Dee is one of the two daughters of Mama in "Everyday Use," the other one being Maggie. While Mama and Maggie are traditional, and aspire to a simple life, Dee is more ambitious. She is interested in social and political issues, and has studied these deeply. Therefore, this sets her apart from the rest of her family and the environment she grew up in. However, when she visits home again, we can see that the wooden benches, hand-carved butter churn, dasher and quilts represent Dee's heritage and cultural identity.