“Yolanda” and “Mrs. Perez,” the two chapters in Oscar Casares’ Brownsville, present a distinct perspective on the machismo persona of Mexican-American men along with its negative impact on male/female relationships. Frank and Agustin, the entitled characters’ husbands, dictate their wives’ decisions by subjecting them to patriarchal beliefs rather than allowing them to be independent in their decisions. Patriarchal relationships create men as the center of relationships, which enforces control over women to stabilize this belief. The controlling and prideful characteristics in the characters of Frank and Agustin assert a male dominance that prevents women like Yolanda and Mrs. Perez from partaking in jobs or enjoyable activities, which in turn,
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Since the patriarchal belief characterizes men to be the center of a relationship, Frank utilizes this belief to educate Yolanda of what isn’t part of the patriarchal norm. The narrator of “Yolanda” details that Frank yelled at Yolanda, “about how no woman in his family had ever worked behind a cosmetics counter” (Casares 159). This passage demonstrates how Frank is attempting to force Yolanda to view how he believes she should act in a marital relationship. Moreover, Frank feminizes Yolanda to establish who is the provider in their relationship by calling her his, “princesa” (Casares 162). Frank’s use of princesa subjects Yolanda to be viewed by Frank as incapable of performing actions such as driving a car. Agustin utilizes the patriarchal belief to demonstrate to Mrs. Perez that, “anything other than work and church,” is a waste of time (Casares 177). This indoctrination enforces Mrs. Perez to view fun as throwing money away whereas to view relaxing as a luxury. The indoctrinating beliefs of the husbands demonstrate their desire for women to succumb to patriarchal standards despite the different interests of women due to an androcentric culture that views women as second to …show more content…
Researchers Casas et. al along with Koval, Ponzetti, and Cate details that the “discrepancy between attitudes and values,” in relationships contributes to men using “physical force” to “achieve superiority” in the family (Champion 508 & 510). In “Yolanda,” her abuse by Frank is not clearly stated, however, the narrator does detail how, “Yolanda screamed,” (Casares 167) and ran from Frank. The, “increase dominance and overprotection,” in men contains, “no leadership capacity to sustain the structure of family,” (Prado et. al 301 & 311) which in turn, is why the relationship of Yolanda and Frank ended. The patriarchal behavior is brought upon Mrs. Perez when, “Agustin hushed her,” (Casares 183) as she tried to intervene in Agustin’s argument with another man. Agustin’s actions demonstrate to Mrs. Perez who is superior in their relationship; however, Agustin 's actions drives Mrs. Perez to ponder whether she, “boarded the wrong train,” (Casares 184) with Agustin. The strain of Agustin’s patriarchal actions toward his relationship is revealed during his funeral when Mrs. Perez only, “cried some for Agustin,” (Casares 180) which entails her relationship with Agustin was not satisfactory. The view of men as superior beings causes dissonance rather than creating harmony in
Since the patriarchal belief characterizes men to be the center of a relationship, Frank utilizes this belief to educate Yolanda of what isn’t part of the patriarchal norm. The narrator of “Yolanda” details that Frank yelled at Yolanda, “about how no woman in his family had ever worked behind a cosmetics counter” (Casares 159). This passage demonstrates how Frank is attempting to force Yolanda to view how he believes she should act in a marital relationship. Moreover, Frank feminizes Yolanda to establish who is the provider in their relationship by calling her his, “princesa” (Casares 162). Frank’s use of princesa subjects Yolanda to be viewed by Frank as incapable of performing actions such as driving a car. Agustin utilizes the patriarchal belief to demonstrate to Mrs. Perez that, “anything other than work and church,” is a waste of time (Casares 177). This indoctrination enforces Mrs. Perez to view fun as throwing money away whereas to view relaxing as a luxury. The indoctrinating beliefs of the husbands demonstrate their desire for women to succumb to patriarchal standards despite the different interests of women due to an androcentric culture that views women as second to …show more content…
Researchers Casas et. al along with Koval, Ponzetti, and Cate details that the “discrepancy between attitudes and values,” in relationships contributes to men using “physical force” to “achieve superiority” in the family (Champion 508 & 510). In “Yolanda,” her abuse by Frank is not clearly stated, however, the narrator does detail how, “Yolanda screamed,” (Casares 167) and ran from Frank. The, “increase dominance and overprotection,” in men contains, “no leadership capacity to sustain the structure of family,” (Prado et. al 301 & 311) which in turn, is why the relationship of Yolanda and Frank ended. The patriarchal behavior is brought upon Mrs. Perez when, “Agustin hushed her,” (Casares 183) as she tried to intervene in Agustin’s argument with another man. Agustin’s actions demonstrate to Mrs. Perez who is superior in their relationship; however, Agustin 's actions drives Mrs. Perez to ponder whether she, “boarded the wrong train,” (Casares 184) with Agustin. The strain of Agustin’s patriarchal actions toward his relationship is revealed during his funeral when Mrs. Perez only, “cried some for Agustin,” (Casares 180) which entails her relationship with Agustin was not satisfactory. The view of men as superior beings causes dissonance rather than creating harmony in