Research Paper On Debra Dickerson

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[Insert Creative, Concise, and Really Fucking Awesome Title here] In her 2000 autobiography, An American Story, Debra Dickerson explores her journey of self-transformation by recounting stories from her challenging childhood, her time in the military, and her experiences in law school. Throughout her narrative, Dickerson leverages memories of her difficult upbringing and stories of her family's persistence to confront her present struggles, notably during her military service. In his work “Strength Trapped Within Weakness/ Weakness Trapped Within Strength: The Influence of Family of Origin Experiences on the Lives of Abused Women,” psychologist Eli Butchbinder explores the idea that despite the discomfort of revisiting challenging experiences, …show more content…

Following their separation from their father, Dickerson's mother was tasked with supporting three children independently and steadfastly refused handouts. Taking up employment in a factory, she did whatever was necessary to support her family, including “waitressing whenever possible” and “clean[ing] offices and homes” (60). Additionally, as Dickerson prepares to move the carpet, she recalls her mother's mantra from her upbringing: “The Lord helps those who help themselves” (103). She reflects on how her mother embodied this principle by shouldering the burden of supporting the entire family herself, never complaining despite the challenges she faced. By integrating her mother's narrative of resilience after separating from her father into her present challenge of moving the carpet, Dickerson gains the strength and courage needed to handle this task herself. She observes that while "a third wiggled their way over to the male barracks", "two-thirds joined me and we finished hours ahead of the little girls who had to wait for assistance"

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