Tag Archives: Broken Strand

10/29/21

Broken by the West

“She abandons herself to the pulling sensation, to the delicious feeling of fingers that don’t want to break anything of hers, that want to leave her hair beautiful and radiant for the west wind to play with and make her a woman.” (Santos-Febres, 6).

This passage from Mayra Santos-Febres short story “Broken Strands” evokes several of the major themes within the story. I was struck by the image of “fingers that don’t want to break anything of hers” (6) which allude to the epidemic of broken noses of women in Trastalleres. This depiction of pain (“pulling sensation” (6)) seems to be a pleasurable pain, because the outcome allows Yetsaida to conform and uphold idealized White and western standards of beauty she so desperately craves. This is illustrated by the “west wind” (6) that will play with [her hair] and make her a woman” (6). Ironically, continued use of heat treatments like straightening often cause permanent damage, or breakage, to hair, leading the hair’s owner to eventually have to cut it short, and begin growing it out again. The beautiful, straight hair she craves is actually the broken hair, and her natural hair is the unblemished, perfect one. This is confirmed to the reader on page 5, with Miss Kety saying “Oh, these roots, girl. Your hair’s gonna break right off. Look at all these broken strands.” The broken noses are evidence of physical abuse against the women, just as the broken hair a sign of abuse, too. However, beyond the physical damage to each strand of hair, the broken strands signify the internalized racism and struggle to conform to western beauty standards that the women of Puerto Rico experience. This dichotomy of physical pain versus emotional pain is visible on the faces and heads of each woman who has experienced abuse.

10/28/21

Change for the better

On page 7 of “Broken Strands” by Mayra Santos-Febres, Miss Kety makes the statement that “Sometimes you have to remake yourself because the first time you came out badly.” What does this phrase mean? It means that one has to be willing to take the necessary steps to remake oneself to get their desired image and rise from the less-than-ideal life one has been given.

Despite having a broken nose, Miss Kety is seen by many in her neighbourhood (including Yetsaida) as a goddess, but how did she get there? On page 2, it is mentioned that Miss Kety does her own hair and straightens it with fine products from a discount store. 

She is similar to Yetsaida and many other girls in the neighbourhood. Miss Kety and Yetsaida are both black females with a broken nose that they received from an abusive man. Yetsaida had to wait until the age of 13 and endure the constant abuse, brought about by her curly hair and internalized racism, from her father to finally change her hair. Attaining the desired image is not the only thing one must do. To maintain the desired image, one must continue to work hard by taking good care of their hair and skin.

10/28/21

The Hair god: “Broken Strand” Analysis

The narrative of a young, black, abused girl is framed in “broken Strand” to describe the grievous distress regularly and generationally occurring in the black, Puerto Rican community of Trastalleres. Yetsaida, the young black girl, is seen by the audience severely obsessing over the style of her hair –  a shallow topic if the proper context is not applied. She is a girl that has lived a faithful routine of verbal and physical abuse in her home life. As the abuse is the result of her father, she is unable to come into a position of influence in her situation.  Throughout the story, the audience witnesses her majorly talking in regards to her hair and her desires with what she wants to do with it, while she slightly skims through the topic of her abuse. Indicating that she uses her hair as means to cope with her troubles. She tries to use something, her hair, that is in her possession, something whose form can be molded at her whim – in order to gain a sense of control in her life since she is unable to change anything in her home. As a black girl, her hair is viewed as ugly and is a threat to her because of her internalized racism. Since her hair is a stable and constant item in her life, as well as a threat, she seems to be motivated to conquer it in order to gain a sense of power while being distracted. Interestingly, Yetsaida barely mentions her mother in her thoughts while becoming fixated with Miss Kety. Indicating that she does not see her mother as capable or willing to protect her, care for her, and keep her safe. She becomes drastically attached to a woman in her neighborhood – the hairstylist, Miss Kety. As her parents were unable to care for her, she unconsciously assigned the role over to Miss Kety. To Yetsaida, Miss Kety has the perfect hair – straight, red, and soft – all that she aspires to be. Yetsiada idolizes her, wants to be just like her, compares herself to her, and follows her path in life. To Yetsaida, perhaps, Miss Kety is viewed as the ‘saviour’ – the path for conquering her hair – her threat – if she can conquer her hair, she might be able to conquer her life.