Gloria Estefan described motherhood like this, “Motherhood is. . .difficult. . . and rewarding”. This is an accurate description of the hardships many mothers go through in raising children. Raising children is difficult in part because of the multitude of ways parents could raise them. Parents resort to a multitude of methods ranging from outrageous to courageous, the effectiveness of these methods has been investigated by many of today’s poets and authors. In “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, the advice of the mother is ineffective due to promoting gender roles, and stereotypes; whereas, “If I Had a Daughter” by Sarah Kay, the proposed approach by Kay would be much more effective due to the encouraging of breaking gender roles and stereotypes.
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Sarah Kay’s proposed method promotes a lifestyle of independence and courage. Throughout the poem Kay envisions educating her daughter to be self reliant and strong willed. This technique would ensure that her daughter would be able to think independently of others in her life. The idea of autonomy in life is very important because of how often there are situations where a person must rely on themselves to solve their problems effectively. The importance of independence is conveyed through Sarah Kay’s poem “If I Had a Daughter” throughout the entirety of the poem, especially in the line, “You will put the “wind” in win some lose some, you will put the “star” in starting over and over”(2011, para. 5). Kay shows her desire and hope for her daughter’s strength and self reliance through her daughter’s failures and the hope that she has for the future. This message is a positive one that many parents wish their children would learn. Without self sufficiency as a foundation of a child’s learning, they will never be able to move on from the heartbreaks and sadness of
Sarah Kay’s proposed method promotes a lifestyle of independence and courage. Throughout the poem Kay envisions educating her daughter to be self reliant and strong willed. This technique would ensure that her daughter would be able to think independently of others in her life. The idea of autonomy in life is very important because of how often there are situations where a person must rely on themselves to solve their problems effectively. The importance of independence is conveyed through Sarah Kay’s poem “If I Had a Daughter” throughout the entirety of the poem, especially in the line, “You will put the “wind” in win some lose some, you will put the “star” in starting over and over”(2011, para. 5). Kay shows her desire and hope for her daughter’s strength and self reliance through her daughter’s failures and the hope that she has for the future. This message is a positive one that many parents wish their children would learn. Without self sufficiency as a foundation of a child’s learning, they will never be able to move on from the heartbreaks and sadness of