One Holy Night Analysis

Words: 499
Pages: 2

Sexuality along with virginity are prevailing themes in both the story and the film. In a highly influenced Mexican culture, it can be noticed that sometimes the topic of sexuality and virginity is a taboo. This trend is more common among the older generation which is more influenced by this culture. Differently, the younger Mexican-American culture generation seems to be less traditionalist. They do not consider this topic as a taboo anymore. In “One Holy Night,” Sandra Cisneros portrays the themes of sexuality and loss of virginity as something immoral by the perception of the Abuelita, but as something without plenty importance for the eight-grader girl. For example, in this story, the girl states, “That is when she [Abuelita] burned the …show more content…
Firstly, Ana’s mother has an idea of sex as something to be practiced only if married. Differently, Ana looks as the young girl in Cisneros’s story who does not care about having sex since for her, losing her virginity is not all that matters in a woman’s life. For instance, in “Real Women Have Curves,” Ana’s mother catches Ana looking at her body in the mirror and yelled to her, “You tramp! You lost your virginity, didn’t you?!” (Lopez). This demonstrates that as happened in “One Holy Night” with the girl’s Abuelita, Ana’s mother became infuriated for realizing that her daughter had had sex. Otherwise, Ana’s perception of sex and virginity is adverse to her mother’s. For example, while Ana and her mother were arguing, her mother complies about why Ana does not appreciate herself, and Ana replies, “Because there’s more to me than just what’s in between my legs” (Lopez). This demonstrates that Ana is a more open-minded woman who cares more about what she can contribute with her mind rather than not being a virgin anymore. Overall, in both stories it can be realized the similitudes that exist regarding to the derogative concept that the old-fashioned ladies have toward sexuality and virginity. Whereas for the younger generation adolescents, it seems as something not to be ashamed of and not of that