How does Esperanza emotionally and physically seperate herself from the other women:

Esperanza begins to mature and begins to accept more responsibility for herself and that of being a woman. She confronts stereotypes that other women conform to. She sees that boys use girls for sexual interest and little more. Esperanza tries to save Sally from being manipulated into kissing a group of boys. Esperanza feels a responsibility to other women in the neighborhood. Most of these women cannot see the misogyny around them or are too scared to defy it.