Introduction:
‘But you know- I’ve been through a trauma life- but you know, life goes on.’ (Bourgois, 2003, p221)
Throughout this essay I will explore the character of Candy in the light of a victim, a criminal and a respected character. I believe Candy is an excellent representation of gender in El Barrio which Bourgois has shown us in his book ‘In Search of Respect.’
I hope to highlight how Candy has redrawn the gender lines for women and has achieved the impossible, whether in a right or wrong way. I also hope to highlight the men’s attitude towards women when it comes to domestic violence. I will then evaluate how society has played a part in Candy’s criminal life as well as how she gained respect and power from her horrific act. Lastly I will question to what extent candy has redrawn these gender lines through her relationship with a respected male character, Ray.
Candy as a Victim:
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She seemed to have no problem with her husband beating her but when she heard he slept with her sister that was infuriating, leading her to take a gun and shoot him in the stomach. How can this woman raise a gun to her husband for cheating on her but wouldn’t take action when he was beating her at home and causing her to be in a dangerous environment with her children?
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INTRODUCTION This essay will address how gender roles are discussed in Philippe Bourgois ethnographic book, ‘In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio’. This will be pursued by exploring one of the key characters in this text. This essay will primarily centre on the role of women based of the stories of Candy. The other main characters in this text are of male gender.
Auctioneer: lot 666 blah blah big mystery blah blah phantom blah blah blah Chandelier: WOOSH Opera House: TRANSFORMED Raoul: I 'm gay! I mean, erm, immensely beautiful with my swooshy hair SWOOSH
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