“Taking the Macho” In-Class Essay

            In the essay, “Taking the Macho” by Judith O. Cofer the narrator writes about empowering women artist. She uses a legend about the “Caribbean warrior women” and different scenarios to support her main concept of showing how women artist should have the courage to work towards their goals no matter what.  I learned two important and valuable lessons while reading “Taking the Macho” and they are: being a courageous independent women is rare but possible and that having fear is natural as long as you do not let it stop you.

            I grew up in a culture where men are superior to women and in reading this essay I have realized that, that is a norm I will not be a part of. The legend of the Caribbena warrior women is about these women who took charge of their own lives and did not serve men. The narrator uses imagery to project how the women’s attire itself was empowering and different; they were “dressed for battle”. Reading this essay opened my eyes to seeing how it is a possible to be a courageous independent women in a society that is superior to men. Although I was raised in a culture where I should serve a man their food first, I will take charge of my own life and not let my choices be because of a man. These women were attacked by the Christian men and “put up such a fight” to defend themselves and their values. Just because they were unknown to the rest of the world, they did not give in to the difference. They fought and paid no attention to the difference between a man and a woman. Being an independent women is very difficult because there are constant challenges that we face by men, but just because they throw me a curve ball, I refuse to be overthrown. I will not live by this norm that women will serve men I will be an independent and courageous women like those from the legend.

            Fear is a very powerful emotion that many people let take charge pf their lives, myself included. In this essay, I read about the constant struggles and fear that the narrator herself faced as a writer (artist). She describes it as a “paralyzing fear” that exposes her to the world and dares it to accept her even though she is constantly pointing out its flaws. However, she does not let that stop her from writing what she desires and writing about the truth. Fear has been a big part of my life because of my past and I almost let it stop me from continuing onto my future aspirations. In reading about the struggles that the narrator faced, Ive come to the realization that I cannot let it stop me. I will push through this fear because everyone has it, and although not everyone overcomes it; I will. I refuse to let fear rule my life any longer and although I will be “flying without a map” as the narrator says, I will march on. The narrator uses different allusions like Charles Lindbrgh and Christa McAuliffe to project ow there are other people out there who face the same issues but have the confidence and courage to overcome it. Now I have faith in myself to be able to say, “if they did it, I can too”.

            This essay is full of important and valuable lessons that I have stayed with me. However there are only two that I value the most and have made the biggest impact on me. Being independent and courageous are to personal traits that I did not always have and now that I do I am happier and have faith in who I am today. I have realized that not many women have these traits and it has caused me to value them all that much more. Being a child with a hard past, I have let fear run my life for a very long time. In reading this essay I now know that it is time I stop letting it take charge and stop letting the fear of my own past keep me from doing what I want to do.