Growing Up in the Midst of Class and Gender Woes in Coetzees Boyhood - Book Report/Review Example

The book reveals, not just his family history, but the intimate interaction between his racial and gender identity and South African history.             The book explores his racial and gender identity development. Coetzee witnessed and contributed to racial division in South Africa. Because he is part of the minority, his Afrikaaner classmates made fun of him and discriminated against him. Coetzee initially thought that the Afrikaaners were indeed inferior to Europeans until Trevelyan flogged the seven-year-old colored boy, Eddie, an Afrikaaner who taught Coetzee to ride a bike.

Coetzee sees passivity as his sin, and that everyone else who was passive to South African social injustices was also guilty of the promotion of social stratification. Furthermore, Coetzee experienced sexual development. He felt attracted to the handsome and tall Rob Hart and his violent behaviors. Boyhood is as much about the personhood of South Africa as it is about the boyhood of Coetzee. It is a biography about human life and minority youth in the middle of class, race, and gender conflicts.

Coetzee leaves readers thinking of the hardships of a boy that his socially divided society shapes.