How I Am Miss America By Ellen Bass

1817 Words4 Pages

In today’s world, women and men are often put into categories where they are expected to follow the normal behaviors for their genders and not color outside the lines. As members of society in America, we have these “rules” or “behaviors” that we need to chase after from the moment of birth. There are few people who dare to push those limits and color outside the lines. They often feel that they are more than what they are expected to be. When they become who they feel like they need to be, they are often judged and humiliated by other members of society. Many do not dare push boundaries because of the things that result when they do. We have countless examples of people who are not afraid to break the rules about who they are supposed to be. …show more content…

The poem begins with first describing what it was like to win the Miss America pageant. It creates the feeling of what a women feels when she wins such a contest for beauty. The contest displays what society deems a women needs to be. The speaker then changes their tone and changes the ideal image of what women is supposed to be upside down. In the second half of the poem, Ellen Bass begins describing changing from society’s description of a woman to someone who is exploring what else a woman can be. Bass shows examples of how women are misused, misunderstood, and objectified. It is evident that the speaker comes to the realization of what women truly are and that they do not need to follow the standards set forth by society. Bass uses Lady Gaga in a meat dress to show that women are often thought of pieces of meat. The author’s use of real life examples gives proof that this is something that is ongoing in society. Her use of symbolism helps further the understanding. Bass creates the feeling of Otherness by going against what is thought of as normal. The speaker is challenging preconceptions because they no longer feel that they fit the description they are required to fit. The gender norms are no longer relevant to the speaker. Ellen Bass created a poem that advanced a women’s role and let it be known that you do not need to fall under the ideals that are set forth by

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