Maira Rana

Sayeda Zareen’s “According to Society, “How to be a girl””

I agree with Sayeda’s claim that society has set standards for girls and women to be viewed as worthwhile and valuable, even though every female is deserving and worthy no matter their accomplishments and their ability to be a “proper woman.” Sayeda uses many sources and includes rhetorical strategies to strengthen her claim. The two sources that I agree with most are Jamaica Kincaid’s short story “Girl” and the song “Victoria’s Secret” by Jax. Both of these sources reinforce her claim exponentially, along with the author’s use of repetition and pathos. Women and girls are frequently confined to the roles of mothers, wives, and caregivers. Gender norms place girls in the role of caregivers, resulting in gender bias in the distribution of family roles.

Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” is a short story that consists of short line instructions. The mother of the girl is laying out the rules of womanhood, these instructions set out by the mother are related to topics including household chores, manners, cooking, social conduct, and relationships. The purpose of the mother is to form the girl into a “proper woman,” not a slut that she is bent on becoming. This is a reality for many young girls who are tortured by their mother’s rules from a young age in order to emerge as poised women that society can accept and value. Sayeda also uses a song written by Jax called “Victoria’s Secret,” in which she explains the standard set for women in society is set by men, who know nothing of women. I agree with this statement because men set impossible goals for women to achieve and society reinforces those goals. Sayeda uses the artist’s use of pathos to show how the artist appealed to their audience, as the artist’s experience is something almost every woman can relate to.

This issue of women being held to a standard constructed by society has gone on since the beginning of time. Women have experienced the consequences since the beginning of time, but now they have started to be vocal and point out the problems within our societal standard. Sayeda does a wonderful job showcasing this prevalent issue. The consequences of this issue are now being brought to light by women who share their experiences, such as eating disorders to be skinny and seen as worthwhile.