Beneatha, on the other hand, emerges as a strong, independent woman whose ideas regarding gender are opposite to her mothers. First, Beneatha is not interested in being with a man like George Murchison only for his money and his ability to support a wife and family. In fact, Beneatha rejects the value of being a housewife at all, a value that completely contradicts that of her parents. Beneatha is sexually bold, interested in dating more than in settling down. She does not believe that the only destiny of a woman is to become a wife and mother and wants to attend medical school not so she can meet a future husband but so she can improve herself. Similarly, she had taken up the guitar as a means to improve herself and forge a personal identity different from that of traditional gender roles.

             Regarding race and ethnic identity, Mama and Beneatha also differ significantly, appearing at times at opposite ends of a political spectrum. However, Mama exhibits a remarkable willingness to learn and grow throughout A Raisin in the Sun, mostly due to her daughter's influence. For example, Mama stands up to the emphatic Mrs. Johnson by calling Booker T. Washington a fool, the same word that Beneatha used to describe George Murchison.

             However, Mama and Beneatha differ significantly in their views and values regarding race. For example, in spite of her comment about Booker T. Washington, Mama still wants to live in the all-white middle class neighborhood and still ascribes to the white version of the American Dream. Also, Beneatha is interested in their African roots and is attracted to Asagai mainly because of his ability to bring out her racial pride and ethnic identity. Beneatha surrounds herself with African symbols like the Nigerian clothing to prove her pride.

             In spite of their deeply different values, beliefs, and ideas, both Mama and Beneatha want to extricate the Younger family from its current depressed and poor state but they pose different solutions to the problem.