Essay on Rebels in Society: The No Name Women, I Want a Wife, and Women Hollering Creek

Introduction

In every state, it is impossible to have every inhabitant behaving according to the societal norms. A rebel refers to a person whose actions are against the traditional guidelines laid out in a community. Rebels are often treated as outcasts in society, and no one wants to be associated with them. The "no name women, I want a wife and women hollering creek stories provides examples of individuals ousted by society due to doing things that are against the tradition. Despite the society having strict moral codes, gender inequality is witnessed as the women are considered a disgrace when they break the norms. At the same time, men are condoned (Lorber). Because the societal values are formulated to guide the community on how they are required to behave, Individuals who are considered to have rebelled in America or violated the norms are often cast out of the community.

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How Treatment of Characters in the Stories Reveals Similar Tactics Used to Deal With Individuals in America Today

No Name Women

The no name women story is narrated to Kingston when she attains the age of puberty as a warning of how the society can treat her if she falls pregnant before marriage. Kingston's mother narrates to her the tale of her aunt, who is not mentioned by name and hence the title "no name woman." Kingston's aunt's husband was away for a long time after their marriage. According to Kingston's mother, her aunt got pregnant when her husband was away, which was considered a great taboo. The aunt committed suicide after giving birth, killing both herself and the child. Based on the story version of Kingston's mother, her aunt's family considered her a disgrace. After her demise, they wanted to forget her existence:

After the villagers left, their lanterns now scattering in various directions toward home, the family broke their silence and cursed her.”Aiaa, we are going to die. Death is coming. Death is coming. Look what you have done. Do not let your father know that 1 told you. He denies her. Now that you have started to menstruate, what happened to her could happen to you. Do not humiliate us. You would not like to be forgotten as if you had never been born (Kingston 3).

The story indicates that when a woman gets pregnant out of marriage, she is disowned not only by the community but also by her own family. All the blames as passed to the lady while the man carries no blame. Kingston states that “She kept the man's name to herself throughout her labor and dying; she did not accuse him that he be punished with her. To save her inseminator's name, she gave silent birth" (3). In the United States of America, pregnant teenagers and illegitimate babies are treated as outcasts in society.

I Want a Wife

I want a Wife story by Judy Brandy reflects on the roles that a woman is expected to play in marriage. Society treats men as the superior gender. It makes the women position in the family as a submissive and a servant to the man. When a woman diverts from being a timid person to being vocal, they are considered rebels and home breakers. The story is narrated by a woman who also states that she wants a wife:

I want a wife who is sensitive to my sexual needs, a wife who makes love passionately and eagerly when I feel like it, a wife who makes sure that I am satisfied. Moreover, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it (Brandy 2).

Based on the story, a wife is supposed to be faithful in marriage, while the man can be promiscuous. When a woman chats in marriage, she is considered an outcast and equated to a prostitute. However, when a man cheats, a woman is supposed to forgive. Therefore, in American society, a woman is cast out when she diverts from her role while a man is embraced.

Woman Hollering Creek

Like many other stories, the Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros reflects the unequal treatment of men and women rebels in the United States of America. The story is believed to have originated from the Latin American tale of the weeping woman. The woman's husband left her for another woman, led to drowning all her children into the river and finally drowning herself. However, her misfortunes begin when she reaches heaven, and she is denied entry until she finds all her children. The story is built on female stereotype where men as considered to be strong and ladies naïve. The tales are built traitorous mothers, the sinful seductress, and the passive virgin. The societal role of women is to take care of their family failure to which they are considered rebels, and the community rejects them.

How Setting in the Stories Portray Similar Places or Institution That Use Same Strategies to Deal With American Individuals Who Rebels.

All three stories have a familiar setting, which is family and marriage institutions. The "No Name Woman Story" starts with narrations of how the narrator's aunt's husband left living her behind. Both the husband and wife build the marriage institution, and therefore it takes both to destroy. "I Want a Wife" is also built on the marriage institution:

Not too long ago, a male friend of mine appeared on the scene fresh from a recent divorce. He had one child, who is, of course, with his ex-wife. He is looking for another wife. As I thought about him while I was ironing one evening, it suddenly occurred to me that I, too, would like to have a wife. Why do I want a wife? (Brandy 1)

Woman Hollering Creek's story also reflects on the role of the woman in marriage. Based on the three stories, there is evidence that marriage institutions use gender-based discrimination when judging and condemning rebels. Women are treated harshly by the family and the society while men are forgiven and welcomed back.

One Section of the Plot That Conveys the Treatment Rebels

In “No Name Women," the narrator's aunt gives in to sexual pleasure, which resulted in pregnancy. However, even when she was going through the struggles, she did not reveal the child's father's name. The explanation of how sexual escapades happened indicates that it was no conceptual. However, she cannot defend herself to society and her family due to the man's fear of intimidation. Kingston's aunt's family forsakes her and even consider hers as an outcast. Even after her death, her family is still ashamed of her, and they decide to assume that she never existed. The story reflects on the story of an American girl child who is neglected by their family and considered a bad influence on others if they get pregnant before marriage. All the blame is put on the ladies, yet both commit the rebellious act.

Conclusion

Because the societal values are formulated to guide the community on how they are required to behave, Individuals who are considered to have rebelled in America or violated the norms are often cast out of the community. Women often suffer more than men if they rebel. The families reject them. They lose their children, and even after death, their names are forgotten. Male chauvinism is supported by society since there is a special treatment to male rebels. While women are denied a chance to give their side of the story, men are welcomed back to the community without any explanation.

Works Cited

Brady, Judy. "Why I want a wife." Literature for composition (1972).

Cisneros, Sandra. Woman hollering creek: and other stories. Vintage, 2013.

Kingston, Maxine Hong. No name, woman. ABC, 1981.

Lorber, Judith. "Gender inequality." Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury (2001).