My mother Shawna, grew up as the oldest of two sisters, in the small town of Amarillo, Texas. She was born into a poor, Pentecostal family, where she says that her mother, Gala, would play the biggest role and impact her life the most. Shawna described herself as a tomboy who was also feminine when she wanted/needed to be when she was younger, explaining that the only time she was forced to act or be “feminine” was when she had to wear a dress to church (displays a sign of respect); an idea that her mother instilled into her and would later influence how I would decide to dress to attend mass. As she grew to be a teenager, she described her mother as being the caretaker, homemaker, and disciplinarian all at once, while her father was rarely involved unless it was to only provide the family with money. However, Shawna describes her mother as being her role model…show more content… Gala, “never went out without her hair and makeup done," even if it was just for a simple trip to the market, but she raced motor cars and worked their farm when needed. Although, both mother and daughter faced restricted gender roles reinforced by the times and living within Texas, Shawna believes that these roles were blurred more easily and often because the family was poor, and everybody needed to contribute their part. Shawna clarifies that her mother never forced her to be more feminine or more masculine, and that the roles and rules, for the most part, would have been the same if she had been born the opposite sex. The only time she felt that she couldn't do something a boy would be able to do was when she began dating at sixteen, rules were strict about curfew and group dates, so as to not provoke any unwanted attention or rumors from others. As she grew older and realizing that she was about to graduate, she planned to enlist into the army in order to be able to pay for college. Shawna had wanted to major in history, and to
