Cherríe Moraga’s A Long Line of Vendidas caught my attention not only with its casual mention of fantasizing about gunning down oppressors, but with how it begins with referring to race as sex. “MY BROTHER’S SEX WAS WHITE. MINE, BROWN,” (page 425). I found it interesting that she does this, rather than describe his race as white. The point she makes about him being able to present as white because of his lighter skin tone compared to hers could still have been made regardless. Perhaps the reason Moraga chose to write it this way was to call attention to the sex component of their identities, equating it to race and making it clear that she is the most disadvantaged on both ends, being a woman and more clearly dark in her complexion. The story makes a strong point about the brother is unable to sympathize with the plights she suffers not only because he benefits from her subjugation, but because he has unconsciously identified with the oppressors, and to acknowledge that alignment could bring about a guilt he might not want to deal with. I know I used to be the kind of person who would try to ignore any problem that I could not feel the direct effects of, though I have thankfully grown out of that egocentric mindset and have refined my ability to feel for others. I’m also reminded of how chores were handled around my house growing up, and have always held a slight suspicion that it might be gendered in nature. I haven’t actually confirmed whether or not there is a gender component to how chores were distributed, and I do have good reason to believe that the situation with my sister and I was more of an individual matter than a systemic one. Still, I’m not too sure about either.