Comparing Blackwood's 'National Discourses And Daughters' Desires

Kin & Influences Response Essay
Blackwood’s chapter four, “National Discourses and Daughters’ Desires,” focused on the mother-daughter relations within and outside the household and how it has changed over generations. The earlier generations had a different set of identities to choose from due to the changes over time. Those changes involved an increase in education that led to a change in marriage rights. The earlier generations had more of a voice and choice now compared to the earlier generations who were to do what their parents told them or expected them to do. Education was giving the daughters a chance at a better job and income that may lead them to move out of the village leaving their homes. Then with moving out of the village and pursuing their education they did not have marriage on their mind. They were getting married later as well as choosing their own husbands. Although with the younger generations new changes and choice the state program still outlined the importance …show more content…
The town was once full of big houses with extended families to now smaller single-family units. In the earlier generations most houses were bigger due to them housing extended families. Additionally, elite women would remain in their family’s house after marriage. There are a number of reasons for more single-family households. One of the reasons is due to the elderly dying at a younger age and the arrival of new families into the village. With the elderly dying younger it would leave the daughters alone to care for the small children in the home. Another reason would be for women unable to bear daughters, this causing the elderly to be alone when the sons move away to be with their wives. Lastly, many daughters were leaving the home in search of jobs because they either had a lack of land to farm or no interest in farming so they would search for better