'Patriarchy In Kincaid's Short Story Girl'

When hearing the word patriarchy, some might interpret the word by just looking at it as a type of ruling system in a country, while others might have negative connotations. People might interpret it in the violent way of oppression in a government run by men, or dictatorship. In the “Understanding Patriarchy” by Bell Hooks, the author describes patriarchy in violent and negative way, where women have no say, and men say and do as they please in the society. The short story “Girl’ by Kincaid shows how a patriarchy runs, by just giving commandments to someone, and how everyone have predetermined duties in the society just like Hooks suggested, but the intent in this patriarchal dialogue between mother daughter is different than the violent view of the patriarchy by Hooks, because it is for the daughters benefit. A parent has a responsibility to its children. They make sure that they have all they need for the day, for life, all the required tools, to live a stable life. Parents would sacrifice for their children, and help them at any cost. This relationship between a parent and a child is …show more content…
Why not boy, or woman, or man? Especially during the most of the dialogue the mother is talking, and not the girl. This shows how a mother has to teach her daughter from a young age, when she is a just a girl, how to live so she would know her place in the society. More importantly, this text refers to all girls in general, and their place in society. A boy would get commanded by the father just like the mother did to the daughter, but he would have different duties, such as knowing how take care of a family, be strong, make money, and etc. This proves that it is more of a patriarchal society, where rules are dictated. But it is not like father who hit his daughter for not following societal rules, because he just thinks it will teach her a lesson, like Hooks suggested. It is more of looking out for your