Quindlen (218) narrates about the battle on poverty, describing it as the battle that has not yet been won. She starts the narration by indicating that Lyndon B. Johnson declared the war on poverty in 1964, arguing that America was capable of overcoming the problem. True to this, the people acted and the poverty levels were decreased by significant levels. This was attributed to the statement that the 1 out of 5 Americans was living in poor conditions. However, in the following years, the egocentricity of the people took over and the ratio of the poor people rose again. This time, Quindley (219) observes that one out of seven Americans lived in poverty. This situation is quite worrying. In conclusion, Quindley (221) argues that America has the ability to win the battle of poverty, only if the people are willing to do it. This is because the country has enough resources, and all that is needed are the leaders who can rally the people towards the fight against poverty. The governmental leaders should leave their comfort zones and come down to find solutions for the rising poverty levels.
Steinem (200) passionately criticizes the patriarchal and racial segregation in the American society. In her argument, she argues that the women and the people from the minority groups are sidelined, being seen as second class humans and relegated to less respectable jobs and responsibilities. She argues that these wrong perceptions sprout from the wrong school of thoughts of the past.
In supporting her argument, she argues that were women were respected until such a time as paternity was discovered, and men took all the glory. Women are generalized, and are put in the same group with the minorities. They are victims of mythical beliefs such as being immature or childlike, passive, smaller brains and lack objectivity (Steinem, 2002). However, she refutes these claims by claiming that women are more tolerant and resilient than men, and they tend to be more dynamic. They are more adaptive than men, and this, she argues, is enough proof that women are not weak.
In conclusion, Steinem (2003) posits that the patriarchal and racial mindset should be eliminated. Men folk should learn not to treat women as if their identity is based on manipulative power, money or guns. Rather, the society should embrace a culture of humanism, and that is the only time that man can be said to be liberalized.
Cisneros (204) tries to show how the women are insignificant and unrecognized in the society, and tries to show that women should not cease in the struggle for recognition. To justify this, she uses her own life story, narrating how she had a rough time being the only daughter in a family of six sons, a Mexican father and an American-Mexican mother. As she grew up, she was lonely since her brothers couldn’t come to terms with playing with a girl (Cisneros, 205). Her father was not the better either. Though he was soft with her, it was only because he knew she would later find a husband, and therefore never bothered much on what she did. Worst of all, he would always brag to anyone who cared to listen that he had seven sons. The writer kept reminding her it was six sons and one girl. However, this did not work and she had to live with it. In her conclusion, Cisnero (208) notes that one day she came home with an article she had written and her father appreciated it. This is symbolic; no matter the struggles women go through, if they are persistent, they will come to be noticed by the society.
Works Cited
Cisneros, Sandra. Only Daughter. 1990 [pdf]
Steinem, Gloria. A New Egalitarian Lifestyle. 1971. [pdf]
Quindlen, Anna. The War We Haven’t Won. 2004. [pdf]
