Slut Symbol Analysis

“Slut” and “lady” are the narrative’s two descriptors of the kind of woman the girl could become. This contrast suggests that there are only two modes of being a woman, and though Mother’s instructions are designed to help the girl become a “lady,” it’s clear that she believes that the smallest social error can transform the girl into a “slut.” Traditionally, a “slut” is a promiscuous woman, but Mother, whose voice dominates the narrative, never mentions sex. Instead, “slut” is a catch-all term that describes a woman who does not know how to behave in social settings. Mother invokes the threat of becoming a slut when telling the girl how to walk, how to tend to the hemlines on her dresses, and how to behave around strange men. Thus, it seems that every aspect of a woman’s life—her presence in public space, her clothing choices, and her speech—is touched by sexuality, even if she has no intention of being sexy.