Society has long considered women to be the weaker sex. Traditional gender dichotomies suggest that women are weaker than men and are inherently lacking in power. As female poets, Jan Beatty, Lucille Clifton, and Marge Piercy challenge the assumption that women are the weaker sex. In their respective works, each poet identifies a mechanism for women to gain power both in society as well as over men. In “Waitress’ Instruction on Tipping or Get the Cash up and Don’t Waste My Time,” Jan Beatty demonstrates that a woman’s power comes from her character. At first, the poem seems to be materialistic and money seeking. The speaker is giving instructions on how to tip, as evidenced by lines like “Double tips for special orders” and the opening line that a tip should always be at least 20% (Beatty, 1 and 4). Her demands for money make her seem both domineering and bossy. However, beyond money, the speaker also uses her position to demand respect by admonishing her customers to remember that she is “somebody’s mother or daughter,” appealing to their sense of decency to treat her with respect and give her the tip she deserves (Beatty,
…show more content…
The poem centers on a woman’s hips and how they help liberate her. The speaker claims “these hips/ are free hips/ they don’t like to be held back” (Clifton, 5-7). In these lines it is evident that the woman is referring to her hips as being something exclusively hers and inherently feminine and sexual. This is further enhanced by the final lines in the poem wherein she claims “these hips are magic hips/ i have known them to/ put a spell on a man/ and spin him like a top” (Clifton, 12-15). In these concluding lines, the speaker clearly demonstrates that her hips are her source of power over men, suggesting that it is through their sexual nature that women gain power in
The poem centers on a woman’s hips and how they help liberate her. The speaker claims “these hips/ are free hips/ they don’t like to be held back” (Clifton, 5-7). In these lines it is evident that the woman is referring to her hips as being something exclusively hers and inherently feminine and sexual. This is further enhanced by the final lines in the poem wherein she claims “these hips are magic hips/ i have known them to/ put a spell on a man/ and spin him like a top” (Clifton, 12-15). In these concluding lines, the speaker clearly demonstrates that her hips are her source of power over men, suggesting that it is through their sexual nature that women gain power in