Reader Response Questions for "My Rosetta"

Reader Response Questions:

7a. A character that really caught my interest was the Bishop because it surprises me to see how some people can be very adamant and unwilling to keep an open mind. It astonishes me to read about people who cannot or wont be willing to step outside the box to try and understand why change is something necessary for growth. This character reminds me of my grandfather because he too is a very "old-fashioned" man who believes it is his way or the highway.

b. A major conflict that I can identify with within the book is about women having to different rules or standards than men. When the narrator talks about how as she grew older she was allowed to spend less and less time outside because it was unsafe for a women, I could completely relate to her. There have been many times where my grandparents refuse to let me go out with my friends at night or go to a party because I am a girl and it is dangerous for someone my age to be out at that time. However, whenever my cousin who is a male asked, they allowed him to go.

c. Some major problems that were raised in this selection were issues regarding women's rights, women's need to serve men, and issues within the catholic religion. I felt like none of these problems were fully resolved. However, the problem that was to an extent resolved, was the issues about women's rights. It was resolved by Sister Rosetta's campaign to support the change in the traditional attire or a nun. Because of Sister Rosetta's campaign, the nuns were now able to wear a "reasonably lightweight, slate-blue outfits that did not come in the one-size-fits-all pattern of the old days" (Cofer18).

e. Something I have learned through the narrator is that it is okay to question the beliefs you were raised with. When I first began to question my beliefs, it felt like I was betraying my family. However, I am starting to realize that in order to grow as a person and choose my own future, questioning your belief system is necessary. Through writing about this particular conflict of women s rights, I have learned that as a women I hold more power than I think I do. Although it is up to me to stand up for what I believe in and use that power towards creating a change and balance between people within society.