–How would you describe the STYLE of this text? Be specific in illustrating your response.
–Where do we see conflict in this text? What is the nature of the conflict?
–What does this text tell us about the expectations placed on girls and women?
–Explain the text’s last line: “you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread? “.
–Choose a specific instruction or prohibition from the text that stands out to you. What do you make of it?
–To what extent do you feel that you have been given, either explicitly or implicitly, instructions about what it means to be a woman or a man? Share an example of an instruction that you have received.
Explain the text’s last line: “you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread? “.
I think this line has a negative connotation for the girl. Perhaps, her mother wants to emphasize that after all these lessons she is trying to give her daughter she is still trying to be someone that will be excluded or looked down from the society? Basically on one side it shows disappointment from the mothers’ side, and on the other side it shows injustice from the daughter’s side.
Choose a specific instruction or prohibition from the text that stands out to you. What do you make of it?
“this is how you spit up in the air if you feel like it” is different from other lines in this text. It feels defiant, whereas everything else was said to become a respectable woman. “if you feel like it” is the first time the daughters wants has been considered. Everything else is how to survive, be respectable, or how to become comfortable while doing it. This line of advice, on the other hand, feels like a small way to get rid of frustrations, or even how to quietly voice themselves. It’s pretty interesting that this was included.
To what extent do you feel that you have been given, either explicitly or implicitly, instructions about what it means to be a woman or a man? Share an example of an instruction that you have received.
As someone who also comes from a male-dominated culture, I can relate to a lot of the instructions being given. Women are expected to be obedient, respectable, and must always take care of the household. However, unlike in the story where the mother does seem to want her daughter to assert some power, I have been told the woman always has to do what the man says, no matter whether she likes it or not. That’s why, I was actually really surprised when the mother gave instructions on how to abort an unwanted pregnancy. Because in my culture, at least to my knowledge, that would be considered taboo. I have been told women need to serve their husbands, their in-laws, and “stay tough and have patience” even if the marriage becomes abusive because “that’s just how men are.” The worst part is, even if girls have the ability and potential, just like Kincaid did, to become someone great, it means nothing and is considered worthless if she does not marry and become a “respectable” wife serving her husband.
The idea of tradition vs modernity also plays a critical role in this. Even though women’s rights have come a long way and there is much more equality as compared to history, it does not apply to the whole world. Several countries still abide by traditional roles and norms. Women are still oppressed. And I believe countries will continue to stick to those norms because if a woman were to have the same status as a man, the whole social system and culture would undergo major changes, hurting the men in power.
How would you describe the STYLE of this text? Be specific in illustrating your response.
I would describe it as a conversation between a very caring mother and her daughter. An example I would say most of the text creates this connection between mother and daughter. A mother is caring but would use the adjective protective because she tries to prepare her daughter for every possible situation, because she, the mother, knows that those years are not the easiest to be a respected woman at home and beyond, for instance; how to behave in church, how to walk, how to catch a fish, how to feel if the bread is fresh.
What does this text tell us about the expectations placed on girls and women?
This text shows us the harsh and strict expectations that are placed on women and young girls in our society. We see how anything that a women does “incorrectly” can change how society views her and we see how the mother is aware of that explaining how certain actions and behaviors can cause her to views negatively. We see how women have to act a certain way as the mother explains, the difference of how you act towards different people in fear of coming off a certain way. This text also displays how young women have to be prepared to act and behave that certain way at a young age and we see the mother try to drill this ideology into her daughter.
What does this text tell us about the expectations placed on girls and women?
I think this text tells us that there are many demands placed on women and these demands make a woman’s life in society difficult. The mother is clearly worried for her daughter in how she will face the “real” world. The mother gives her daughter a tough time and keeps on giving these “lessons” to constantly remind her of the unfair expectations they have to face due to society.
Explain the text’s last line: “you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won’t let near the bread?”
I think this line is saying how the mother interprets the idea of the baker not allowing the daughter to touch the bread as a sign that the daughter has become a form of outcast and is seen as unwanted or dirty, something that is not fit for society and not the proper thing to do. It is it symbolize how you check the break to see if its fresh and she relates it to the daughter saying that she is unfit when checked like the bread for a good family life.