Essay Questions

Why is Dorothy Allison speaking to herself despite walking alongside people?

Someone can easily mistake Dorothy Allison to a madwoman but that is not the case. Allison is a believer in her abilities and capabilities. She knows very well that she is the best lister to her voice and concerns. She has dreams to achieve and since her childhood, she is determined to follow in what she believes. Therefore, whenever she is speaking to herself, she is trying to consult her inner ability to see the future ahead of her.

What strange thing that Dorothy is doing that is going beyond the traditions and societal norms?

The reader easily recognizes that Dorothy is not an average girl who only does what women do. She goes the extra mile to try other things she believes can make her life better. When she decides to enroll for karate classes, most people especially men are wondering what is wrong with her because karate is traditionally for men. The karate instructor is not believing that a girl can train karate and perform better. Over the years, Dorothy has witnessed how women are abused because they are a weaker gender. She does not want this to happen to her anymore and that is why she is joining karate classes to protect herself.

Why are women viewed as insufferable and freaking creatures by men?

Dorothy Allison finds herself in a culture that has been tailored to favor men and view them as superior beings over women. Women have no say because they are made to believe that they are the property of men. Therefore, women are subjected to many sufferings including poverty, domestic violence, and all forms of abuse. Dorothy wants to disapprove of men that what men can do even women can do better. She joins karate which is a male-dominated game and she does better than most men.