The Antelope Wife: Stereotypes

It was interesting to me as to how the women are portrayed in this work. I personally am not a fan of stereotypes but I couldn't help but notice how the women in this novel tend to break from the very "Americanized" female stereotypes. For instance, it is really common to hear about men that cheat, or are unfaithful to their spouse more than you hear about women doing the same thing. Interestingly enouh, it seems that thus far, it is the women that have been unfaithful, and have issues with their husbands and has led in one case to separation. It is also interesting to also examine the men, who also break from many stereotypes. The men seem quite needy, which is odd since women typically are portrayed as being quite needy, especially in relationships. I still do not understand why the author has choosen to portray the characters in this light. I am wondering if by the end of the novel there will be a more obvious answer to this question. I am also curious as to if anyone else had noticed this sort of portrayal of characters in this novel and if there are any possible explinations or solutions to why the author choose to write this way.

I Hotel 1972: Feminism

In previous readings from I Hotel it seemed as though there was a large emphasis on issues around race. Specifically, the issue of equality and treatment of groups other than white Americans. Chapter four in particular struck me because it took a look at the lives of a few women who not only struggled with gender equality but also racial in some cases. Then there was also a short paragraph that gave a little bit of background to Olivia's story, which had to do with race, class, and gender. It said that Olivia "...returned with a Negro boyfriend. These events were not in the auspicious plans of the Wag clan..." (Yamashita 330). When I first started reading I Hotel I wrongly assumed that the work would only focus with racial problems and this chapter really suprised me when it took another look at other kinds of discrimination.
One scene in particular interested me because it showed a woman that could not identify with any one particular group and struggled with acceptance. La Nada had "...dark olive skin tone, her braided auburn hair, her Oriental eyes, all conspired to confuse" (Yamashita 334). She then had a hard time fitting in with other women because she could have identified with various groups and many women had a hard time accepting her. In hope to find a group she "...joined a white women's lib group to demand a woman's right to education and equal job opportunities, pretending that she too suffered the boredom of the suburban bedroom..." (Yamashita 334). Although she is brought into this group La Nada still will not have a true sense of identity or a "group" because she has to pretend that she is someone she isn't just to be excepted into the one group that she does successfully join. It was interesting to see how the author managed to tie racial, class, and gender into one chapter and still make it fit nicely into the rest of the story.