" This signifies that at this point in the story the narrator is immature and unknowing of the world outside of home or school. This implies that she is too young to understand what gender roles are, therefore net yet able to identify herself based on her own gender. Before she turns eleven years old, she tells herself stories about herself, when she will have grown older. These stories would include acts of heroism, courage, boldness and self-sacrifice. Typically girls do not fantasize about these kinds of things, but young children, with their strong imaginations and who seek adventure would fantasize about such things. And just like a child she preferred to be outside. Working with her father where she felt the work was important, more exciting and could feel proud of the work she had done. The narrator describes the kitchen (where in that society, it's where the women's role is) as hot, dark, with fly papers hanging, and bumpy linoleum. Generally children, who are young and full of energy, would prefer to not be stuck inside of a hot and unexciting setting such as this kitchen. .
One day a salesman visits the farm. The father introduces the narrator to the sales man as his new hired hand. This pleases the narrator as she continues to work furiously, blushing as if what her father said was a compliment. The sales man replies "Could have fooled me, I thought it was just a girl." This will be the begging of many social influences that will later contribute to the narrator coming to terms with her identity. The narrator's mother was an important in enforcing these gender roles as well. While the protagonist is out of sight during a conversation between her mother and father, she could hear her mother saying to the father that he will have real help once Laird becomes older. She also talks about how she could use her more in the house. "I just get my back turned and she runs off.
