The southern gender roles are very present in this portion of Salvage the Bones. The different expectations set for Esch and her brothers are more transparent due to their economic state. It seems as if the only expectations set by Esch's father is for her to help around the house. However we can see how the boys' expectations have rubbed off on Esch. Growing up running around the pit with her brothers and their friends have shaped Esch's attitude. Esch is strong, fast and wise.We see these developed skills when she helps Skeetah steal from the white neighbors.
If anything Esch's family fall into more stereotypical gender roles. Esch fulfills the "loose girl" stereotype becoming pregnant at the age of fifteen without a mother figure in her life. Esch's single father is a cruel stone like drunk. Skeetah is a poor boy who turns to crime. China the pitbull is an aggressive dangerous dog, referring to the end of chapter seven. The expectations are less clear because of their finical state however they fall into many stereotypes.
Esch falls into multiple female gender roles. Although Esch is brilliant at the age of fifteen she is soft spoken. We see her constantly stumble when it comes to her brother's friends, especially Manny. She uses the phrase "I wanted to say...." often. Esch has her nose stuck in a book and her dreams in the sky.
It is hard to desribe how gender plays into Bois Sauvage because the audience is only exposed to a small portion to the area.
I agree that it is difficult to describe how gender plays out in Bois Sauvage because of our limited view of the area. From what I have observed from other books I believe that women in lower class settings follow similar gender roles to women in the upper class, but they are expected to be tougher and resourceful.
ReplyDeleteParker, I also agree that describing gender roles in Bois Sauvage is hard to do only having limited exposure in the novel. However, I don't think the stereotypes of Esch being "loose", their father being a drunk, or Skeetah being a thief, identifies directly with gender. I can see those stereotypes being more along the lines of race than gender. On the other hand, I think gender stereotypes would be more focused on stereotypical masculine and feminine traits portrayed by the characters in Bois Sauvage. But as you said this is hard to tell in this novel.
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