Final answer:
The Breedloves, a family in 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison, live in a storefront due to their socioeconomic position and internalized self-perception of worthlessness, influenced by societal norms that value whiteness. Their choice to stay reflects financial limitations and the cultural belief that status is linked to material possessions, as understood from marketing strategies of the era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Breedloves from Toni Morrison's novel, The Bluest Eye, live in a storefront because it reflects their socio-economic status and self-perception. As a poor African American family during the Depression era, their living situation is a manifestation of the broader societal views and treatment of people of their race and class. The family stays there due to a mixture of financial constraints and a sense of worthlessness, which is perpetuated by societal norms and a culture that equates beauty and value with whiteness.
Furthermore, the Breedloves are influenced by the prevailing marketing strategies of the time, as depicted in Figure 5.1.9, which suggest that status and happiness can be conferred through the ownership of certain products. Their acceptance of their living situation can be seen as an internalized belief that they are unworthy of better conditions or that such aspirations would be futile for them.
The Breedloves' view of themselves is deeply intertwined with the way they are viewed by society. They struggle to find their own worth in a world that does not value them, which makes the prospect of seeking a different life seem out of reach.