I think this is largely because women in Puerto Rico did not have the same rights as women in America did in the 50s. In fact, America was on the brink of the Civil Rights Movement. Women were grasping at more power during this time. It is obvious that Anita is happy for this newfound power when she says, "I am an American girl now; I don't wait." So of course the women like the United States better at first! They can notice a positive difference.
The men don't like this difference. Even Bernardo admits it: "Back home, women know their place." However, not only do they have less control over their wives and girlfriends, but they are discriminated against by the white Americans. They have more trouble seeing the silver lining of being in America because they feel like only negative things have come from immigrating.
Something else I found was that the Puerto Rican women are more willing to call themselves Americans, whereas the the men find ways to distance themselves from the word. Anita calls herself an American girl; Bernardo says Maria was dancing "with an American," as if they are not all Americans. Anita wants to join in the American way, but Bernardo says she is "brainwashed" and has "gone queer for Uncle Sam." He wants to put as much distance as possible between where he came from and where he lives now.
These are strong indicators of the differences between the sexes on this matter. The ladies think it is fine to assimilate into the culture because they can see the positive affect it is having on their lives. Sure, discrimination exists, but they see themselves as being able to overcome it with their newfound power. The men, on the other hand, only see a setback. They have had more rights taken away than given to them, and so they are more skeptical of the country.
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