In the debate of nature versus nurture many would consider nature to be the more influential factor; but after analyzing and discussing the short story I Stand Here Ironing written by Tillie Olsen many would be persuaded into thinking that nurture is the most influential factor in growth and development. The story takes place during the great depression and tells the story of a mother and daughter with a destructive relationship. The story highlights Emma who was a happy and loving child but as she grew up she became more worried teenage. Nurture is the more influential factor in the development because whether environments are good or bad they shape and have long lasting effects. As seen in Emma who started as a loving and happy child full of life. Her home life was fine; her mother was a teen mom during the depression, the father left which made the mother have to go to work to provide. Emma had to be watched by the neighbours who didn’t appreciate her like her mother. This plays a part of the environment, being with people who don’t exactly want to take and be with someone else will play into insecurities of that person because they will question if they did anything wrong to be treated that way. Seeing this, children who’s parents leave them in the care of others tend to development issues with insecurities and abandonment. Also a few times a year, Emma would go to her father’s home because her mother had to work. Given the information when she came back she appeared more thin and worried. Emma also didn’t want to go to school because the teacher wasn’t kind and because school is such a big thing for a kid’s life and all their friends are there, Emma didn’t want to go and begged her mom to keep her at home. Emma loved when her mom was home but when her mom started dating a guy and she had to stay home alone, she became very paranoid. She left the door open so her mom could come home faster which is not a safe thing to do and the destroyed a clock because she heard it talking. This shows major flawless in the mother’s ability to care and rise her daughter in safe environment. In the arrival of her mom’s new husband and baby, Emma begins to show signs of jealousy and question why her mother didn’t give her as much attention as the child. During the night Emma would cry out for her mom but her mom never came and proceeded to yell for her to go back to sleep. Later in the night when the mother has to check up on the baby, she goes to check on Emma and she would tell here to go away. She is finding other ways to selfheal and she thinks that her mom won’t come when she needs her.