Powerful Women

            In all three of Junot Díaz’s books, he includes characters that epitomize powerful women. These women have a few attributes in common that enable them to become strong and mighty. They possess a support system consisting of friends and family, are able to use their sexuality as a tool of power, and they are brave and they fight back against the forces that try to control them.

            Virta is only powerful when she has a group of people who support her and are available when needed. When Virta moves to the United States for the first time, she is desperately lonely and she “miss[es] her father and her friends, [her] neighbors” (Díaz, This is How you Lose Her, 142). Lacking her support system, she “let[s] [the] father roll over her” (Díaz 142). She is weak in his presence and acquiesces to his will. She finds it impossible to be strong when she is facing adversity alone.  The benefits of a support system are exemplified when Virta is faced with Rafa’s illness and his subsequent impulsive behavior.  The Horsefaces are a constant presence throughout the story and Mami’s strength is shown in her ability to kick out Rafa despite her love for him (Díaz 110). Rafa “looked shitsmacked” (Díaz 110) when he realized that his mother was not going to give in.  She is able to be powerful and mighty when she has people backing her up and encouraging her.  Even though her past habit was to comply with Rafa’s wants, she is brave and sticks to her beliefs.

            In addition to relying on friends and family, powerful women are also courageous and independent. After Papi leaves, Mami takes responsibility and works “ten-, twelve-hour shifts for almost no money at all” (Díaz, Drown, 71). She supports herself financially without a husband. Her ability to recover from the loss and provide for her family is indicative of her inner strength. Other women in the books may have resorted to finding another man as soon as possible or may have succumbed to a downward spiral. Even though “men were drawn to her” (Diaz 73), she chooses to remain alone and be the sole provider for her family.

            Sexuality is used as a tool by many women in the stories in order to get what they want. It does not take long to realize that with the appearance of her new body “she finally had power” (Díaz, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, 94). She sees the future that is now possible with her femininity and took advantage. Especially during the Era of Trujillo, women were powerless and were treated as objects by men.  Beli uses what was saw as a burden by relatives (Díaz 94), as a superpower that would lead her to freedom.  She is powerful, not because she is attractive, but because she understands how to use her sexuality to her advantage. She maintains control over herself and does not let others tell her what to do.