Hodge paints a rather dismal picture of women’s conditions

in the Caribbean placing particular emphasis on education

as the key to their upward social mobility. Discuss the
statement with reference from the text.
Orange- Khalilah
Pink- Carli-Ann-Sharpe
Green- Iangel
Blue- Chantoy
Yellow- Ashley
The sayings of, “education is the passport to the future” and
“education is the key to success” have been echoed throughout
society and cemented into the minds’ of people. This has been
proven to be true as education is fundamental to a person’s
success.The conditions of women in the Caribbean and
throughout the text is that of working non stop performing the
domestic duties of the household and looking after the children.
As a result, they are often overlooked and deprived of the
opportunity to receive a good education to climb the economic
ladder. Hence, creating a way out of the obstacles they face such
as gender inequality, poverty and many more. The Life of
Laetitia depicts the importance of education and the various
doors it can open along with the barriers that prevent a person
from obtaining an education.
From the onset of the story, the importance of an education is
showcased as Laetitia is the first in her family to attend
highschool. This opens a door of opportunity for her, as her
previously absent father provides the financial support needed
for her to attend high school. Right then and there, the value of
education is displayed as Mr. Cephas takes an interest in his
daughter that was not evident before. Her family in Sooklal
Trace also values education as they send Laetitia to live with her
father in La Puerta in order for her to get a better chance at life
than what was given to them.
Social mobility is the shift of an individual's social status from
one to another and it determines how a person moves up the
economic ladder. Poverty served as an educational barrier
among the extended family in Sooklal Trace and they were
determined to break this cycle. Grandma Wilhelmina, Pappy,
Uncle Leroy and Mammy Patsy all understood the heights of
success a proper education could take a person to as they were
overjoyed for Laetitia and celebrated when she passed her
common entrance exam.
To them, education was an avenue out of the life they were
facing as well as they wanted Laetitia to create a better life for
herself. The familys’ expectations of Laetitia were high as Uncle
Leroy mentioned, “when Laetitia gets her big job she’ll buy a
can of paint for the house.” At the time, Uncle Leroy was
painting the steps and the can of paint was stretched thin so it
could fully cover the steps. Mr. Cepahs also dreamed of Laetitia
going to university and becoming a doctor or lawyer.
Additionally, at times he would scan through Laetitia’s exercise
books to boast about the high marks she obtained.
Even the adults saw the importance of education for
themselves as you are never too old to learn was a principle
exhibited by Mammy Patsy as she seeked to obtain a secondary
education overseas that she never got the chance to. A lack of
finances served as an educational barrier for Mammy Patsy
which led to her not being able to become the dentist she aspired
to be. Mammy Patsy experienced first hand the impact of not
receiving a proper education as she worked extremely hard
overseas mopping up hospital floors just to provide for her
family. As a result, she too was concerned about the younger
ones receiving a good education as stated in her letter , “Ruth
and Kenwyn had better see about passing their exam too.”
Anjanee also experienced an educational barrier based on
finances as there was a strong influence of poverty on her
life.Along with the poverty the sexism Anajnee faced by the
men in her family stifled her success. Anjanee was not given the
proper resources to obtain an education or the family support in
contrast to Laetitia. This is one of the hurdles women face in
society in the process of trying to make something of
themselves. Anjanee saw education as a way out of poverty. She
did not aspire to struggle in life like her mother. She’d preferred
to be dead. She did not want a life for herself of not being able
to provide for her basic needs, waiting on a man hand and foot,
washing, cleaning and cooking non stop. Even in the face of
adversity, she tried her best to attend her classes by collecting
money from her brothers and selling in the market. Furthermore,
Laetitia was there as a support system, sharing her textbooks and
helping her to understand the content while Anjanee tried her
best to comprehend the information. Unfortunately, the
challenges became too overwhelming which led to her taking
her own life.
Women in society are often deprived of a proper education in
order to advance themselves due to gender inequality. One such
example from the text is Miss Velma. In the process of Miss
Velma pursuing her secondary education, there came a time
when her brother was ready to attend high school. Her parents
did not possess adequate funds to provide a highschool
education for both children and as a result Miss Velma was
taken out of school and her brother was put in.
How are women expected to overcome these barriers and break
the cycle of poverty if they are not given the opportunity to
succeed ? How will they make a name for themselves and climb
up the economic ladder? The Life of Laetitia exhibits how
education is a driving factor of social mobility and the different
barriers women experience to attain success.Some have it harder
than others as Laetitia serves as an example of a character who
received a better opportunity to gain an education in order to
obtain social mobility versus Anajanee who wasn't as fortunate.
Women are seen as the weaker sex but indespite of the
challenges they persevere and strive for excellence.