Breaking Gender Expectations in Millay’s “I, being born a woman” Anah Gaynes College

In the poem “I, being born a woman”, Edna St. Vincent Millay focuses on the idea that women can exist outside of what men make them to be, including the idea that they are ruled by their impulses. She uses the poem to show that women can not only exist and survive without the support of men, but rather they can thrive in their own lives outside of the cultural mores. The poem has a matter of fact tone that may be perceived as sharp or condescending toward the way women are seen and also makes a mockery of the cultural perception of women.

“I, being born a woman” is arguably challenging the expectations of women. In the article, “‘Being Born A Woman’: A New Look At Edna St. Vincent Millay”, Klemans claims that the poem is “feminist.” The final couplet "I find this frenzy insufficient reason / For conversation when we meet again" (Millay) explores a lack of willingness to conform to the idea of how women should have acted. Instead of talking when the two lovers meet again, the woman plans on simply ignoring the man as if their encounter meant nothing to her. The man that is being addressed in this poem can expect no pleasantries from the speaker. Instead their encounter was purely sexual, and nothing more, no emotions attached....