Tag Archives: gendered violence

12/3/21

Hidden metaphors

When I first listened to/read “How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse as an 82-year-old Guatemalan Grandmother” I understood the zombie part of it as it was: a grandmother trying to save herself in an apocalypse. But when I started talking to Conor in the small group discussion, he brought up the idea that maybe it’s a metaphor for the grandmother escaping her abusive husband.

Lozada-Oliva describes the woman as a grandmother, but it could be that she’s also referring to her as a younger woman trying to fight society and the toxic people around her. She packs up her things, says goodbye to the bird, gets dressed, and leaves her apartment to become a “warrior” (5). If this is what Lozada-Oliva meant to do, it’s very interesting that she would tell this all at the age that the grandmother is. I found that it added humor to the narration, especially in the verbal version of it: “go back into your apartment because you forgot your diabetes medication” (4).

The connection to the escape from her household is clarified in the 5th stanza of the poem where her strength and dedication to leave her home is described. She was a woman who immigrated to the United States and had to get through many hurdles, including the language barrier, education system, and then alcoholic husband. Despite her mother’s and society’s disappointment, this woman is able to prove herself and put a meal on the table every day for her children.

In the final few lines of the poem, she talks to her granddaughters and maybe even women in general when she says “I’m coming girls”. This could also be an inspirational message to women who are in similar situations to the protagonist, telling them that they too can “push back their sleeves” and make it through anything, even a zombie apocalypse.

10/29/21

The power of advertising

As I read the story, and specifically when the hair products were mentioned, I felt like I was reading an advertisement for hair products. I found it very interesting how the narrator utilized proper nouns and similes of advertisements to build the picture of the beauty standards that are enforced on the black and curly-haired people of Puerto Rico. Imagery is utilized on page 2 to introduce the concept, where the women are described to walk down from the bird and have perfect hair that the wind plays with. This is an image I think most people, or women, know well. The shiny long and perfectly brushed hair being carried around in the wind is an image we know too well from TV adverts. The advertising then continues on page 5 where the specific name of the brand is mentioned “Clairol Gel Colors Purple Blue Black without peroxide or ammonia”, “Easystyle Products Hair Relaxer Without Lye” as well as “Swedish Biolage products, they aren’t cruel to animals or the environment” on page 7.

The use of proper nouns and the complete names of the products makes it feel like the narrator and the people in this society have it ingrained into their brains. The advertisement and need to reach those standards have become so important to them that they repeat them word for word, as well as the ingredients they include and the benefits of choosing these brands. These proper nouns stood out in the paragraphs because they broke the flow of the narration, but at the same time, they demonstrated the symbol that Miss Kety is for beauty standards in this community. The products are mentioned with such authority, it’s almost inevitable for the people to want to buy them.

10/28/21

Many Women Stay. 

Sandra Cisneros takes her time setting the context in Woman Hollering Creek. She describes their tough relationship. They struggle to find passion in it. Most of the workload is done begrudgingly towards each other. Neither of them left out of a sense of obligation to one another. They stick through it because they rushed into a relationship. It happens slow and then suddenly. Sandra recognizes this and paces the story in the same way. Each day gets a little worse, and they fight a little harder. It creeps up on them and leaves them surprised the first time it happened. “The first time it happened she had been so surprised she didn’t cry out or try to defend herself” like she had  always thought she would. She had learned to expect it and had a plan for if it did. Emotionally its really tough to prepare for something like that. It can numb a person. Abuse is not something to be tolerated. Sandra Cisneros tells a  common story. Yet in many cases leaving can be so hard. Many women stay. Woman Hollering Creek is empowering and inspiring with a postitive ending. It can be easy to convince oneself they didn’t mean it, won’t do it again, or worse, that  they’ve deserved it. Then that its not that bad. It was integral to Cleófilia’s and her children’s wellbeing that the health worker had reported the abuse. Do not stand for abuse. It can be hard to leave emotionally and physically. Fear is a powerful feeling and we need to do what we can to help. Stay weary for signs of gendered violence. It can and does happen. 

10/28/21

Vicious Cycles

La Llorona, or the weeping woman, is a folkloric ghost who drowns her children to punish her cheating husband, but immediately regrets it, and wails to express that emotion. This story of regret is exemplified twice in Cisneros’ story, first with the mention of La Llorona and also with Juan Pedro. The actions of Juan Pedro following the first time he hurts Cleófilas, with his “tears of repentance and shame” showcase a similar reaction to La Llorona (Cisneros 223). This connection creates a parallel between Juan Pedro and La Llorona. They both commit acts of violence, feel a sense of shame, yet continue to hurt others. The connection between these two illustrates the perpetuation of violence, especially gendered violence. The vicious cycle of violence is further enforced by the cyclical nature of the stream. Always moving, never changing.

These stories and images are the tools that Cisneros uses to critique the entrenched nature of domestic violence. It is interesting to note that at the end of the story when Felice breaks Cleófilas out of the her violent home, she screams when they cross the bridge over the creek. Felice exemplifies the hollering woman, but this time, it is a cry of freedom and power. The cycle of violence and damage and regret is broken by a women who screams of power and liberty. The screams begin as pain, and end as hope. This cycle becomes something different, it transitions from a cycle of violence to one of new beginnings. This showcases how women can break cycles of violence, and can help others do the same.