A. English for Enforcing Power Relations
The poem makes references to experiences of non-native English speakers to draw out the existing power relations between native and non-native English speakers. The speaker asserts her knowledge of and ability to speak English despite the challenges and judgments she faces. The speaker makes the point that she and the native English speaker are not too different, although there seems to be a big divide between them because of judgment and ostracism.
The speaker invites us to question this big divide. Why is there so much of a difference between your English and my English? Where two English speakers from different nationalities are able to understand each other, why should such divide and power relation still exist? This poem describes to us the native English speakers’ superiority and prejudice against non-native English speakers.
The speaker invites us to question this big divide. Why is there so much of a difference between your English and my English? Where two English speakers from different nationalities are able to understand each other, why should such divide and power relation still exist? This poem describes to us the native English speakers’ superiority and prejudice against non-native English speakers.
B. Feminism
There are several lines in the poem that portray sensual images of women to which the speaker aims to shine a light upon certain issues immigrant women face such as prostitution, sexual harassment, violence, etc. This poem does not only expose the discrimination and inequality that non-native English speakers encounter but also focuses on the struggles women, specifically, face.