Women and growing up

In the short stories "Clothes" and "Girl" there is a common theme of girls crossing over into adulthood. Both stories take place in unique circumstances, not something you would think most American girls could relate to at first glance. "Girl" takes place during precolonial times where women didn't have any rights and were thought of as mere property and "Clothes" concentrates on a woman from India and Indian culture who moves to America. Even though most would consider them a world away there is still something relate-able in these protagonists. They both deal with the awkward transition from childhood to adulthood, something we all must do. They deal with relationships, love and loss, and a world that seems to move to fast around them. In the end one can not help but see a slight reflection of themselves in both leading characters. In these stories can also be found the all too familiar woes of growing up and the pressure of the world that seems to rest on a young person's shoulders.