The story “Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros describes the life of Mexicans in a neighborhood of Chicago. She depicts the life women endure as Latina wives through her portrayal of the protagonist, Cleofilas. For Cisneros, being Mexican-American has given her the chance to see the lives of two different cultures. Additionally, Cisneros wrote the story from a woman's point of view, illustrating the types of conflicts many women face as Latina wives. This unique paradigm allows the reader to examine events and characters using a critical feminist perspective. At the beginning of the story, the protagonist, Cleofilas, had the illusion that all love stories were like the ones she saw on television. However, she soon realizes that her relationship with Juan Pedro was not at all as she had dreamed. Cisneros wants to highlight the idea that when men bring home the family's main source of income, they feel they have power over their wives. Cisneros uses Juan Pedro in the story to portray this idea. For example, Cleofilas often tells herself that if she had any brains in her, she would realize that Juan Pedro wakes up before the rooster to earn a living and pay for the food in his belly and a roof over his head ( Cisneros, 1991, p.249). Cisneros wants to point out that when men feel they have power over their wives, women begin to feel a sense of low self-esteem. A woman's self-esteem and self-worth are vital to experiencing happiness in a marriage. Additionally, low self-esteem can cause a woman to feel abandoned because she doesn't receive enough emotional support from her husband. Cisneros demonstrates this through the character of Cleophila in the story. For example, Cleofilas often remembers... the perceived middle of the card. Therefore, she uses her writing to give women a voice and to speak out against the injustices they suffer. As a result, Cisneros' story “Woman Hollering Creek” demonstrates a distinction between the life women dream of and the life they often have in reality. Works Cited Cisneros, S. (1991). Woman screaming torrent. In R. DiYanni (ed.) Literature: Reading, Fiction, Poetry, and Theater (6th ed.) (p. 202-212). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.DiYanni R. (2005). Literature: Reading, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (6th ed.) Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.Machismo. (2010). In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Retrieved February 28, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machismoPigeon, J. (n.d.). Analysis of gender roles. Retrieved from: www.mnstate.edu/vigilant/Machismo%2520V.2.doc+wife's+duty+in+mexico&cd=8&hl=en&ctclnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a