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Lust Susan Minot

Decent Essays

When one looks at a glacier, it is impossible to tell the depth. It is only upon closer inspection that the true extent can be known. This superficial example can be applied to the vast majority of literary works. The first time reading something, it is easy to miss out on the importance of certain phrases, themes, or even the entire purpose. Upon reading “Lust” by Susan Minot, it is easy to just write this story off as a girl’s sexual journey through adolescence, but that analysis merely scratches the surface. “Lust” cleverly discusses both misogyny and rape culture through its narrative told from the perspective of a nameless teenage girl. Minot discusses double standards and gender roles which enables her to shed light on the normalized …show more content…

Men are rewarded for their sexual endeavours, while women are shamed for the same thing. Women are chastised for promiscuity because a woman’s worth is placed upon her sexuality and ability to provide pleasure, not her personality or talent. A man on the other hand, is congratulated because women are seen as conquests to be taken and not human beings, thus making them inferior. Although this story most likely takes place in the 1960s or early 70s proven by the song choices of the main character, the same double standard rings true today. It is worth noting that Minot published this story in 1989, a time where women appeared to have broken through barriers towards equality. With “Lust,” Minot exposes the internalized sexism in society and proves it is so ingrained, that is no longer a recognized issue, rather it is apart of traditional roles upheld by the public. Minot’s “It’s different for a girl” takes on a much deeper meaning because when women are perceived as objects, the degradation of women as a gender becomes easier, thus thrusting society into a pit of inescapable misogyny. Minot draws attention to this reality in an attempt to combat it. “Lust” opens a platform for dissertation into how society’s

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