One of the questions being considered during this unit is: How are women depicted in contemporary fiction and media? During your reading of the novel, comment on the ways in which women are being portrayed. Consider relationships, experiences, situations, etc.
In this book, the author portrays the four women in four very different ways. The different ways that the women are portrayed help to create the stereotype of women in the Dominican Republic during the time of Trujillo’s reign and the stereotypes they were going against. Minerva is the most outspoken and liberal of the sisters. She represents the struggle against the sexist stereotype of the time of staying home, being uneducated, and being a housewife and mother. She attends a Catholic high school and makes it her priority to attend the University to become a lawyer. Her top priority is not to just become a housewife, although she would like it. She expresses these views to others (including Trujillo himself) and is not afraid to speak out against the regime, like many others- including men. She also is involved greatly in the underground group against the regime. She demonstrates the struggle that the women of the time go through to go against the typical, housewife-mother-uneducated stereotype. The rest of the three sisters also seem to go against the stereotype of women being uneducated, as all of them at least get their high school diploma. Dede and Patria are the more typical and traditional housewife who married after high school almost right away. They have children and begin to run a household very quickly. However, Dede helps run the various businesses that she and her husband, Jaimito, have. Patria, on the other hand seems to just stay at home and care for her and her husband’s, Pedrito, children. Maria-Teresa, the youngest of the four, attends the university and begins to be involved in the underground group against the regime. She also seems to dwell on who she will marry very much. Minerva seems to have a large influence on the relationships that Maria Teresa has and her political views. The author, Julia Alvarez, portrays these women in very different ways in order to further portray the women of this time in the Dominican Republic. These sisters grow up in a home that encourages education and encourages their dreams strongly. They live in a traditional environment, but yet they are revolutionary in their thoughts and ideas. Throughout the progression of the book they continue to develop these new and revolutionary ideas while still having one foot in the traditional world.
April 4, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Mollie,
You bring up an interesting contrast with the final statement in your post: Throughout the progression of the book they continue to develop these new and revolutionary ideas while still having one foot in the traditional world. Do you find that the “new” and the “old” will ever mesh? Or will there be constant struggle between the two? I ask these questions with our society in mind. As a relatively young woman, I constantly feel the pull of wanting to be independent and have a professional career, yet at the same time I am expected to complete “womanly duties.” I am interested in your thoughts about this. I look forward to your next post.
Mrs. P
April 24, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Mollie,
After reading your first blog, I am curious whether the “struggle against women stereotypes” was more severe for the women in the Dominican Republic. Do you think that women in America were exposed to the same or similar stereotypes? I often wonder, looking at the Middle East today, whether women in America were really under the same suppression. Do you find in your reading that women in the Dominican Republic were expected to do, or wear, or act in a different manor than women in America during the 1900s? At the end of your blog you also mention the environment that these women grew up in encouraged education and dreams. I believe that the environment in which one is raised influences one greatly. Are there other women characters in In the Time of the Butterflies that you find might have been able to strive more in their strengths and abilities if their parents or teachers had approved of such behavior? I love your last sentence when you say “they continue to develop these new and revolutionary ideas while still having one foot in the traditional world.” I agree that it is very important that individuals balance tradition and change. This summer I would like to read In the Time of the Butterflies. It sounds very motivating.
April 24, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Mollie,
After reading your first blog, I am curious whether the “struggle against women stereotypes” was more severe for the women in the Dominican Republic. Do you think that women in America were exposed to the same or similar stereotypes? I often wonder, looking at the Middle East today, whether women in America were really under the same suppression. Do you find in your reading that women in the Dominican Republic were expected to do, or wear, or act in a different manor than women in America during the 1900s? At the end of your blog you also mention the environment that these women grew up in encouraged education and dreams. I believe that the environment in which one is raised influences one greatly. Are there other women characters in In the Time of the Butterflies that you find might have been able to strive more in their strengths and abilities if their parents or teachers had approved of such behavior? I love your last sentence when you say “they continue to develop these new and revolutionary ideas while still having one foot in the traditional world.” I agree that it is very important that individuals balance tradition and change. This summer I would like to read In the Time of the Butterflies. It sounds very motivating.
Chelseam
April 24, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
This book looks very interesting. I saw the movie at one point at school and I enjoyed it. Have you seen this movie and, if so, did you see any differences between it and the book?
I think I would like to read this one day, because it seems like it portrays a different view, that of women, during a dictatorship.
Would you recommend the book to others?