Kincaid’s “Girl”

Most girls with a mother figure can relate to the story in that they must have heard at least some variation of the commands and domestic advice given in the story. “Do this so that men will like you, do this so they think you’re a good candidate for a wife…” Perhaps in modern day, this is more prevalent in non-American families, which often keep traditional familial hierarchies and values.
That the book introduces the story as “the rules and rites of womanhood” seems appropriate. In traditional households, girls and women were taught from an early age that they were supposed to be “proper” women: silent, pretty, and subservient to their husbands. Wifehood was ingrained into women’s minds (by society and well-meaning mothers) as the thing to aspire to. Being sexually liberal was frowned upon and punished. Therefore, perhaps one of the most degrading insults that can be hurled at a woman is “whore” or “slut” because that connotates that she will never be an honorable wife and is potentially a homewrecker. Therefore, the carelessly strewn insults among the text of the story may appear to be incongruous  abusive and unhelpful, but that is often the way that mothers will teach their daughters to be chaste.
The fact that the entire story consists of one sentence seems appropriate too, as often orders and advice can become muddled into one long stream of commands in one’s mind.