Garcia Girls Counterculture

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George Bernard Shaw once said, “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” This saying can relate to the counterculture, and to the novel “How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents” by Julia Alvarez. In this novel, four sisters, Carla, Yolanda, Sandra, and Sofia reflect how they responded to society’s movements during the 1960’s. This civilization was a subculture within a larger culture. It was seen as controversial because it was made up of numerous movements that consisted of contrasting values, morals and behaviors seen in the 1960’s. Several of these movements being the war, rebellion and drugs. The Garcia girls were born in the Dominican Republic and were raised in the U.S society,
Young adults and college students were the main users of drugs. During the 1960’s “marijuana and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) turned into widely used drugs promising not just kicks but nirvana and salvation” (Encyclopedia of American studies). During these time periods youth strived for drugs to achieve a sensation of relaxation and conformity. The Garcia girls grew up during these time periods and were constantly influenced in using drugs. The bag of marijuana found in the girl’s bedroom was Sofia’s the other sister claimed “the rest of us had dope only when our boyfriends rolled a joint or when, in a party of friend, a cigarette made its rounds, everyone drawing a toke” (Alvarez, 115). When the girls attended parties they would consume drugs because their friends were using them as well. Youth’s embraced this lifestyle because it portaged freedom, change, and satisfaction.
The consequences of the Garcia girl’s actions were caused when they assimilated in American culture. The Garcia girls Carla, Sandra, Yolanda and Sofia were dramatically affected by the movements portrayed in the 1960’s. Several of these movements being the war, rebellion and drugs usage. They were born in the Dominican Republic and were raised in the United States. As they grew up in a new culture they assimilated, learned and proselytized these new beliefs. As George Bernard mention changed is necessary and strived for in order for improvement and

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