Vanessa Calderon
English 102
April 16, 2011
Research paper
Sandra Cisneros Sandra Cisneros a well known author has written two stories that are different in subject but reflect her life in some way. These two exceptional stories are “Barbie Q” and “Eleven”. Most of her writings are about the different events that she encounters throughout her life, some are about the Hispanic community and some about the role of women in society. Cisneros writes about how important is to love one. She utilizes these stories in order to express frustration on the role and superiority that man have and the importance we give age. In her writing Cisneros portrays the struggles she had to contend with growing up as in immigrant in the United States. Cisneros expressed these viewpoints as a child to add an innocent tone to her writings. Sandra Cisneros began writing on the experiences she encountered throughout her life. She came from a different background then most Americans writers. In her stories she spoke about her life, struggles, and challenges she faced. Born in Chicago in 1954 to Mexican parents Sandra Cisneros learned to value culture and the importance of dependency. She was the third and only daughter in a family of seven children. Most of her writings explore issues that are important to her such as feminism, love, oppression, and religion. Cisneros says, "If I were asked what it is I write about, I would have to say I write about those ghosts inside that haunt me, which will not let me sleep, of that which even memory does not like to mention."(Cisneros 1). In the intriguing short story “Barbie Q” Cisneros writes about the wish every little girl wants which is a Barbie doll. A Barbie doll is the most precious and most wanted toy that a young girl possesses. Barbie’s appearance of perfection such has the right height, weight, flawless skin, beauty, makes her perfect. She is also very successful in everything she does but most importantly she is fun. Barbie dolls are very popular they have elegant and attractive clothes, they have many friends. Every little girl dreams to be like Barbie she symbolizes the cultural norm of the perfect women that every women desires to be. In the story there was a damaged Barbie that represented the imperfection of women. In a way it also represent Cisneros because she is not beautiful nor rich actually she was very poor, she wasn’t blonde nor skinny but most importantly she was Hispanic. Giving men the authority to be the center of our lives was not the only problem Sandra Cisneros encountered. In her short story “Eleven” Cisneros describes a horrible experience on her eleventh birthday. Despite the fact that she expresses childish wishes, the narrator has a certain degree of wisdom. Cisneros narrator shows many emotions that are childish, but an insight that goes beyond her years. In the story the young girl Rachel is only eleven, she is vulnerable to adults such as her teacher, Mrs. Price who humiliates her in front of her class. Rachel then believes if she was older in age she would’ve been able to defend herself but because she was only eleven she wasn’t able to speak up. She then wishes she wasn’t eleven anymore. Regardless of our age we still show our inner feelings. “Like some days you might say something stupid, and that’s the part of you that’s still ten. Or maybe some days you might need to sit in your mama’s lap because you’re scared, and that’s the part of you that is still five”(Cisneros 2). Even though these two stories are quiet different in subject they both reflect events that occurred in the life of Sandra Cisneros The short story “Barbie Q” is about the perception of oneself and self image. In the short story “Eleven” it’s about the way we let age dictate our feelings and emotions. Both Stories was about young girls that didn’t feel comfortable with themselves. They’re both on a childhood point of view. “Sandra Cisneros cleverly and rather strongly questions these traditional values of society, and unveils the hegemonic ideology that attempts to manipulate and subordinate the social groups marginalized by the dominant class.”(Romo 4). Sandra Cisneros has devoted her life to her writings. Many in which speak about her personal experience as a child. Her writings help us reflect and help see within ourselves. In the story Barbie Q we were confronted with self actualization the way we see ourselves and what we think is perfect according to our society. Sandra Cisneros is indeed an inspiration for many women that have suffered a life with imperfection. She was determined to succeed and along the way she helped many minorities to get an education and succeed the way she did.

Bibliography Romo, Leticia. "Sandra Cisneros' "Barbie-Q":." (1999): 17. Web. 19 Apr 2011. .

"Barbie-Q," published in Woman Hollering Creek. ( 1991) 3 pages, approximately 750 words. Photocopied typescript, signed by Cisneros.
"Eleven," published in Woman Hollering Creek.(1991) 6 pages, approximately 1500 words. Photocopied computer print out, signed by Cisneros.