I am bringing this vignette into my analysis because it displays another woman like her great-grandmother who sits by the window. These women used to be independent before the presence of a male figure. After a male’s dominance and actions taken toward her she becomes a different person one of silence, sadness and oppression sitting by the window. Esperanza uses these women as examples of the life she will have if she does not search for another one that breaks this cookie cutter mold.
By delving deeper into oppression of women and the impact of men and their opinions of women, I decided to use personal experience and interview my sister and her two best friends. They are in their sophomore years of high school and have been invited to several Sweet Sixteen parties. One of the girls in the group had Sweet Sixteen herself while the other two celebrated in a different way. The first question I asked them was if during their own or during another’s Sweet Sixteen did they feel the need to dress nice for men? All girls replied, “yes”. I found this …show more content…
Esperanza uses her mom as another example of a women who fell in line to this cookie cutter role of women established by men. Esperanza says, “she used to draw when she had the time. Now she draws with a needle and thread. Today while cooking oatmeal she sighs and points the wooden spoon at me. I could’ve been somebody, you know? Esperanza you go to school. You study hard. Shame is a bad thing, you know. It keeps you down.” (Cisneros, 91). Esperanza’s mom realizes that she has been another victim to this assembly line cycle. She urges Esperanza to not be another victim. She explains just because men may feel the need to put you down or make you feel not as intelligent as them do not let that shaming stop you from being an independent woman. Esperanza’s mother is a great example for her daughter and fuels Esperanza’s quest for a better life even