Navigating Gender Norms: Reflections of a Lone Daughter in a Family of Sons

Name Instructor Course Date Only Daughter by Sandra Cisneros Introduction “Only Daughter” is an exciting article compiled by Sandra Cisneros describing how society perceived the girl child in early 1990. Narrating from her own lived experiences, Cisneros argues that being the only daughter in a family of six brothers proved a challenge. Contrary to her expectations, her brothers distanced her from even the basics like playing and mingling with her Mexican father during childhood, embracing the cultural stereotype that devalued girls compared to boys. Sandra knew and believed that she needed more care and motivation from her family as the only girl in that family. However, her family viewed her from two perspectives "as the only daughter" and "only as a daughter," which enhanced her future profession excellently. By being the only daughter, Sandra was forced by circumstance to remain alone, which allowed her to think, imagine, read and prepare herself to become a writer. On the other hand, being only a daughter implied that destiny would lead her to become a wife as his father believed. Based on such insights, this essay will reflect Cisneros's arguments to create a broader understanding of the intended text within the “Only Daughters” essay. Only Daughter is an inspiring narration that allows Cisneros to speak out her heart without fearing society's thinking of her in the long run. Before reading this essay, I had assumed that being the only different gender in a family of many similar genders would prove a privilege basing my assumptions on the privileges one would enjoy being the only girl in a family of many boys. For instance, I thought that being the only girl in a family of boys would come along with much love, care,