Girl By?Jamaica Kincaid

Culturally, it is expected that boys and girls be taught the roles and behaviours they should assume based on their sex.? 'Girl' by Jamaica Kincaid is a short story written in 1978, about a mother talking and teaching her daughter.? The latter is about to come of age and needs to know how to appropriately and culturally behave as a woman. ?The story is an initiation story and a transformation entrance into a female adulthood experience. ?The mother's instructions run from house management, social etiquette, and general female behaviour.? As discussed below, in an attempt to bring out the aspect of being a female and how one should act, the mother brings out the theme of female sexuality.? From the story, female sexuality is seen in three major ways—the dangers of female sexuality, sexual reputation, and the power of domesticity.

??????????? The theme of female sexuality in this story brings out an aspect of the dangers of female sexuality.? This is demonstrated by the mother constantly calling her daughter a slut and warning her against her current behaviour continue, which will lead to her being promiscuous “This is how to behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well, and this way they won’t recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming” (Kincaid, 1978). ?She warns her against talking to the wharf rat boys, not even providing directions “You mustn’t speak to wharf-rat boys, not even to give directions” (Kincaid, 1978).? The mother warns her daughter against the un-female nature of squeezing bread before buying it, the un-female nature of her walking style, eating on the streets, and playing marbles like boys “… you are not a boy, you know…” (Kincaid, 1978). ?The mother is also keen on teaching her daughter to relate with others.? She advises her to smile occasionally to people "This is how you smile at someone you don't like too much; you don’t like at all; you like completely” (Kincaid, 1978).? The mother tries to demonstrate to the daughter that she is not a boy and must behave in a respectable way as a female in the community. ?It is certain that if the instructions are not followed, the daughter may jeopardize her future female status.

The dangers of female sexuality are closely associated with the aspect of sexual reputation, another aspect brought out by the theme of female sexuality.? As part of her instructions, the mother is careful to detail how to behave as a female on various occasions.? She mentions walking style, which is important for female reputation, “on Sundays try to walk like a lady…” (Kincaid, 1978). ?She also mentions eating habits, playing marbles, the appropriate behavior in the presence of men, and smiling at people, among others.? The mother says, "This is how to behave in the presence of men who don’t know you very well …” (Kincaid, 1978).? The mother believes that to maintain the female sexual reputation, several things ought to be done in a particular way.

??????????? The theme of female sexuality also brings out an aspect of the power of domesticity. ?The mother empowers her daughter with the household duties she should know as a woman.? She believes that such knowledge will save her daughter from the ruin of promiscuity.? Her mother seems to believe that there are two women; the respectable woman and the slut.? The daughter will be productive with domestic knowledge and win familial and societal respect.? From how the mother provides specific domestic instructions, she certainly has power.? She teaches her daughter how to cook, buy bread, set the table, wash, sweep, grow foods, and sew. ?"this is how you set the table for tea; dinner with an important guest; lunch; breakfast …this is how to make a bread pudding; this is how to make doula; this is how to make pepper pot; this is how to make a good medicine for a cold;?…” (Kincaid, 1978). ?It is certain that in this culture, household duties bring power and prestige and keep women far from promiscuity temptation.

The mother tries to minimize the risk of her daughter not knowing how to properly behave like a lady.? The mother uses a bossy, commanding, and imperative voice to ensure that her daughter gets all instructions to avoid societal degradation as a female.? She believes that a woman's behaviour brings forth reputation and respectability, which are determinants of the quality of life.? Societal expectations based on gender can put a lot of pressure on young adults and those helping them through the adulthood rite of passage.?

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References

Kincaid J. (1978) Girl.? Cengage: Gale College Collection.? https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?deploymentId=5672192389602009849706649654&eISBN=9781305969414&id=1359205548&snapshotId=2711268&