A WOMAN’S STRUGGLE

“This is a mistake, I should go back”, she thought, “I mean what I should say? It’s not like I could walk
into his office and demand the same wages and benefits as my colleague”. These thoughts plagued
Grace’s mind.

The 24 year old petite frizz was the only female working at the multi- million dollar Enterprise
Products Partners Company. She was the Personal Secretary to the Chief Executive Officer of the firm,
David Gates. This was an honor for her since she has being working hard to achieve her goals.

However, after a while, she realized that she only felt honored, but it was not an honor at all. She was
being paid $3,000 per day while her workmates were being paid $10,000 per day. Even worse, her boss
often made sexual advances towards her.

As she went to work today, she kept thinking about what she would say to Mr. Gates about the
raise in pay and benefits. She would not have to deal with all of that discrimination if she just left, but
she needed the money to help with her grand papa’s medical bills and her wages could not keep up with
the payments that were required for her grandfather’s medicines. As she walked to his office, she
stopped at his door and then returned to her desk. “I can’t do this” she said to herself, “Maybe I should
tell him later in the day”.

“Grace, come in here now!” barked David, “and bring your laptop, a pen and paper too!” She
sighed and went into his office with the materials praying to God to give her strength to make it through
the day. As she went into his office, she saw that his friends and also business partners, Augustus and
James were there also. She shudders with disgust, David was a gentleman compared to these two. “Now
let’s get down to business shall we” said David, as the eyes of all three men raked over her body as a
piece of meat up for grabs.

* 2 hours later *

“So we have a deal?” David asked. Augustus and James said together, “yes we do”. “Finally” Grace
thought. When she went back to her desk, she saw that she had twelve (12) missed calls from the
Woodlands Hospital. Her thoughts ran straight to her grandfather. She rushed out the building as David
screamed at her to stay; she got into her car and drove straight to the hospital.

* 30 mins later*

“Doc, how he is?” Grace squeaked to the doctor. He looked at her, sighs and says “he only has a day to
live” then walks away to tend to another patient. Grace literally died when she heard that. She collected
herself, wiped her tears and went into her grandfather’s room. “Wam to yuh chile?” grandpapa croaked,
“how yuh suh sad?” Grace looked at him and chirped “I just wanna look at you, grandpapa, can’t I do
dat?” grandpapa studies her carefully and said “Ah know ah dying, don’t luk at me suh, jus tek care of
yuh self and enjoy lif wen I gon eh”. Grace just stared at him and then burst into tears.

“Gyul stop bawling, such is lif. Wen yuh born yuh ga dead” grandpapa said,” jus don’t tek eye pass
from no man fuh get by”. Grace stopped crying abruptly and looked at her grandpapa in shock. She said
“how did you know”.
“Me is yuh grandpapa, ah known yuh since yuh was a baby. Yuh can’t hide anytin from me.” He said
“respect yuh sef and just remember yuh gon to de top. Tek meh advice and mek yuh own business, yuh
bright enough nah to tek eyepass from anyone.” Then he closed his eyes and with his last dying breath
he said “meh luv yuh.” Grace immediately said “Meh luv yuh grandpapa,” as she sobbed uncontrollably
as the doctors covered his face.

* 15 months later*

“Thank you for this job ma’am “the lady said. She shook hands with Grace as her interview was
over. “Don’t thank me, you are what I was looking for when I was advertising the job” Grace said.

After her grandpapa died; Grace quit her job, following her grand papa’s advice and started her
own business: Grace’s Entertainment Inc. It was like a dream come true. Her business was soaring
internationally and nationally, beating her former job as the most sought after business. Her business
holds the title as the most equally diverse working environment having both genders working at the
same pace and receiving equal pay and benefits.
 Analysis

The reflective piece: ‘A Woman’s Struggle’ recounts how a working class woman is
treated in the working environment. The writer deftly employs a combination of language
registers and dialect variation along with communicative behaviors and attitudes. It also shows
how socialization and education affects linguistic behavior. However for this exercise only two
will be discussed namely: language registers and dialect variation.
Dialect variation refers to the changes in language due to various influences. These
include: social, geographical, individual and group factors. There are three different types of
dialect variation, namely: Acrolect (which is purely Standard English), Mescolect (this is
substandard English or a combination of Standard English and creole) and then there is Basilect
(this is purely creole). In the reflective piece, however, only two out of the three is portrayed.
Firstly there is Acrolect, portrayed clearly when David shouted for Grace, yelling “Hope, come
here now!” This gives the impression that Hope has to follow command immediately when
requested by David. It also express that David is very powerful and demanding toward Grace.
Grace also show cased a negative effect toward David demanding ways as she walking into
David office praying to God to give her strength to make it through the day. The next variation
used is Mescolect, it is brought to life when Grace grandpapa says “Wam to yuh now chile?”
This gives Hope grandfather the impression that something was disturbing her. As she tries to
hide her emotion as she entered his room. It also shows the relationship between Hope and her
grandfather since he was able to identified Hope emotions and questioned her about the situation.
Language registers are appropriate to a particular situation or context. It possesses
various levels of formalities and also informalities. The five levels of languages registers that are
identified by linguists are: frozen, formal, consultative, casual and intimate. Examples of
registers found in the reflective piece are: Intimate register found the subject conversed with her
grandfather calling him “grandpapa ….” a basic slang used instead of the word “grandfather”.
This effectively portrays the relationship between Grace and her grandfather. It also shows case
the attitude and the respect that Grace has for her grandfather. There is also formal register
present when the subject interviews a woman where the woman says “thank you ma’am for this
job” to which she replies “it’s okay …”. This shows mutual understanding and level education
between the woman and Grace. It also portrays the accomplishments that Grace was able to
achieve.