have control in the relationship. When Sally gets married she is not allowed to leave the house, because her husband is afraid that she will run away with another guy. This is the case with a couple women in this novel, they are not allowed to leave the house when there husband is gone or at work. These women believe that they have no control over their lives, and it is true because their husband is controlling them. They have no other examples of how life really is outside of their neighborhood, so they think what is happening is normal. Then there is Sally when she is younger, her dad tells her that being as beautiful as she is will cause her trouble. She is beaten every time her dad sees her talking to a boy. Also the girls are given high heels, they are intrigued by them because to them they are the normal shoes women wear. They make the women look good, so they do not want to take them off. Also in the novel the men are the ones that are out working and the women are at home. These gender roles do work the same in the world today. They may have different reasons for why they happen though. Men are able to control their wives if they earn more money than she does. They have control over the money and in turn over their wife. Women are still seen as being the one who stays home and takes care of the family. Unlike in the novel though, women are more independent and sometimes they make more money than their husbands do. This could cause the women to be in power, or for there to be an equal partnership between the two of them. Gender roles in the workplace have also changed. In male dominant occupations, women have started to join and be part of them. This is also the case in female dominant occupations. This would be like a man becoming a nurse or secretary. Women are also thriving in school and studies that men were more prominent in. This would be like the lawyers or math professions.
ReplyDeleteIn The House on Mango Street the women are like objects that are to be sold or taken. Gender has a huge role on the young women who live on Mango Street. The high heels had a big effect on the young women on Mango Street. When they put the heels on, they claimed that it gave them hips, and it gave them “legs that were not theirs.” They strutted around the block to a shop, and the owner told them they should not be wearing those high heels, and that he was going to call the cops. They continued down the road, got some dirty looks from so other girls, and then a bum offered Rachel a dollar for a kiss. Sally escapes her father’s grip by marrying a man, and she believes that she will have more freedom, but she is controlled now by her husband, who does not let her out of the house without permission, or have friends over. In some societies in the world the women are still controlled by the men, and others the men can marry more than one woman. Some women are even treated like slaves or animals. In some more advanced societies, women are treated equally, and have their own rights, yet they sometimes do not get paid as much as the men even if they work the same job and have all the qualifications.
ReplyDeleteIn The House on Mango Street, male and female genders are defined in very different ways. Lucy, Rachel, and Esperenza are given a bag of high heeled shoes that they choose to wear around and show off. They experience what it’s like to have men notice them, and what it feels like to be in a woman’s shoes. It’s a little bit of irony that women like to wear such shoes because men want women bound and not to be able to run away. Also Sally in the book is beaten by her father because she is too beautiful. A beautiful woman is like a rare gem. It must be “kept away.” Sally also gets caught talking to a boy who her father thinks is not worthy enough. Later Sally gets married and then her husband barely even gives her rights. She can’t leave or have anyone come over and visit. The only time she can have anyone visit is when her husband is working. The women cannot wait to find a man to marry them, but when they finally do, they are prisoners in their own homes. Every household is different, it more or less depends on the situation the family or couple is in. A lot of families still take up the typical stereotype of a household of the men working and the women staying at home with the child. But today, it’s more the men and women both working. For centuries women have been the lesser of the two genders. Women, in most cases, are physically smaller and weaker than men. Many men definitely take advantage of that strength. For years, men were the ones that went to work every day while women stayed home, did the house work, and took care of the children. Women had few rights. They pretty much did what their husbands or superiors told them to do, just like in the book. In today’s society, things have definitely changed. Women and men share the responsibility of going to work and doing the house chores. There are even some women who are the money makers and men who are the stay at home dads. However, some things are still the same. Women earn less than men, just because they are women. In essence, women have been viewed as weaker than men.
ReplyDeleteIn The House on Mango Street, male and female genders are defined in very different ways. Lucy, Rachel, and Esperenza are given a bag of high heeled shoes that they choose to wear around and show off. They experience what it’s like to have men notice them, and what it feels like to be in a woman’s shoes. It’s a little bit of irony that women like to wear such shoes because men want women bound and not to be able to run away. Also Sally in the book is beaten by her father because she is too beautiful. A beautiful woman is like a rare gem. It must be “kept away.” Sally also gets caught talking to a boy who her father thinks is not worthy enough. Later Sally gets married and then her husband barely even gives her rights. She can’t leave or have anyone come over and visit. The only time she can have anyone visit is when her husband is working. The women cannot wait to find a man to marry them, but when they finally do, they are prisoners in their own homes. Every household is different, it more or less depends on the situation the family or couple is in. A lot of families still take up the typical stereotype of a household of the men working and the women staying at home with the child. But today, it’s more the men and women both working. For centuries women have been the lesser of the two genders. Women, in most cases, are physically smaller and weaker than men. Many men definitely take advantage of that strength. For years, men were the ones that went to work every day while women stayed home, did the house work, and took care of the children. Women had few rights. They pretty much did what their husbands or superiors told them to do, just like in the book. In today’s society, things have definitely changed. Women and men share the responsibility of going to work and doing the house chores. There are even some women who are the money makers and men who are the stay at home dads. However, some things are still the same. Women earn less than men, just because they are women. In essence, women have been viewed as weaker than men.
ReplyDeleteGender plays a significant role throughout The House on Mango Street. Being a male automatically gives you more power on Mango Street. Being male, in this story, gives you power over women through the use of violence, and a certain control that women are afraid to stand up to. Since females don’t have this kind of hierarchy, they feel lower about themselves and have lower self esteems. They aren’t able to stick up for themselves, as seen in many characters such as Rafael, Sally, etc. I think that being a woman has caused them to act more cautiously, to not upset the males. Even though women clearly do not like the way they are treated and imprisoned in their own homes, and even dream about lives away from their current ones, they abide by these “rules” their husbands/fathers give them because it’s “normal.” We live in a patriarchal society where men and masculinity symbols strength and power and most importantly above women. Women accept their roles as housewives and below their male counterparts because it’s the way it always has been and they don’t want to lose everything they already have, even if it means giving up being happy in the long run. Although the way the women in The House on Mango Street are treated isn’t openly seen in our eyes on a daily basis, it still occurs. Men still have distinct powers over women and get treated somewhat differently whether in the workplace or in the home. On average, men today still make more money an hour than a lot of women. I think that today still a lot of women feel inferior to men because of the way their masculinity is looked upon. Men are usually looked as being the strong ones, head of the household, and a great deal of the time hold more superior positions.
ReplyDeleteIn the book the young girls are mainly focused on how they appear to the men, and even women, on their street. They want the older boys to notice them and they feel sexy and like a grown woman when they put heels on. They said that it makes them have legs and they have a strut when they walk. To the women, they want them to feel jealous and angry that the boys are finally noticing them too. The girls adhere to their gender roles in the sense that they do not try to get out of the situation that they have been put in. For example, when Sally gets beaten by her father, she tries to get out of that situation but only puts herself right back in it by marrying so young and not standing up for herself. The girls think that that is just the way it is and do not really try to change that.
ReplyDeleteI think that roles in society today are a bit different. Women are becoming more independent and reluctant to the normal roles of a husband and wife. Women try to do everything a man can do and they want to do it better, yet that was not the case 50 years ago. Naturally I want to say that men tend to take on the more dominant role in society by being the ‘bread-winner’ and protecting his family, but now days woman think that they need to do that as well, so it is creating a more diverse society.
The women in The House on Mango Street are seen as objects for men to take and enslave. The girls believe that they must act in such a way that they get the attention of men. They wear high heels that they found all around town, just like they had seen other women do. The girls think that they will be able to find a nice husband, one who will actually let them have a life outside of home. This is a silly dream however. Sally marries so she can escape her abusive father, only to end up with an over possessive husband, who locks her in the house and prevents her from talking to any of her friends and family. A few of the main characters try to escape this possibility. Alicia goes to college to better herself, and Esperanza writes to escape.
ReplyDeleteIn China, there are still problems with gender equality. There is even a problem in America. America was against women’s rights for a very long time. It took longer for women to get the right to vote than African Americans. In movies, women are almost always portrayed as being helpless, and that they have to be rescued by a man.
At my grade school, boys and girls would often play with each other. We couldn’t understand the stereotypes that existed between us. As we grew older, that changed. In high school, when we ate lunch, the guys would sit in one group, and the girls would sit in another. They would never sit interspersed. They also talked about different things. At my job, me and the guys would often clean the back of the store, while the girls would do the front. I honestly don’t see the need for people to keep gender differences going. The roles between men and women are slowly coming together anyway. Why should they try to stop it?
I feel that gender mostly effects Esperanza . First off, she gives herself a hard time because she is a female. She feel that she is not smart enough because she is a women so she wont find a suitable husband and she also tells herself that she is weak because that what society wants her to believe. Another thing that she does sis wear high heels around town when she is younger. A randomly lady gives her a pair of high heels and she puts them on because she wanted to attract boys. Esperanza’s dad also makes her feel bad because he tells her she is focusing too much on school work and that she should be cooking food for her siblings. I feel that gender roles function the same way in society today. They dictate our behavior and influence the way we think about ourselves and our place in the communities because in today’s society, gender roles are very important. If a guy is thought to be not masculine, he will most likely be made fun of and looked down upon. Also, if a girl is not feminine enough, she will also be made fun of and called names. Gender roles can also effect jobs. If a guy appears to be too soft or a girl too girly, then there is a chance that they could not get the job they are applying for. On the other hand, if a guy is too masculine or a girl is not very feminine, they could also not get the job they are applying for. Gender roles should not be a big deal, but in today’s society, they can make or break a person.
ReplyDeleteIn House on Mango Street, there are several instances when the reader can see how gender affects the novels characters. For instance, when the girls receive their high heeled shoes, they practice strutting around and even walk down the street to see what type of reactions they will get from others in the community. These reactions make the girls feel important and powerful even though their being objectified by all the males and resented by the females. The girls want to be the center of attention until they come across a drunken man who scares them into running back home after propositioning them for a kiss. Gender roles are also evident throughout the novel when you look at the examples of male to female relationships. Over the course of the novel, men always appear to be in dominate and controlling positions. This is evident when you look at Minerva and the woman who cannot speak English who is referred to as Mamacita. Both these characters are controlled by their husbands who make them feel weak and useless in their day to day lives. These characters accept these roles because they feel as women there is nothing else they can do to improve their situations. When you compare the way genders roles are portrayed in Mango Street to how they are today I think there is a significant difference. In today’s society no one is really bound by their gender. Certainly females have more job opportunities and they excel in jobs and other social aspects that were once completely male dominated. For instance there are women who are CEO’s of major companies and women who are firefighters. Sixty years ago this would have been seen as unacceptable. These changes can be seen in males as well. Today we have male nurses and stay at home dads, roles that were once thought to be only for females. I think there will always be personal traits and characteristics that are viewed as masculine and feminine. Men will always want to act tough and women will always want to be pretty but these roles and characteristics will never again be as constricting as they once were.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel the characters believe they have to marry, take care of the children, and take care of the house work. For example, when Esperanza wants to eat in the canteen she asks her mom to pack her a lunch and leave a note. Her mother says no at first because she says all the children will want her to pack them a lunch, and she will have to do all the cooking for the children. Sally gets married before she is in the eighth grade. In the novel there is a chapter where all the children want hips. They say if they don’t get hips they will look like boys. The women in the novel subject themselves to the men. They let the men control what happens in the household. All of the woman in the book lean out of the window wanting to go to the house, but the men won’t let them. There are a few characters that get beat by the men. The women are portrayed as weak in the book. The young girls have trouble telling the boys no when they ask for a kiss.
ReplyDeleteThese roles don’t function the same way anymore. Women go to school and have careers. They don’t have children as soon as they are married, and women don’t get married as soon as they can. We are still seen as weak to society. When woman do apply for jobs it is mostly in arts and men in science and engineering, but it isn’t always like this. I’ve known women who have become technical engineers. I think that gender roles for a woman make a person back down when a man tells them to do something that they don’t want to. Woman feel that they are suppose to look pretty and get dressed up for the males, and the male can say whatever he wants to the female to make her his mate. Males have been seen in the past as smarter, stronger, money makers, and woman are the opposite fragile, house keepers, and emotional. I feel that these roles are changing in society. These characteristics are now becoming stereotypes of gender roles.
Gender plays an important role in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Its important because the Mexican children that the narrator describes are basically raised to play a certain role. It doesn’t matter if your brother and sister inside the house because once you step outside there are invisible lines that are drawn. The girls are supposed to be the more nurturing and caring type and the guys are able to go off on their own and ignore their sisters. Gender definitely plays a huge role in marriages. Women are supposed to know their “place” and stick to only what they know. Esperanza’s own mother acknowledges that she has skills that go unused because she has to play up to her role. Many female characters that Cisnero introduces are placed in front of windows. This basically means they are watching the outside world from the inside and they are longing to be able to live their lives. Having such an emphasis on gender would make anybody feel uncomfortable with themselves. When Esperanza gets her new job she doesn’t know quite how to act because her expected role in this new environment is unknown. When you are trying to constantly live up to someone else’s expectations it gets exhausting and it causes you to doubt yourself – like Esperanza did most of her life while growing up. The women characters adhere to their roles because it is how they are expected to act. Where would they be without their husbands. Even if the husbands are the ones that are forcing them to live the sheltered and secluded life they have to deal with it because they aren’t able to provide for themselves. This makes it a vicious circle of life to live. Luckily, the US isn’t quite as bad as other countries when it comes to gender roles. We are able to marry who we want and we have come a long way from the past where a woman is souly dependant on a man for everything. Women are now able to work and provide for a family just as much as a man can. I’m grateful for this because I like the feeling of being independent and having my own things that I can be proud of. On the other hand gender roles still are taken into account in some parts of the world. Even in the united states there are still obvious pay differences between women and men. To be fair, women tend to use their sexuality more to advance in situations than men do. I don’t think this world will ever be 100% fair.
ReplyDeleteGender and gender roles play a large part in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street. The story is set during a year in the life of a young girl named Esperanza, as she comes to terms with the lives of those around her, as well as her own sexuality. Gender plays a major role throughout the novel. Esperanza and her friends are given high heels, and have trying them on instantly discover they have "legs". While walking about the block they are hit on by multiple men even though they aren't of age. The objectification of woman is, while not socially acceptable, it is the social norm. The men also play into the social stereotype by hitting on the girls as they walk. Gender is also brought up when power is being discussed. There is no woman in the novel that is truly in control of her own life, or doesn't have a man over her. Sally has her abusive father that controls her, and eventually an abusive husband. Esperanza is also sexually assaulted by 3 boys, show how she can't even escape having a man overpower her. There is also Mamacita, who is so incapacitated by the English language that she refuses to leave the house. Esperanza looks to be the only one that wants to defy her gender role, by leaving Mango Street when she gets older, having a house of her own and being successful.
ReplyDeleteGender plays the same role in today's society. Gender will always have some affect on people's behavior. Such as a man being man fun of for being a nurse. The glass ceiling phenomenon, in which a woman can't get promoted in a job as highly as a man, is also an effect of gender. It is unfortunate that these things still exist but until the world can look past gender as defining what a person can do the issue will always be present.
Gender roles have been prevelant in our society and well as many other societies throughout the world. For centuries,since the beginning of time, women have been subjected to unequal as was as unfair treatment by men to exist or even be a part of society. This has also been seen or portrayed through the media and a lot of movies. So often women prostituted their bodies to gain financial stability or even survive. Do I think this is right? No. Because it is the 21 century and men as well as a society should equally except women as equals and not just as subjects of our fantasies,selfish lusts or desires.I was raised in family of six aunts and we were and still are very close,for the most part, and I think that this has given me a undying respect for women and their strengths. I also have a twenty-five year old daughter whom I am very proud of because she has graduated from college without depending on a man(outside of myself) to financially support her.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading "The House on Mango Street", I feel that the thoughts and struggles of the women and girls of the novel could have been overcome if they would have been shown a different way or means of becoming "themselves" by other avenues not mentioned in the novel.In my mind women are mentally and emotionally stronger than men and their strengths should praised and not overlooked. And that they should not be viewed as more than justs objects of our lusts.
The man’s role in the novel is to provide for the family. The men are the head of the household. Geraldo left Mexico in order to send money back to his family. Many of the men control their wives. Rafeala’s husband controls her; he doesn’t let her leave the apartment. Whenever Rafeala wants something to drink she has to bribe the children to go buy her something and rig it up to her through the window.
ReplyDeleteMany of the Mexican women believe that their role is to obey their husbands. This idea seems to be passed on from generation to generation. Alicia was told by her father that women’s role should be in the kitchen. Esperanza, Lucy and Rachel received a sack of high heels from an adult. They walked around the street and got a different kind of attention than they were used to. The hidden message learned from this is when they get older, it becomes their duty to look nice for men. Lucy, Rachel, Nenny, and Esperanza decide that real women have hips. These hips allow them to perform their duties, birthing and taking care of children. Sally gets married like every other Mexican in the hood. She says she likes being married; however, her husband treats her like Rafaela’s. He never lets her leave and practically controls every aspect of her life. Esperanza’s mother even tells her that someday she will grow up and her “dusty hair will settle and [her] blouse will learn to stay clean.” According to her mother, women are supposed to perform their duties quietly and respectfully. The woman’s role is to be seen and not heard.
A few times some of the women try to break the Mexican standards. Alicia decides to study hard so that she doesn’t have to be “behind a rolling pin.” Esperanza decides she doesn’t want to be tamed like all of the other girls.
In society there are typical roles for males and females. Even though the traditional roles are being pushed and expanded, most people still fulfill the traditional role. The men are the heads of the household providing for the family and the women take care of the home. Sure, a lot of women have jobs now too, but they are usually the ones that are most involved with the children. The gender roles seen in The House on Mango Street are challenged but present in today’s society.
The gender roles in The House on Mango Street are very old fashioned in the least. This being supported by the fact that women were meant to be seen not heard, stayed in the house and out of sight, or was to stay in the kitchen. Women’s role in society is to be a slave to a man, to not have rights and make sure everyone else’s needs came before her own. This is seen with Rosa who is left to take care of her kids single handedly, Alicia who takes over her mother’s role after she passes away, Minerva with her husband who is bad for her but lets him keep coming back into her life because he’s her husband, and with Rafaela and Sally who are kept inside by their husbands. This belief the men have been projecting that the women need to cater to them makes them feel lesser and trapped, like nothing will be done regardless if its wrong because they are women. But yet the women keep trying to pull themselves back up like Sally tried to when her father beat her, finding solace in the boys her age and eventually in finding a husband that could take her away from her abusive father. The sad thing is that a lot of this still goes on today. Men still feel women should be pregnant, at home and in the kitchen waiting on them hand and foot. It means women get paid less per dollar then men and that they given a harder time to reach higher positions. Once at those positions, men spread lies about how the woman had slept her way to the top or becomes this man hating bitch who cares about nothing but power and money. No matter what women do, it will always seen lesser. Until it can be bred out of the man that women are just objects and are equal to them and it is taught to women from an early age they are more then lesser things, this way of being will continue to exist.
ReplyDeleteAll the women want to be sexually attractive to men. This is sometimes confusing to Esperanza. Esperanza is trying to stay somewhere between her cultural and American boundaries. Latino women in her neighborhood are swinging their hips, wearing high heels, and walking the streets. However, when the girls do this, they get unwanted attention and end up hurt at the end. All the girls do as expected: flirt a little, and then get married right away.
ReplyDeleteThe roles of men and women are defined in the novel. Men are supposed to fix stuff, have a job, and be the leader of the household. Women are supposed to keep a tidy house, have children, and keep their husbands happy. The world does not work this way most of the time, however. Many men stay at home and fulfill the “women role”, and vice-versa. There is no gender-specific role in America. Men can be the “moms”, while the women stays on her career path.
First of all, I think that gender roles are important and have always been a part of human nature. The key factor is the choice in the role. I see a working system in the fact that a woman will do housework and raise the children while the man kills the bugs and pays the bills. However, this is assuming that the men are not afraid of bugs and the women are good cooks. In the novel House on Mango street, the women weren't given a choice. Often referenced is the chinese culture where women aren't even allowed to think of making that choice. It was set in some metaphorical stone that women were to sit in the house and then men were dominant over their women in fear that they may leave. This put a very big strain on the characters in the book. Women knew their place and either acted upon it or silently lived in their prisons. I think today that still happens in some cases but as a society women have lots of control over their own life. Equal rights have gone far and the gender roles have been switched up. So many women have masculine qualities and men have feminine qualities. It isn't completely unheard of to have a household where the woman works and the man raises the children. It has become a personal choice-- whichever role fits the personality best is the role that each partner takes. On a education level I think that it is still expected to have women as elementary and middle school teachers where nuturing a childs mind is a must. I think that typically men only teach courses like math or politics. However, I've also always attended very bias schools in small communities. In the work place, I see a lot of diversity. Male waiters, women mechanics, male and female CEO's, etc. So far the only place a woman hasn't been is the White house. Which I am sure will happen eventually.
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