This week’s reading were very interesting to read. The reading I found the most compelling was Carla Trujilo’s article, “Chicana Lesbians: Fear and Loathing in the Chicano Community. ” In her article, Trujilo discusses how all women in general suffer from male oppressions, but at the same time, she points out that there are different levels of patriarchal oppression which separates Chicana lesbians and feminists with heterosexual Chicanas. Altough she goes on to describe how Chicana lesbians are oppressed by and rejected from the Chicano community because they pose a threat to the established social patriarchy, Chicana lesbians have learned to confront their sexuality, to love their bodies, and become independent of men unlike heterosexual women. Still, in the end, Trujilo recognizes that Chicana lesbians and heterosexual Chicanas need to come together as a collective to establish their own voices as women since both groups of women share the status of woman, universal of the body, and the suppression of sexuality. She ends her article by stating “we must fight for own voices a women, since this will ultimately serve to uplift us as a people (193).” I foumd this statement empowering even though I’ve heard other versions of it from many strong Latina women.
What I liked the most about this article is Trujilo’s argument that Chicana lesbians learn to love their bodies earlier or more than heterosexual Chicanas since she must love herself both as a woman and a sexual being before she can love another woman. I found this fascinating because I never thought about this before since I am not a lesbian myself, but it sure makes sense. I honestly think this group of Chicanas do not receive the credit they deserve. Not only do they face the same obstacles as heterosexual Chicanas, but they also have to confront their own sexuality in order to come out on top these obstacles, and that is admirable.
I think it is important to note that “Trujilo recognizes that Chicana lesbians and heterosexual Chicanas need to come together as a collective to establish their own voices as women since both groups of women share the status of woman, universal of the body, and the suppression of sexuality”. This is important because we as women, we as Chicanos, we as students, we as the poor, we as the workers, we as every category that is made to divide and rank us, have this notion that we have no real power. There is power in numbers and that there are certain oppressors that oppress us all. One of the key things to remember is that patriarchy and it’s rigid gender norms oppress women, women of color, gays, lesbians, men, children and just about everyone. I think it is eye opening when you understand how a system that is supposed to privileged men also oppresses them. Not to say that men suffer as much as women do, because they don’t but never the less the system oppresses them too. You can never be the ideal man nor the ideal woman so why do we keep pressuring each other to that extreme?
I like that you brought up the point of Trujillo that Chicanas need to unite. I think this is one of the most important things presented in these readings. Unity could really help Chicanas have a greater impact. Chicanas whether heterosexual or lesbian all face a lot of the same issues. With unity I think that there could be an end to issues such as patriarchy in the community. United the Chicanas can help each other overcome certain things that one group have overcome but the other has not. The point of Chicana lesbians being able to accept themselves and break way from men is a perfect example. A lot of heterosexual women who live under patriarchy can not remove themselves from men. With unity the lesbian Chicanas could help the other Chicanas break away and accept themselves. Unity is the way that I believe Chicanas will be able to help bring an end to patriarchy.
I definelty agree with your quote in the read and the connection of women overall both heterosexual and lesbian and the shared experiences that we identify with. For example, in our culture, we are instilled to undervalue our needs and voices, especially our opinions and outlook is commonly secondary than those of males. The restriction on women such as the limits to our contribution to the overall community is a bond between all women. Trujillo states that the Chicana lesbians were seen an immediate threat to the Chicano community because it disrupts the established patriarchy society and women began to think about their opportunities. Trujillo statement, “When a woman’s sense of identity is tied to that of a man, she is dependent on this relationship for her own self-worth,” fully embodies my upbringing and my mother instilling that we are strong and capable women. Women should have conversations about our body, our mental, and our energy and its possibilities to success. We need to deconstruct the traditional norms and speak about uncomfortable conversations to have empathy amongst our fellow Lesbian sisters.
I agree with your posts and how Trujillo explained oppression that Chicana Lesbians face from patriarchy. I feel that many people that don’t agree with this lifestyle make it harder for them to live the life that they want to live. Meaning that being if you choose to dress or do activities that a “man” enjoys doing then they’re going to give them a rough time and begin making their lives harder. At the beginning Trujillo quickly begins to talk about sexuality and how the Chicana women “lesbian and heterosexual” are quickly told how they are supposed to act with their sexuality and how to go throughout their lives. And she continues to say how women are viewed if they do the opposite of what is expected. I think she’s right when she says women should do as they please with their bodies because it is their bodies.