Discussions include how the protagonist's female gender affects reaction to the book's coming-of-age message, how themes of oppression and marginalization play out among the characters, and what Esperanza's personality says about her relationships to males in the novel. --from publisher description.

Background on Sandra Cisneros : Growing up in a patriarchal system / Robin Ganz ; Cisnero's ethnic past plays a major role in her creative works / Eduardo F. Elias ; An advocate for unheard Chicana women / Michelle M. Tokarczyk -- Patriarchy in The House on Mango Street : Cisneros revises the traditional coming-of-age story / Leslie S. Gutiâerrez-Jones ; A new cutural myth empowers women / Reuben Sanchex ; A rejection of role models that lead to oppression / Leslie Petty ; Childish play inspires Esperanza's creative responsibility / Stella Bolaki ; Esperanza develops in spite of two oppressive cultures / Gale Joyce Bellas ; Esperanza claims her identity through education and writing / Julian Olivares ; The house represents women's limitations and liberation / Alvina E. Quintana ; Cisneros builds on symbols of other female writers / Jacqueline Doyle ; The House on Mango Street is marginalized within the literary community -- Patriarchy in the contemporary world : A Mexican mother is trapped in an unfaithful marriage / Rose Castillo Guilbault ; Sexual harassment is common in American society ; Lis Wiehl ; Unequal pay is a well-established nation-wide problem / Ann Friedman ; The Muslim woman's veil is a symbol of faith and family as well as of oppression / Azadeh Moaveni ; Women slowly fight oppression in Saudi Arabia / Basma al-Mutlaq ; Asian women's careful rise to power / Sheridan Prasso.