Julia Alvarez' novel, "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents," depicts the struggles of life as an immigrant to the United States. While both the narrator and main character alternate, Yolanda stands out as having her relations explored deeper than her sisters. Though she tried to identify with both her native Dominican and novel American society she succeeded in neither, constantly remaining in an intermediate void. Due to the cultural rift existing between her and Dominican women, she is unable to accept the double standard and defined gender role that her homeland offers. In the USA, the girls learned the American vices. As a result, her sister Sofia is forced by their mother to return to the Island, she becomes engaged in a relationship with a young man, Manuel, who " is quite a tyrant"(120). And though the man is obviously abusive and manipulating toward her, "[Fifi] is letting this man tell her what she can an cannot do"(120) In response, Yolanda decides to shame them by exposing them in order for Fifi to leave this unhealthy relationship. Due to her progressive ideals infused by the American society, she cannot bear the idea of a man controlling a woman to his will. Her extended family, however, is adamant on gender roles, trying to separate Yo and her male best friend for fear of her becoming but a tomboy. "Mami and Mundin's mother...encouraged a separation between us"(225) illustrates the actions that both mothers sought in order to prevent the blurring of Yolanda's role as a woman. Neither of them believed, however that the young boy would become effeminate due to their society having but men influence women. This is further shown when he tricks her into showing him her body and compares her to the doll, thus showing early signs of his objectification of woman as well as his inherent knowledge advantage in the domain of sexuality represented by his acquisition of human body doll. Even at a young age, Yolanda displays a stre