Yuridia Espinoza Guzman

Dr. Jeffries
STACC-ENG 100
13 November 2014
Woman Hollering Creek
Lack of feminism and domestic violence has ruined Cleofilas life. She thought she was
moving onto better things, little did she know what she was really getting herself into. Cleofilas
dreamed of a new life in a new place, what she got in return instead was abuse from her husband.
The only dreams she was allowed to keep up with were those on the television. She knew she
had to get away from her abusive husband for the sake of her children and herself. But how? She
was just a mother, a woman, an immigrant.
At the beginning of the story, I notice how the woman idolizes materialistic things she
does not have. Her life is described very dull, as if her only role is to wait around on her husband.
As if her husband is the only one that makes the big decisions in their lives, and she is just
concerned on her perfect wedding. Cleofilas is mainly concerned about her own new family
because she is portrayed to not have future goals but to just have kids with her husband. How she
mentions, And later on add maybe a room or two for the children. Cisneros (459). The
telenovelas she cannot get enough of does not send the right message. The lack of feminism
comes from these soap operas, which Sandra Cisneros keeps bringing up during the story. She
uses repetition to show how its sending the message to prioritize loving a man no matter what.
Sandra wants the character Cleofilas to break away from that, she deserves her own voice, her

own future goals; she should not rely on her husband. Especially when things dont go as
planned and the person you relied on is the person bringing you down, or should I say beating
you up in this case.
Cleofilas desperately wants to know why the river is named La Gritona. It seems to
Sandra Cisneros associated the river with Cleofilas. Though no one could say whether the
woman had hollered from anger or pain. Cisneros (459). She imagines her being that person, the
woman hollering in pain and anger. All this pain and anger caused by the husband and domestic
violence brought along Domestic violence plays a big role in this story because it is another
factor bringing down Cleofilas. I think Sandra Cisneros included it to show great obstacles
woman overcome, and how strongly feminism should be enforced. The neighbor ladies
symbolize the lack of feminism as well. They have relied on men in the past, and are keeping up
with the fantasies of the telenovela. Soledad and Dolores are the opposite of what feminism
stands for. Cleofilas wanted to break free, she knew there was more to life than this and the river
just made her contemplate on it more and more often.
Clefilas once cherish and stood by her values before the mess she had gotten herself into.
She had always said she would strike back if a man, any man, were to strike her. Cisneros
(460). Her husband starts to hit her and she doesnt fight back. Where is her power? It seems as
if she feels helpless. She should have not felt ashamed and let the abuse further go on. Gender
roles are being enforced her by Sandra Cisneros. Only because he is the man in the household,
it does not mean he holds the power in their relationship. The fact that she is the woman in the
relationship does not make her the weak one; it does not decrease her value. She is the woman in
the relationship; she is just as strong and has just as much as say as the man does in anything.
Both their gender roles should not determine the power shared in their relationship.

Sandra Cisneros starts to introduce new characters/gender roles. Graciela and Felice are
great examples of feminism. She introduces them to finally show us how women could be free
and be their own person. Graciela is a doctor, her status shows us her power. She is a woman
with a title, not stuck behind a TV fantasizing all day long. Felice helps out Cleofilas by driving
her back to the border to help her escape. She finally is leaving her husband. Cleofilas is
surprised about how independent Felice is. The pickup was hers. She herself had chosen it. She
herself was paying for it. Cisneros (466). Women have rights, and its as if this was all new to
Cleofilas. To have your own rights, own voice, and make your own dreams come true was
shocking news to Cleofilas but she was finally realized that maybe it is possible. At the end,
Sandra Cisneros still associates the river with Cleofilas. She finally crosses the border, and
laughter arises. The laughter is caused by the feeling of a great weight lifted off her shoulders.
Finally she felt free, she is entitled to her rights and is her own person with her whole future
ahead of her.
In On Not Being La Malinche: Border Negotiations of Gender in Sandra Cisneros's
"Never Marry a Mexican" and "Woman Hollering Creek" by Jean Wyatt, the writer points out
the borderland as a symbol. She says that the border gives you the freedom to go back and forth.
Jean Wyatt associated the border with Felice and masculinity. Why should Tarzans expressive
cry remain eternally and exclusively attached to an icon of masculinity if Felice can use it to
express her own vision of womanhood? Wyatt (245). Jean Wyatts idea extends my ideas. We
both acknowledge the passing of the river as freedom. Wyatt goes deeper into her idea and
includes subversion of genders into the interpretation of the story. Jean Wyatt supports my idea
with more information. I agree with this interpretation, it allowed me to think further about ideas.

Woman Hollering Creek thus opens up gender definitions on all sides to the fluidity of border
existence. Wyatt (245). I would have never thought of the gender roles in this story to go as far
to be represented by the border lines. The border lines of which man and woman should both be
able to cross for equality.
In From Llorona to Gritona: Coatlicue in Feminist Tales by Viramontes and Cisneros
by Ana Maria Carbonell she displays her observation on the perspective change of these women.
Carbonell states, They reclaim their voice by transforming themselves from Llorona figures
who wail at their loss into Gritonas who holler at their oppressors. Carbonell (58). These
woman figures are setting a great example of feminism. Carbonells ideas support and extend my
ideas further. Feminism is playing the role in both the articles. Not only is it a stand for women
but they going against what is constantly bringing them down, letting them know they no longer
will take it. They are strong, Mexican/Chicano women.