Week 7- Rough Draft

Week 7- Rough Draft

Today, women have stronger image in almost every culture. Women have fought really hard to prove how strong, intelligent and capable they are in order for their image to be put beside men to show the equality if not higher, of power, strength and intellect. By reading the wonderful stories written by powerful women, for instance, Sojourner Truth “Aren’t I A Woman? ” Paula Gunn Allen “Where I Come From Is Like This” and Jamaica Kincaid “Girl”, it brought up my realization that the woman I am today has been shaped by looking up to and following the steps of my mother and grandmothers.

As Paula Allen writes, “I remember my mother moving furniture all over the house when she wanted. It changed…” (76). Allen states, “My mother told me stories all the time, though I …” (74). At the end of the same passage, Allen clarifies, “And in all of those stories she told me who I was…” (74). I also recall the same stories from my mother and grandmothers. In the old times, life was harder since they had to do everything from scratch. Their patience and endurance always amazed me.

In the short story “Girl”, Jamaica Kincaid exemplifies, “Always eat your food in such a way…” (Website1). Kincaid writes, “This is how you iron your father’s khaki shirt…” (Website1). When I read this story, I pictured my mother talking to me and teaching me all the rules how to be a nice, polite, and creative girl.

In the speech “Aren’t I A Woman?” Sojourner Truth states “Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed…” (Website2). Truth mentions, “…he says women can’t have as much right as men, because Christ wasn’t a woman!” (Website2). My grandmother had a farm and handled it all by herself, and said she used to eat as much as my grandfather because she didn’t have all machines to do the work for her; she would get really exhausted and hungry.

Therefore, the person I am today is a combination of my mother and grandmothers in 21st century. Even if I get suppressed by men in my life, I have mastered my endurance and patient to wait for the right time and take advantage of the situation. Migrating from country to country had also a huge impact on my identity since I have been exposed to new cultures, met new people and learned new language. I try to make the best of what is available to me; it doesn’t bother me if I have less or not of anything. Knowing Christ was made from God and a woman, gives me the greatest pride of being a woman. It is my weapon against men that women are the ones who borne children not men. One of the greatest characteristic I learned was to be passionate with others, for instance, to act like a child when I play with a child and so on. So I have been able to connect with others easier and learn from them and also make friends faster.

I have certain duty as a daughter, wife, and mother and need to act accordingly. I learned form them that I have a strong role in my family regardless of a social and political image. From their experiences, I learned to be in control of my own action and mind. Also, I should always be strong and positive despite of men.