The House On Mango Street: Boys & Girls .

After reading The House on Mango Street, I believe the author, Sandra Cisneros believes that both girls and boys should be treated and raised differently, and she also points out that girls should be raised to be tougher than boys. Sandra Cisneros answered the question of should parents should treat their boys and girls differently by stating them indirectly in some of her vignettes.

Sandra Cisneros answered the question on gender differences in the vignette titled, “Boys and Girls.” In this vignette, the narrator, Esperanza described both boys and girls such as her brothers and her sister. Esperanza said, “Nenny is too young to be my friend. She is just my sister and that was not my fault... She can not play with those Vargas kids or she will turn out just like them. And since she comes right after me, she is my responsibility.” (page 8) This particular quote demonstrates that Nenny is younger than Esperanza, so Esperanza can not be Nenny’s friend. Since, it is not her job to be her friend, it is her job to take care of her, watch after her, and be responsible for her actions. So that proves that Cisneros believes that parents need their older girls to be responsible for their younger siblings. This is important because if Esperanza does not watch after Nenny, Nenny might become one of those “Vargas kids” which is a bad reputation to the family.  

In additionally,  Sandra Cisneros also believe that girls should be the one to step in when their family has problems. In the vignette, “ Alicia Who Sees Mice,” this vignette talks about her friend or neighbor, Alicia. Alicia is someone that is afraid of four legs animals and her own father. Alicia is also someone that lost her mother, and she has to step in and be the mother of her siblings, instead of her father, because they believe girls should be tough, strong, and independent. This is evidenced, when Esperanza narrated, “Close your eyes and they will go away, her father says, or You’re just imagining.” (31) This portrays that Alicia’s father is telling Alicia to be tough, and not be scared of anything, to overcome her fears so she can handle the family. In addition, Alicia has to be responsible for her sibling's lunch. “Alicia, whose mama died, is sorry there is no one older to rise and make the lunchbox tortillas.”(31) This shows that since Alicia’s  mom passed away, it is her responsibility to make the food for the family, which means to be in her mother’s place.  This proves that Sandra Cisneros think girls in the family should be the one to step in and take care of the family.