The stories “Sally,” “What Sally Said,” and “Linoleum Roses” contribute to our understanding of sexuality and gender roles by showing how religion and beliefs have on genders. An example of this is in “What Sally Said,” when Sally is speaking of her father hitting her. It seems like Sally’s father is trying to prevent her from repeating past mistakes from his family. But in the process is abusing his daughter, and people do not seem to care and say anything about it.
In “Linoleum Roses” when you hear of Sally getting married before eighth grade you come to think of how people would arrange marriages. Sally seems to be happy with what she can do with the money he gives her but at the same time scared because her husband can get abusive as well. She is not allowed out and cannot see her friends unless her husband is not around.
With all the stories Sally is depicted as a sex figure yet she is isolated and caged up like a bird.
I’m not sure if I thought of arranged marriages when I read “Linoleum Roses”, because I’m not sure if the marriaged was arranged in this story. It does sound very familiar though, because I have heard of certain cultures that marry of girls once they have hit puberty. I think Sally is seen as a sex figure in the story and religion does play affect the gender roles in this story.
Very nice analysis, Betsy. I’m not sure that Sally’s marriage is arranged, exactly. I think that she gets married as a way to escape her father’s abusive house. However, as you pointed out, she moves from one “caged up” situation to another.