Responses to “Taking the Macho” from Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Goldie Barajas

English 1A

9/23/10

Responses to “Taking the Macho” from

Woman in Front of the Sun by Judith Ortiz Cofer

1.      I liked the way Judith started her essay by using a very interesting legend about some "macho women" because it allowed me to grasp a preview of what her essay was going to be about. I, as a reader, prefer to have an idea of the essays topic by reading a remarkable introduction, rather than being lost and trying to figure out what the author is talking about along her essay.

2.      I did not like the way the author shifts from the legend of the “macho women” to her own personal story because it confused me. I had to read the story twice in order to understand the purpose of shifting  from a general statement, to a personal one.

3.      I found the author’s word-choice interesting, from a writer’s point of view, because it was well chosen and absolutely clever. It really made me feel engaged in the essay and not bored by “lazy” words. As a writer, one must be really careful about choosing the right words to express one’s feelings and emotions in an essay, and Cofer did this completely well.

4.      I found Judith’s point of view on the concept of “macho“, interesting from a reader’s point of view, because she informs me that as a writer she has to fight against the stereotype that the term “macho” only belongs to men, this reflecting the same concept that writing is dominated by only men. Judith’s struggle against these two stereotypes appeals to me very much because I have been in a similar situation in the past.

7.  I learned a couple of important things from reading “Taking the Macho.” The first one was that stereotypes about men’s and women’s roles in society have not changed at all even though we are in the 21^st century. I think this is very significant because I have more knowledge of what the world really is for women. Judith has taught me that it is not impossible to take the “macho” role and to do what you desire but that indeed it is a struggle, like being a writer for Judith is.

            The second important thing I learned was that women in our society today let themselves be civilized by men. Meaning that men control them and tell them what they can and cannot do.  I absolutely think this is significant because this teaches me not to let myself be one of those many women that cannot peruse what they desire for fear or lack of courage.