Biography of Grandparent

In the countless lessons about washing clothes and handling food, she reveals something about herself: that to her, there is no life outside of the one that she has, and she approves only of the same life for her daughter. That as a girl, her daughter must know these things, because her daughter’s only lot in life will be the same one that she has now. The mother’s worldview isn’t the only thing affecting the teachings of these lessons, though. Another strong influence behind these lessons revolves around the mother’s personal

As a result, she lacked confidence in her education. She stated, “My early education did not partake of the abundant opportunities which the present day affords and which even our common schools now afford. I was never sent to any school; I was always sick.” Even though she did not attend a formal school it did not put her out of reach of a proper education (Peterson, 9).

Throughout time the relationship between mothers and daughters have changed. Many mothers hold on to the “old fashioned” opinion of what a woman should be and many older women feel that a women’s true role in life is to be domesticated. This idea of a woman’s place in the home is being reinforced throughout Kincaid’s short story. The mother in the story is telling her young daughter the ways things should be done. “Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the colored clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline to dry.” She further goes on to describe other household chores and how they should be correctly done. "This is how you sweep a corner." She tells her daughter how to set a table for different meals, how to cook things, and even how to pick out bread. Unfortunately, though, the story doesn’t tell a woman how to have a successful career, to go to college, or how to work outside of the home. In those days’ women were expected to stay at home while their husband’s go out to work and make all the money. Even if they tried, they were not allowed to go outside the way society made them to be and this mother is trying to raise her young daughter the same way she was raised which is to be a house wife.

In the short story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, we are urged to think that the stereotypical norms, pushes the mother to pass on the feminine cultures, which society wants girls to follow. Many aspects of the story link this theme to the autobiography of Kincaid, her unhealthy relationship with her mother is totally opposite of the the over-caring mother in this story. The mother in this story believes that having the knowledge to take care of herself will save her daughter from a life of unhappiness. By teaching her these things, she feels that it will also empower her to take on the role of a head of her household and a productive member of the community. The mother also worries, if her young daughter does not change her behavior

Moreover, this unexplained misery the women in the 1900s felt, all had one thing in common, they were all housewives. Similarly, in The Americans textbook (2006), it is shown that a significant portion of the women in college share the same idea, in the end. In an interview with women from Stanford University, it is shown that, “Of graduates in 1965, 70 percent planned not to work at all when their children were of preschool

During this particular time period, the mother’s guidance is essential to the type of lady this young girl will one day be classified as. The

The role of women in the early 1900’s still had an expectation of a traditional wife and mother. Women who dreamed of one day having careers or independence suffered discrimination and bullying in the city. Sara Smolinksy dreamed of moving to the city and attending class to become a teacher. However, once on her own, Sara suffers from the shameful glances of others and the lack of belief in her from her family.

Being a part of the outdoor world and assisting her father out on the farm was important to her. The girl was pleased when her father complimented her hard work, she “turned away and raked furiously, red in the face with pleasure” (4). Although, whenever the narrator’s mother asked for help she quickly did the task, but she stated, “as soon as I was done I ran out of the house... before my mother thought of what she wanted me to do next” (4). It seems as if she did not want to be like her mother. She viewed her mother as boring, and she did not want to become a modern housewife with little importance to the world. The girl clearly stated “it seemed to me that work in the house was endless, dreary, and peculiarly depressing; work done out of doors, and in my father's service, was ritualistically important” (4). Nevertheless, as the girl aged, her personality towards life began to change. She had been comfortable with the idea of killing animals and found herself watching the process, but later, she matured into a girl who “didn't think of watching it” (9). Without showing regret, the girl seemed to be

In reality, the church has played a major role in the life of Mother Audine Blue. Truly, the love for her church family is undeniable. However, she misses her great grandson that she helped raised. Reflecting on their relationship, she recalls anything he wanted, asked for, she gave him. Unfortunately, her only daughter had a misunderstanding with years ago and they never reconciled. And yet, Henry Shelton Blue, her husband left many years ago and never returned. Thank God for the closeness of her brother, cousins, her personal care giver and her church family that supports

During this summer and school became to draw closer, my mom began to start the nagging. “Have you started your summer reading yet?” The dreaded question I least wanted to hear. Nonetheless, she took me to the library to get books I would have to analyze for the upcoming school year. I decided to take out Little Women, a classic. Much to my surprise, I realized I was thoroughly enjoying myself, the perspective of Jo is so different from my own. In the nineteenth-century, women were supposed to conform to narrow

She then on went about her family. She grew up in a strict family home were her parents were not born in America, but from Poland like myself. She said that they were very strict with what she could and could not do. She had a strict curfew also, she was basically locked up and was not allowed to do things her friends could do. They were using an Authoritarian parenting style (Feldman, 2008). Their relationship with a child is where the parent’s word is law. Authoritarian parents do not engage in discussions with their teen and family rules and standards are not debated. But when she turned 18 they gave her more freedom, she was allowed to stay out later, go to parties, and do pretty much what her friends did. This type of parenting style is known as “Authoritative”, were the parents and somewhat strict, but let the adolescent have a sense of independence (Feldman, 2008).

There have been countless influential people in my life that I’ve come across. One who was a meticulous inspiration continues to be my grandfather. My grandmother had remarried to the one I call “grandpa” when I was at the age of five, and they both took to each other’s grandchildren as their own. With my mother and me only living a mile down the road from their farmhouse out in the country, I’d spent heaps amount of time there as a child. Indeed, I had been without a father but my grandfather stepped up to the plate and had taken me under his wing and willingly played the personification of a father figure.

The girl controlled her own decisions, and found individuality in qualities deemed unladylike at that time. Her lack of exposure to gender roles differs from her mother’s when reflecting, “Mother was plotting now to get me to stay in the house more, although she knew I hated it… It seemed to me she would do this simply out of perversity, and to try her power. It did not occur to me that she could be lonely or jealous.” Her mother was defined by her ability to manage the house, and felt lonely and jealous of her daughter’s freedom to choose to identify differently.

Growing up in the countryside, her family had to tend to their animals on top of taking care of the house. At a young age, she learned that her role in the house was to do the household labor. Growing up in the countryside in the 1960s this was to be expected. She had never attended school, as the only child her parents needed her at home at all times. She was in charge of household tasks that are traditionally girls and tasks that are traditionally for boys. The tasks that were deemed as being for men involved tending cattle and taking care of

Although the daughter’s shame in her mother is evident, she is also prideful of her as well. The strong love that the mother and daughter share is pervasive throughout the story. The story is being told by the daughter after she is all grown up. The fact that Jones uses such vivid detail on the mother’s preparation for her daughters first day of school shows that the daughter loved her mom and all that she did for her. The daughter recalls that her mother spent a lot of time preparing her when she says, “My mother has uncharacteristically spent nearly an hour on my hair that morning, plaiting and replaiting so that now my scalp tingles.” (Jones) She also remembers that her “pale green slip and underwear are new, the underwear having come three to a plastic package with a little girl on the front who appears to be dancing.” (Jones) The daughter having remembered details like these illustrate that she has an immense love and takes pride