ven more to anyone else who is in need. The weight of her sex involves all the expectations and limitations placed on a woman by society because of her gender. However, there are other sides to societys views of women. One of these ideas is that a woman should appreciate her sexuality. This concept is often thought to be particularly evident in Latin societies, such as Puerto Rico. Women wear colorful, often risqu clothing. Their dancing is beautiful, complicated, and often seductive. Another aspect of the comfort of a womans sex is the close bond that women often share in a community. For example, women may look forward to seeing their neighbors at the grocery store or the laundromat. This closeness provides a woman with comfort and a chance to relax and take time off from her family duties. There is also comfort in the guaranteed loving bond a woman has with her children and in knowing that her family is strong. The womans sex is a burden and a place of refuge, but Grandmothers chance to abandon her sex is part of her dream of freedom.Cofer often illustrates cultural synthesis in her works. Some evidence of this can be found in Claims. For example, the poem is written mostly in English, but there are elements which imply a Latin culture. The most obvious is the use of the word nufragos, which translates to shipwreck victims, to refer to her miscarriages. Most simply, the use of a Spanish word implies that Grandmother is part of a Latin society. Also, it is a reference to the closeness of island people to the ocean. They rely on it for food, business, and contact with other countries. There is also the fact that the poem is written in English, but it is about a Puerto Rican woman. Though there is evidence of knowledge of the Puerto Rican society and definite respect for Grandmother, the speaker seems to be an American, living an American life while keeping a connection with her Puerto Rican heritage.Grandmother is a ...
