Education is an integral part of the process of identity formation; it helps shape individuals and often directs their lives once the educational process is completed. The level and quality of education can determine a person's socioeconomic status and prospects; however, not everyone has equal access to the same educational opportunities. In The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros offers insight into the difficulties Mexican American women face when expressing their aspirations for a higher level of education. The novel conveys the idea that education provides opportunities for a better life and leads to women's emancipation and, ultimately, independence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe author presents the female perspective on education in this novel, nevertheless, to understand the female positions on this issue , we need to understand the underlying structures that separate entire communities based primarily on their ethnicity and, secondarily, exclude women based on their gender. “Chicanas claimed they were even more oppressed than Mexican-American men, both because of their racial/ethnic minority status and their gender.” The Latino population in the United States is "the largest racial and ethnic minority in the country." ; however, "in terms of ethnicity, the largest Latino group by far is the Mexican or Mexican American population", which is the ethnic group depicted in the novel, and it is often referred to as the Chicano population. People from the Latino population depend on many factors, such as socio-economic background, parental involvement in the educational process, and the quality of primary education they received. According to statistics, “school enrollment rates for Latino children do not deviate significantly from those of other racial and ethnic groups until age 15.” However, their enrollment in schools does not guarantee quality education, as Latino children are often They are discriminated against by their peers and sometimes even by their teachers. Discrimination, both at the institutional and individual level, profoundly influences children and affects their overall performance in school. Institutional discrimination affects not only children in the education system, but also their parents, leading entire families and communities to live isolated from the rest of American society. On an individual level, children can suffer from “social exclusion, unfair grades, verbal insults from teachers and peers, and physical attacks.” Such practices highlight that the entire education system needs to be reoriented towards an approach that will not disadvantage or harm children from ethnic groups. As Latino children grow up, dropout rates increase and “they are much less likely to complete their education.” high school than their white classmates.” In terms of college and university education, "Latinos tend to enroll in community colleges," but graduation rates are low and at more prestigious educational institutions, the presence of Latino students is almost non-existent compared to other groups. As a result, “education is also a key determinant of labor market outcomes. Latinos in the workforce tend to have higher unemployment rates as well as lower incomes thanthe average,” meaning that limited access to quality education and discrimination are determining factors in the lives of Latinos. All children living in the neighborhood attend school for up to one year. a certain age, even though public schools located in Latino neighborhoods are seen as doing more harm than good, while private schools are often expensive and unaffordable for the majority of the population. Esperanza Cordero's family is one of the few exceptions in the neighborhood that emphasizes education and its quality. In order to benefit from a better quality education, Esperanza must start working at a very young age in order to pay tuition at the private school she was supposed to attend or, as she explains, “I needed the money. Catholic high school was expensive, and Dad said no one went to public school unless they wanted to be bad. Esperanza, the main protagonist of The House on Mango Street, attends a Catholic school where the student body is composed of both Chicano and white students. Repeatedly, Esperanza finds herself humiliated and embarrassed by her teachers, most of whom judge her based on the neighborhood she lives in and the state of her family home. At school, Esperanza observes: “The special kids, the ones who wear keys around their necks, eat in the canteen. The canteen! ”, thus excluding herself and the other children in her community from “special children”. Chicano students are not allowed to eat lunch in the canteen with the rest of the students, so they must walk home during lunch time, a walk that can be long and tiring for some students, which would then reduce their concentration level and as a result, their performance decreases. The important role that education plays in a woman's life is represented through the character of Esperanza's mother, who believes that a better future awaits those who are educated. Esperanza's mother contradicts the image of traditional Chicana mothers "who were both participants in and victims of patriarchy and encouraged their daughters to do the same." In the vignette "A Smart Cookie", Esperanza describes her mother's regrets for the missed opportunities that could guarantee her freedom and an alternative lifestyle. “Esperanza, you are going to school. Study hard,” is the advice Esperanza receives from her mother. She encourages her to break the conventions of the patriarchal order and become an independent woman and to move away from Mexican culture which places "women at the bottom of the ladder, a step above the deviants". The novel presents various women and girls, the majority of whom are confined to the domestic sphere and do not have access to higher education. Although the majority of women live in similar circumstances, through the character of Alicia, the author presents a person who attempts to emancipate herself by attending college while living in the neighborhood. Alicia faces many difficulties while juggling her studies and her domestic life; during the day she mainly takes care of her family and at night she studies because it is the only part of the day where she does not have other responsibilities. “Alicia is young and smart and is studying at university for the first time. Two trains and a bus, because she doesn't want to spend her whole life in a factory or behind a rolling pin. Through Alicia, the author presents the only woman in the novel who possesses the action and courage to pursue her ambitions, as well as "the only character who does not place her hopes in a man." For Esperanza, women like Alicia and her mother serve as role models and encourage her to continue her education. As the novel progresses, the reader,.