Gender Roles In Yankee Doodle Dandy And No Gumption

In both “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and “No Gumption,” we see that Williams’ and Bakers’ mothers play a crucial role in their respective stories. It is known, that in a time of need no one can help you better than your mother. They are the ones who prepare us for the rest of lives. They are always trying to help; even when you don’t want them to. Sometimes our mothers, although they mean their best, don’t give us what we need to hear. Sometimes they tell us the wrong things. In these two essays, we can see how this is true.
When it comes to advice, sometimes the best advice is not what we should hear but what we want to hear. When Williams was leaving Puerto Rico to play professional baseball, his mother attempted to persuade him not to go. She was a school teacher and wanted her son to continue into higher education. Williams did leave to play ball, but he also went to college to learn how to become a doctor.
Mothers always want the best for their sons, but the best thing is different for everyone. Baker’s mother thought that she could change her son’s “lack of gumption” by signing him up to sell magazines for the Curtis Publishing Company to start him on the path to business. But Baker just didn’t have the kind of go-getter personality required for that type of job. …show more content…
Many times they manage to realize their mistakes and set things right. Williams was having a hard time in school and baseball. Each required his full attention which he could not give without dropping the other. After having been dropped back down into the minor league, Williams thought that he should quit baseball and focus on his college studies. But his mother surprised him by telling him that if he truly loved baseball he should follow his dream and focus all of his time on becoming a better player. He did, and because of that he became one of the best players of his