English Essay: “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

Running head: ENGLISH ESSAY: “GIRL” BY JAMAICA KINCAID
English Essay: “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

1ENGLISH ESSAY: “GIRL” BY JAMAICA KINCAID
Question: Describe the culture depicted in “Girl” as well as the role of females in that
culture. Is either the culture or the role of females in it similar or different from what you are
familiar with? Explain.
Thesis Claim: Culture defines gender roles and family impounds it within women to
respond to social pressure.
The short story “Girl” written by Jamaica Kincaid depicts the age old rules and norms
that women are forced to play to belong to the male dominated society. Culture plays a
significant role in shaping the gender roles in a society. The story is written as a monologue
and consists of one single sentence. The girl’s presence is minimal in the story despite the
fact that the story is titled on her. The dichotomy in this is that without the title, the existence
of the girl is almost negligible, reduced to two defensive responses by the girl which is
thoroughly ignored by the speaker in favor of delivering the teachings that the speaker feels is
needed. The essay analyzes the impacts of culture on gender stereotyping and the way
familial teaching enforces stereotyping with close textual references and personal experience
accounts.
The story has only two characters while only one of them is truly present in the story.
The mother is the major speaker with the listener, her daughter responding only to
accusations and queries that seem trivial. The story is set in the household of countryside. It is
believed that the story reflects the personal experience of the writer herself. The teachings
that the mother delivers are sets the differences between men and women. Her instructions
like “you are not a boy” are clearly indicative of the middle aged thought that the role of
women is predominantly in the household, cooking, cleaning, and decorating the house while
the only occasions that she ventures out are for school and church (Kincaid pp. 4). While