Introduction
Published in a 1978 issue of the New Yorker, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid is an example of communication between a mother and her daughter, where she lays down the expectations that society has of her as a woman. The story illustrates stereotypical and patriarchal societal norms, which lead the mother to pass on apparent feminine traits or cultures that their society expects girls to know and follow.
For instance, the mother explains to her daughter the importance of cooking, cleaning, and entertaining. She also mentions severally the importance of not being perceived as a slut. She concludes the story by asking her daughter, “Are you really going to be the kind of woman that the baker won’t let near the bread?” (Kincaid, 1978) in a further illustration of the stereotypical gender roles dictated in their society. Kincaid’s short story demonstrates how society enforces and perpetuates stereotypical societal roles for women by dictating what is expected of them.
The Implied Value of Domestic Knowledge
In the story, the mother is assured that passing on valuable domestic knowledge to her daughter will save her from a life of ruin and promiscuity and empower her to be a productive member of society. For example, she gives her daughter instructions on washing clothes, sweeping, cooking pumpkin fritters, buying bread, and growing okra (Kincaid, 1978). Undoubtedly for many patriarchal societies, domestic knowledge prompts a woman’s usefulness and productivity, which wins respect from society and their family. In the context of the short story, household work seemingly results in women’s distinction and power as well as keeping them occupied and away from “temptation.”
It is discernable from the reading that the mother has immense reverence for the power of domestic knowledge due to the various explicit guidelines she offers her daughter. As far as the mother is concerned, good domestic knowledge results in respectability and decency. With this in mind, a simple act, such as sewing up a dress, subsequently becomes more than just a maintenance act as it can save a woman’s sexual reputation in society.
Societal Expectations Concerning Women’s Conduct
The entire story is an example of how women are expected to be careful of everything they do. In the most basic definition, ‘Girl’ is a set of rules for a young girl growing into a woman. These rules outline what she can and cannot do as a woman within society. One clear example is when her mother tells her, “this is how to behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well” (Kincaid, 1978).
Most of the rules are given to her to know how to act to avoid being perceived negatively. The mother tells her daughter all of the things she needs to know to be noticed as a perfect woman. These instructions make the daughter feel like anything she does must be perfect, which undoubtedly puts undue pressure on her. With this regard, the story portrays the pressures women in society must deal with and how young girls have unrealistic pressures to be perfect individuals. Such pressure is unhealthy as it may result in anxieties, depression, and feelings of low esteem in women who cannot live up to these standards.
Women’s Sexuality: Expected Norms, Behaviors, and Responses
In many societies, women often risk being called derogatory terms based on what they wear and their participation or exploration of their sexuality. “Girl” shows how this is true based on the things the mother tells her daughter. For example, the mother instructs, “try to walk like a lady and not like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming” (Kincaid, 1978). She also tells her daughter, “this is how you hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming” (Kincaid, 1978). The mother says to her daughter, “this is how to behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well, and this way they won’t recognize the slut I have warned you against becoming” (Kincaid, 1978).
The girl’s mother repeatedly refers to her daughter as someone with the potential of having more than one sexual partner, that is, a “slut”. This example shows the extent of “slut-shaming” that goes on within their society and culture. This perspective implies that men can have sex with as many people as they want to, but if a girl does the same or dresses in the ‘wrong’ way, they will be ridiculed and called names. Along the same line, the mother instructs her daughter to be careful of how she looks and does in public for fear of being seen as less than she is.
Conclusion
‘Girl’ is a short story that demonstrates and illustrates how stereotypical and patriarchal societal norms are perpetuated and enforced. Authored as a conversation between a mother and her daughter, the story shows the various lessons and cultures society expects girls to know and follow for their validation. In the story’s illustrations, domesticity shows how societal norms are propagated by implying that the knowledge of domestic work and culture prompts a woman’s usefulness and productivity. This apparent usefulness results in a woman’s validation by gaining respect from society and their family. However, the propagation and enforcement of these norms is unhealthy. It may result in anxieties, depression, and feelings of low esteem in women who cannot live up to these standards.
Reference
Kincaid, J. (1978). Girl. The New Yorker.