The short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid comes off like a list of do's and don'ts by a strict mother. The language is strange to me, telling your daughter "prevent you from looking like the slut you are so bent on becoming". This doesn't sit right with me, yet the story feels like it belongs.
The question "do you identify with the girl in this story" seemed like a joke. I was surprised to hear that the majority of the class said yes. I was not raised to compare myself to other genders, to others, and I did not have a mother who tried to put me in a label. Yes, my parents had me do chores, but not because of my age or gender. Our whole family did chores together, we all helped with laundry, my dad is an excellent cook, both my parents work, they encourage my sister and I to both have successful jobs. We were expected to go to college and get a job. It would have been odd if we didn't. My parents never placed gender roles on my sister nor I. My family sees everyone as equals, gender, race, education. I know there are some people and countries that believe that this is okay, but as a woman, I do not agree with this stories upbringing. Everyone should have equal opportunities to apply themselves and that it's okay if they don't fall into that gender stereo type, be yourself and what makes you happy.
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