Research Paper on:
Literature and Cultural Stereotypes

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
women. Through much of the feminist literature we see how the predominant culture controls women and puts women in an position where they have no choices and they have no  future save through a future which involves a man. Interestingly enough, however, we may also see other cultural stereotypes in such feminist literature, stereotypes which are seen through the eyes  of a woman. "Breadgivers" by Anzia Yezierska, "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, and "Their Eyes were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston are all books which not only provide  us with the cultural stereotyping of women, but also of varying cultures. In the following paper we look at each book individually, discussing their presentation of the cultural stereotyping of  women and a particular culture. Breadgivers Anzia Yezierskas book is clearly a book which offers the reader a look at the oppressive life of a Jewish woman  who is clearly under the rule of her father, the power in the house. But, at the same time we are also presented with a woman who finds that she  must give up something of herself, something of her Jewish heritage if she is to survive. These two perspectives offer us an understanding of cultural stereotypes which are clearly affirmed  throughout the text. In presenting another way of examining these perspectives, we present the words of Drucker who states that, "Yezierskas most-taught novel is Bread Givers. In that book,  the patriarchal father represents traditional Jewish ways" (yeziersk.html). The cultural stereotypes are perhaps confirmed "Because of the negative aspects of the father-daughter relationship" which allows individuals "who are not familiar  with Jewish culture" to " come away with a skewed view of it. Even in Yezierskas other works, what the heroine is giving up in order to become Americanized--family and