Gender Roles In Sandra Cisneros's House On Mango Street

“I have not lived as a woman. I have lived as a man. I've just done what I damn well wanted to, and I've made enough money to support myself, and ain't afraid of being alone.”-― Katharine Hepburn. In Katharine Hepburn quote, she describes her life living in a man's. This is her perspective view on how men live and get things done their way. This relates to gender roles because this quote shows us that being a man gives you more opportunities to achieve things in life. In House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros comments that Esperanza’s identity is shaped by gender roles because she feels that her name and the family history shapes her role as a female, which is seen when Esperanzas understands the way women are treated in her society and when

The difference of gender roles is first explained here. Esperanza is explaining to the reader about the gender roles in her society. “The boys and the girls live in separate worlds. The boys in their universe and we in ours. My brothers for example. They’ve got plenty to say to me and Nenny inside the house. But outside they can’t be seen talking to girls.”(8). Esperanza just wanted to live a normal life and not how she is experiencing right now. She tells us that both genders roles live differently, thus resulting in how you are treated. Esperanza feels like that both genders live on different worlds because she sees how they are treated very differently from one another. This proves that everyone should be able to live their life the way they want too and shouldn’t feel trapped. Esperanza likes to question about her gender roles. She also takes notice that the roles are shaped by culture. Esperanza is telling the reader about how her gender roles relate to her culture. “She was a horse woman too, born like me in the Chinese year of the horse-which is supposed to be bad luck if you're born female-but I think this a Chinese lie because the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their women strong.”(10). Esperanza’s gender roles can be defined from the culture that she live in. She will be treated differently because she is Mexican. Esperanza feels very different because her grandmother was treated very differently. In conclusion, Esperanzas understands the way women are treated in her society and when she is told not to follow other woman's footsteps who chose not to follow their goals in life. This is seen when Esperanza is explaining to the reader about the gender roles in her society and when she is telling the reader about how her gender roles relate to her