Prompt: In “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, the mother provides her daughter with numerous expectations about how a girl should behave. Reflect on a specific gender expectation within your culture that has been challenging for you to navigate. Then describe one clear example of this expectation and explain why it has been difficult for you. Keep your response concise, vivid, and focused on your personal experience.

Prompt Response: One gender expectation that has been difficult for me to navigate is the idea that boys are supposed to act tough and hide their emotions. In both Mexican culture and society in general, many people expect guys to stay strong and not show how they really feel. This has been challenging for me because I am an emotional person, and sometimes I feel pressure to keep my feelings to myself so that I do not seem weak. A clear example is when I am upset or stressed but feel like I should hide it instead of talking about it openly. I do not agree with this expectation because I believe everyone should be able to express their emotions without being judged.

Summary: In class, we read and discussed “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and took a quiz about the story. 

reflection: I learned that gender expectations can start at a young age and can affect how people are expected to act. I also learned that these expectations can be different depending on someone’s culture and experiences.