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Gender Roles In Sold By Patricia Mccormick

1409 Words6 Pages

Ryan le

Ms. Rajkumar

ENG2D1-11

May 11th 2023

Sold

Gender determines roles. Men and women are expected to attain a certain degree of masculinity and feminity in all parts of the world. According to their ascribed sex, men, and women are supposed to act, talk, dress, and carry themselves differently. It is the belief that men hold more power over women and that women must submit to men that greatly influence the novel. The idea that men are above women can be seen through the struggles of a thirteen-year-old Nepali girl, Lakshmi sold into prostitution. She tries to escape in an effort to restore her freedom while struggling to endure the mistreatment and misery that surround her. The novel “Sold” by Patricia McCormick, illustrates …show more content…

Lakshmi and her stepfather have a bond akin to that of a slave. Despite her wishes, she is compelled to respect and care for her stepfather because he is the family's strong and passionate man. She must always show him respect, honor, and gratitude. “A son will always be a son, they say. But a girl is like a goat. Good as long as she gives you milk and butter. But not worth crying over when it’s time to make a stew.” This quote from Lakshmi's stepfather reveals why he was prepared to convert her into a slave to sex. Lakshmi's stepfather sees her not as a person, but rather as something he may buy, sell, or invest in. In Lakshmi's community, women shoulder a disproportionate amount of mental and physical obligations; they do the majority of the farming and household work, their children pass away every season, and they are chastised for their husbands' deeds. This demonstrates that males are still constrained and respected despite their weaknesses and imperfections. However, when a woman makes a mistake, they are severely penalized and disregarded. Moreover, Since all people have equal basic human rights, all victims of human trafficking possess them regardless of their gender. Lakshmi's first encounter with sexual intercourse was with a grown man, Habib. With full knowledge of her age and sexual experiences, Habib boldly began to rape Lakshmi while she was drugged. On page 122 Lakshmi distraught “My head throbs. My mouth is parched. I stand on shaky legs, then collapse on the bare floor, the pain between my legs like a searing coal”. This shows how helpless Lakshmi was when she was with Habib. Lakshmi recognizes herself when she hears someone sobbing since she is unable to defend herself due to drug intoxication, realizing that she was the one crying. Rights for women and equality are only fantasies at the brothel. Women and girls do

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Further on, when Lakshmi reaches the train station there is an occurrence of public shaming in which a woman tries to run away from her home and the pimp explains to Lakshmi what happens, “‘One look at that head of hers and anyone can tell she’s a disgraced woman.’ He says. ‘Even if she does run off again, no one will help her’” (McCormick 86). This shows how the pimp is again instilling fear into Lakshmi, making sure she does not try to leave his side if she becomes suspicious as she would be shamed and thought of as a disgrace by society if she disobeys her ‘husband’.

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Even though in this story we don’t learn about what Lakshmi went through after she was rescued we can assume that it was not all good things. Some women experience Stockholm Syndrome after leaving because they have been doing it for so long and don’t know what kind of reaction they will get from their families and

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