Female Identity Diffusion in Helena Viramontes’ Selected Short Stories: Postmodern Perspective
Abdullah Fawaz Al-Badarneh, Baker Bani-Khair, Moh'd Ahmad Al-Omari

Abstract
This article is ultimately concerned with exposing the postmodern theme of identity diffusion in Viramontes’ selected short stories: “Growing,” “The Broken Web,” “The Cariboo Cafe,” and “Neighbors.” The main focus of this study is to shed light on the position of Mexican American women that ultimately influences their identities to be postmodern. The paper reflects Mexican American women's suffering, alienation and oppression. Such postmodern themes of fragmentation, alienation, dislocation, and disempowerment on the side of the Mexican American woman came as a result of internal social and cultural abnegations, on one side. On the other side, it is the product of the socially and culturally racist society they live in. Postmodern themes of loss, diffusion of reality, alienation, and fragmentation are examined in Viramontes’ four selected stories and, particularly, in the female characters. Upon meticulously considering these female figures, one can reach a common ground that brings them all together. The significance of this research comes from unraveling oppression and its reflection on Mexican American women.

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