nk Tanya was my type.My mother reminds me of Gary's grandmother, very submissive, docile, yourstereotypical Mexicana. Tanya didn't like to cook, she was in no way submissive,and was at times what my mother would term as unlady like. Gary Soto's grandmother believed that just about everyone was an “Okie”if they were not Mexicans. Gary's grandmother, although I am sure she wanted thebest for him was very stereotypical. She once again reminds me of my mother inthis way. Their weakness in being stereotypical is almost forgivable and cute. Ithink it is more out of ignorance of others and there is no real harm meant. Onething we must keep in mind as well, is the time in which this story took placeand the exposure the grandmother might have had to others outside of herimmediate family. My mother lived a sheltered life and really never had theopportunity to be exposed to the real world. My mother had a habit of trying tomake me believe that children who did not obey their parents were in general badchildren. Parents were the divine authority and should never be questioned,since they are the parents they always know what's best. This was at least whatmy mother was taught by her mother and can you blame her for inheriting su ch anideology. For her, everyone who wasn't Mexican, black, or Asian were Okies. TheFrench were Okies, the Italians in suits were Okies. When I asked about the Jews,whom I had read about she asked for a picture. I rode home on my bicycle andreturned with a calendar depicting the important races of the world. “Pues si,son Okies tambien!” (page 696) I also found Gary's Soto's grandmother amusing because she wouldridiculously lump people together. This however is easier than trying torecognize each and every different ethnic group that exist on the face of theearth, but it is our differences that often make us so unique. One particular part in this short story that really...
