In “I want to be miss America,” why did the sisters iron their hair?
-to experiment with ethnic styles
-to adopt Native American ways
-to follow American fashion trends
-to preserve Puerto Rican tradition
None of the above options accurately explains why the sisters iron their hair in the poem "I Want to Be Miss America." The poem suggests that the sisters iron their hair to conform to mainstream American beauty standards and fit into their new American home. As the speaker notes, they want to "look like the girl / on the front of the chocolate box" and be "pretty for a picture." The act of ironing their hair contrasts with their Puerto Rican heritage and suggests a desire to assimilate into American culture.
In the book "I Want to Be Miss America," the sisters ironed their hair for different reasons:
1. To experiment with ethnic styles: One reason the sisters ironed their hair was to experiment with different hairstyles that were popular at the time. They wanted to try out different looks and see how they would suit them.
2. To adopt Native American ways: Another reason for ironing their hair could be to adopt Native American ways or to embrace aspects of Native American culture. This suggests that they might have been influenced by Native American hairstyles or traditions.
3. To follow American fashion trends: The sisters may have also ironed their hair to keep up with American fashion trends. Straight, sleek hair was a popular style during the time the story is set, and they might have wanted to conform to this trend.
4. To preserve Puerto Rican tradition: Lastly, the sisters may have ironed their hair to preserve Puerto Rican tradition. It is possible that this was a cultural practice in their community or an attempt to maintain a connection with their Puerto Rican heritage.
It's worth noting that the specific reason for ironing their hair may vary depending on the context and individual motivations of the characters in the story.