According to feminist theory, cultural definitions of gender roles can be patriarchal or antipatriarchal (Tyson, 83-86). In the short story “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker describes her characters' gender roles as antipatriarchal in the context of feminist theory. Specifically, this idea is present in the mother's physical appearance, the activities she participates in, and her refusal to submit to authority figures. Furthermore, Walker positively depicts antipatriarchal ideology through the character of Mama, especially when she violates traditional patriarchal gender roles. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Feminist theory examines the ways in which identity is shaped by cultural definitions of gender roles. According to feminist theory, there are two types of ideologies, patriarchal and anti-patriarchal. In patriarchal societies, men hold all or most positions of power, while women are oppressed and have few opportunities. Patriarchal gender roles are very traditional, in the sense that men are masculine providers, strong and powerful, if sometimes violent; and women tend to be feminine, submissive, caring and maternal. Patriarchal thought praises individuals who embody these characteristics and condemns those who challenge them, while antipatriarchal philosophy does just the opposite (Tyson 83-85). In “Everyday Use,” Mom takes on the roles of the man of the house and is praised for doing so, reflecting the antipatriarchal ideas in the text (Tyson 99). She doesn't have a male provider, but her mother works hard to take care of her family. He takes on the role of breadwinner and tends to perform stereotypically masculine duties, embodying the traditional gender roles of a man. The opening line of the story is, "I'll wait for her in the yard that Maggie and I made so." clean and wavy yesterday afternoon," (Walker 274) and immediately paints a picture of Mom's ability to do manual labor. Walker goes on to illustrate the importance of keeping a nice, clean yard, as it is "like a large living room" (Walker 274 ), thus praising Mother for her efforts. The strong and violent nature of traditional male gender roles is evident in Mother. In the text she describes some of the activities she takes part in: “I can kill and clean a pig as mercilessly as a man ... I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water to wash myself; I can eat pork liver cooked on the fire in a few minutes after it comes steaming out of the winter I hit a calf right in the brain between the eyes with a mallet and hung the meat to cool before night fell" (275). Mama's actions and her success in carrying out traditionally masculine duties to provide for her family require her to be powerful, both physically and emotionally, and force her to embrace a violent nature, rather than a maternal and nurturing one. Mom's physical appearance is also very masculine. She refers to herself as "a large, strong-boned woman with rough, working man's hands" (275) who chews tobacco and wears overalls to work during the day and flannel pajamas at night, which are clothes generally worn by working men. in the story, Walker suggests that Mom doesn't consider herself beautiful. He believes that his daughter would like her to be “a hundred pounds lighter…[with] skin like an uncooked barley pancake” (275). Rather than being oppressed by these patriarchal ideas of society, Mama rises above them and is confident in what she is capable of accomplishing on her own. In "Everyday Use", Dee also embodies male roles by taking the place of Mama's absent husband. Goddesses.