the urge to go against

The cultural influences that shape Esperanza is very significant to the way patriarchies are perceived. Cultures shape views on multiple things that people within that culture view in different ways. In her case being Mexican influences her differently than say a white girl in a higher social economic status. In "My Name" Esperanza says,"but i think this is a Chinese lie because the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don't like their women strong"(10). This proves that within her culture she believes like other Mexicans that the women is not supposed to be strong. This has been a patriarchal ideology that has been excepted by her culture.
Esperanza talks about her great- grandmother being a "wild horse,so wild she wouldn't marry." This was looked upon as wild because a women was supposed to be married. Society in her culture had set up the behavior of being a single women as being "wild".
Esperanza is going through an internal conflict within herself of wanting to except some ideologies that have been put into place and not wanting to be stuck within that. She doesn't want to be like her friend locked up in her house not even able to look out the window. But she also enjoys her womanly assets, and would like to have men look at her. She has this fixation with appearances... But then she has key figures in her life warning her of them... "Her father says to be this beautiful is trouble" (81). I think it is hard for her to grow up not knowing what is the right thing and what is the wrong thing. "I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate." I think Esperanza has the urge to go against patriarchy and traditional gender roles.