Analysis Of The Cookin Twinkle

Twinkle has a unique position in the spectrum of projected gender roles of Indian women because she is Indian American. We can discern that growing up in America has provided her with the ability to be freer in her attitudes and choices in life. In their Indian culture young men and women are still expected to rely on their families to find marriage connections. Sanjeev remembers, “snapshots his mother used to send him from Calcutta, of prospective brides who could sing and sew and season lentils without consulting a cookbook” (146). These are all desires that Twinkle does not or cannot satisfy. It was expected that the women could cook, clean, and care for the family, yet throughout the story we hear Sanjeev make statements on how Twinkle does none of these activities. The speaker states, “She was not terribly ambitious in the kitchen… She detested chopping garlic…. So it was Sanjeev who… seasoned mustard oil with cinnamon sticks” (144), she is not the ideal wife that Sanjeev thinks of. He is doing the tasks his wife should be in charge of, the …show more content…
Even though her husband tells her to dispose of the religious items she dares to question him: “Please. I would feel terrible throwing them away. Obviously they were important to the people who used to live here. It would feel, I don’t know, sacrilegious or something” (138). There are specific points where the patriarchal gender roles seem to be blended or fluid. There are instances where Twinkle asserts her ideas and does not submit to Sanjeev. Though she does so in a predominantly feminine way using emotions. While Sanjeev maintains a few feminine roles such as cleaning or cooking. While at the housewarming party Sanjeev is keeping the food warm and the drinks well stocked, a typically female role. Yet Twinkle is the one entertaining the guests and receiving all the complements. Also, Sanjeev’s appearance is described in a more feminine