Week 13 Reader : Best of Both Worlds

flaf-3

During this week reading, we focused on DNA, race and identity. Ant i have to me to understand that in fact humans do view the world in black and white and many people are left miss represented and not represented at all. In the lecture professor Perez talked about how she was surprised about her ethnicity and how percentage of her DNA was African American.  In the Article by Ebony Bailey Blaxicans of LA capturing two cultures i one is the perfect example how many people are left unrepresented and lost in searching for an identity. in this article, people are viewed with a really narrow and rigid mind set. As humans we feel that we need to categorize things, but too many categories is too complicated so we make big categories to try to fit as many people as we can into one group. In this case the blaxicans feel forced to suppress one identity. Blaxicans make part of two of the most suppressed minority groups and it is a challenge. This article explains how mixed is beautiful because you get the best of both worlds.

Both of my parents are Mexican, i was born in the U.S and i myself feel that my identity is challenged. when i’m asked where i’m from, i always answer : i was born here but my parents are from mexico. For some reason i feel that i have to bring up where my parents were born. Does anyone else feel this way.

Week 11 Searcher: Challenging Machismo

untitled

http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/11/how-challenge-machismo/

I came across this wonderful article, and would love to share with you all. As I read this article it reminded me of this week’s reading by Pablo Martinez, “Masculinity Reconfigured: Shaking up Gender in Latino/a Literature.  This article is titled 5 Ways Latinas Can Challenge Machismo in our Families and Communities. Martinez wrote about how machismo was being challenges in the United States, because women seem to hold more power that back home. In this article Jennifer Loubriel teaches Latina women how to challenge machismo in five steps. Loubriel believes that machismo is dangerous, because it teaches that the only way you can be a leader is if you are a man, but not just any men. A leader is a strong, demanding, strict and dominant. So how do we challenge machismo? First we must start engaging with our families, stop expecting your mother to baby you, stop expecting everyone else to defer to you, start speaking up to other Latinas, and be willing to maintain conversations with the folks in your life- even when they don’t immediately get it.

 

Week 10: Why men Supress Emotions

In Felix beyond the closet, Yolanda argues how Chicano writers have been influenced by the Anglo American Writers. These influences cause stereotypes to rise. Yolanda does not want to challenge he practice of reading, rather she seeks to remain equally attentive to other representational strategies. Yolanda argues that Islas writing expresses masculinity in such a way that can make someone question their identity. As in the case of Felix where he suffers from a number of insecurities that the novel delicately suggests become entangled with this sexual expressions. As seen in his novel The Rain God where the stereotype of Chicano’s. In the novel the theme of masculinity is brought up. Chicano boys were not allowed to play with dolls, because the father (Miguel Grande) did not want his son to be brought up like a girl. This novel establishes the hierarchy of power in the household where the father was in charge and everyone else did what he ordered.  The characters in this novel portray a specific character, a character that is supposed to fit the Chicano stereotype.

I have family members, coworkers and friends who believe a boy shouldn’t be playing with dolls, because this would turn him gay. I, in the other hand believe that this is ridiculous.

Where do you believe this idea comes from?

Is it because men are constantly told to suppress their emotions that they find it difficult to openly express their feelings?

 

Week 8 Searcher: When Cultures Clash

mex

As i am watching Norma Cantu: A Chicanas Life in Literature, i am being reminded of my life as a Chicana. I found an interesting article form CNN, where a Chicano has to make a decision of presenting himself as a Mexican or as an Foreigner in an interview he is about to be in. He is undecided, since he has been called a Mexican all his life, but he was born and raised in California. I guess society does help implement these confusions, like Cantu says, she was being taught Texan Culture at school, but taught Mexican culture at home. Chicanos do find it sometime difficult to make a decision on what ethnicity the want to be referred as. Some people don’t even feel comfortable saying either, because they are confused about it.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/30/opinion/navarrette-mexican-american/

Week 8: My Not so Traditional family

collage-2016-09-21-1

On May 16, 1989 both of my parents came from Guerrero , Mexico to the city of Inglewood to provide two of my older siblings a better life. Two years later I was born November 9, 1991. And later, two other siblings were born, a total of five siblings. Throughout our entire life we were taught that family was very important. My father would have a quote that he liked to remind us with every day about the unity in family. He would tell us that families were like a stack of twigs, if your try to break one at a time it is very easy, however if you grab a bunch of twigs and tried to break them all at once it is more difficult.

In the past my family was extremely traditional. My  family was a very machista family. My father was the decision maker, the rule setter and the boss of the house, while my mother stayed home to take care of us. In my family we would also go to catholic church on Sundays, celebrate birthdays, Quinceaneras and other Mexican traditional holidays. Quinseaneras were a big thing for our family. A quinseanera is when a girl turns fifteen and signifies the transformation of a young girl to a young lady. This celebration is very important for parents as well as the girl . Celebrations like this involve lots of food, lots of family and lots of dancing.

My family is made up of big Soccer fans. We are very lucky and honored to be “Americanistas”. When America is in a soccer match, you better bet there will be carne azada, and some drinks. My father gets very dramatic when watching these soccer matches and we love to make him company during this time. We join him when he’s screaming out his lungs when our team makes a goal.  My father owns about 25 America Jersey, all that were given to him on one of his birthdays. Because of my father’s great passion for soccer, I have developed a soccer passion as well. I began playing soccer at the age of thirteen and I have played ever since. Today I play soccer three times a week . And go watch my fiancé place soccer on Sundays.

Today it is a bit more difficult to keep the family together. My oldest sister is a single mother of three children. My older brother is separated from his wife and his four children, and is suffering from depression today. My parents have also separated, and my family is no longer the united family we were once. Women in my family are no longer tolerable of the machista lifestyles we were taught to live as children. The women in my family no longer wanted to follow rules and live their lives satisfying the men, and living an un-happy life.

Today my father lives in Arvin, California a small town just before Bakersfield, where he works in the grape and peach fields. My father re married and took my youngest sister with him. My siblings and I still go visit them at least three times a month, especially during important soccer matches. Although we far from each other we try to keep in touch as often as possible. I like to keep myself updated about my youngest sister, who I encourage to stay in school.

Even though my older siblings are separated from their partners, we still manage to get together for birthday celebrations, and special occasions such as Christmas and thanksgiving. The day my father left, my family broke apart. Although my dad was very strict and had a strong personality and character, he managed to keep the family as close as possible. However not every story has a happily ever after, my parents no longer wanted to be with each other and that was a decision that even though involved all us, was a decision to be respected by all of my siblings.

Being the middle child I also have had the privilege to learn from my older siblings mistakes and, I am blessed to have family member that advise me about making decisions in life. Being able to watch my seven nieces and nephews grow has taught me the importance of a father and a mother being present in a child’s life. But as a middle child I also have to make sure I am setting the right example to my younger siblings who look up to me.

A year ago my family also grew a bit. I got engaged to a man whose family lives in Las Vegas , Nevada. His family has also become my family, and we also go to Vegas at least once a month to spend time with his family.

My fiancé and I have our small little apartment in Los Angeles and we love to bring our families together and just enjoy each other’s presence. We talk often about how important family is, and we try our best to bring tradition back into the family. Although we find it difficult at times . We are a bog family, all in different places, but we love each other to death and that’s all that really matters at the end

 

Week 6 Reader: Fighting Different Battles, Sharing a Common Goal

pic1In Next of Kin, Rodriguez emphasizes on the role that gay men take as members of society. An important point that Rodriguez makes is that gay men share similar conflict to lesbian women. They both have to adapt to a life where family reject them because they do not conform to the “norms”.  Rodriguez encourages gay men to speak up about issues of sexuality, and to speak up against subordination within the family. Rodriguez also discusses how femininity is looked down upon.

Carla Trujillo focuses on the Lesbian contribution within the Chicano society. Trujillo explains how Chicana lesbians are seen as a threat to the Chicano community because it disrupts the established order of male dominance. But is it really that they fear, or is it the “what would people say? “fear.

Trujillo explains how women are forced to suppress their sexual desires, and that talking about it is like a taboo. I never really notice this but I can connect it with my family and what we are allowed to speak about.

Whether, Chicanas or Africans, Lesbians have the courage to love both themselves and other women. They are able to acknowledge their sexuality, even though it goes against their culture, religion and social structure

I understand when Trujillo says that we live in a patriarchal society that devalues women, and when a lesbian women comes into the picture it challenges all aspects of “the perfect world run my men” Lesbians reject compulsory heterosexuality and this is a threat to men.

I find it ridiculous how a Woman is seen as only complete human beings when attached to a man and incomplete when they are not mothers. Chicanas have been socialized to believe that the sole purpose of their existence is to raise children. Being a mother is nothing bad in fact it is something beautiful, but when it is something that is only expected then it no longer is an experience.

Do you think that Chicana women become pregnant because they feel like that’s a Chicano fulfillment? Do women become mothers because they want to become mothers or because they genuinely believe that that is their purpose?  This makes me think about Chicano families having children when they are struggling in life?

I personally refuse to bring a child into this world knowing this child will see me struggle to pay rent, struggle to put food on the table. I refuse to make a child see me ask my family for help because I can’t afford to pay my bills.

Now I’m not saying that asking for help is bad, I just wouldn’t want my child to see me struggle. I am only 24, and I might be wrong, but maybe that’s just how I have been shaped by society and family. I do want to have children in the future, but not because it is expected from me, but because I truly want to take care of a child and raise a strong independent human being.

 

 

 

.

Searcher: Stereotypes Live On

 

Rodriguez, in Next of Kin Focuses on the representation of Chicanos in the Media, Specifically the recent representation of Chicanos on media. Films like Mi Familia focuses on what every other ethnicity is supposed to think about Chicanos. This Film shows the extreme Patriarchal lifestyle that every Chicano is supposed to live within their family structure.

In the website about.com Five Common Latino Stereotypes in Television and Film, the different roles Latinos take in the media are explained. With Latinos being the largest racial minority in the United States today, racial stereotypes about Latinos abound in television and film. The most common portrayal of Latinos in media are gangsters and maids. Latinos had replaced African Americans in the domestic worker portrayal.

I find it interesting how most assume that a Latino in television is automatically a Mexican. I guess, other ethnicities find it easier to categorize us all into one large Mexican group.

When it comes to representation of men in media, throughout history they were being represented as sexy, thugs and now immigrants.

This article is able to describe the transition of Latinos in the media both for men and women, and it just supports the idea the stereotypes will continue to grow in the world. This means that the idea of Latinos relies on media, and unfortunately many people will believe what the media wants them to believe about Latinos

Nittle, Nadra K. Five Common Latino Stereotypes in Television and Film, January 8th, 2016 http://racerelations.about.com/od/hollywood/a/Five-Common-Latino-Stereotypes-In-Television-And-Film.htm Accessed September 09, 2016

 

Movie Review: Quinseanera Breaking Stereotypes

4b07118814d96450x300_quinceemilyjessewal

The movie Quinseanera, is about a young Latina girl who becomes pregnant before her quinseanera (before her fifth teen birthday). A quinseanera is an important traditional celebration that Mexicans celebrates, A quinseanera signifies the transition of a young girl into  young lady. She moves into her uncles and cousins house, because she has nowhere else to go, after her preacher father kicks her out. The father blames the mother for the pregnancy and calls Magdalena’s pregnancy a disgrace and dishonor to the family as well as to the church that he preaches in. The responsible boy is sent away by her mother and Magdalena has no way of contacting him. When she goes and looks for him at his address, the mother tells Magdalena that Herman is not coming back that he has school to focus, and that she should just move on without him.

In this film the “Mexican stereotype was broken. Unlike many movies about Mexicans, this movie did not use Mexicans as gang members, and sex icons. Instead this movie did not follow the typical Mexican stereotype. Beginning with the family. Mexican families are supposed to be strong and united. However in this movie, the family has many flaws, although he father still plays the head of household, macho role.  The stereotype of Mexican patriarchal machista lifestyle is also interrupted by Carlos character. Carlos is Magdalena’s cousin. Carlos portrays a macho character, and seems to b very masculine in the beginning of the film. However as the character develops, he turns out to be gay. Being gay in a Patriarchal Mexican family is very wrong, it is looked down upon and because of this man men and women hide true identity. Carlos who was also kicked out of his house because he was caught watching gay porn goes to his uncles house, for the same reason that he had nowhere else to go.

The grandfather is non -judgmental and understanding and accepts both Magdalena and Carlos, is not a stereotype that Mexican grandfathers take. Grandfathers are supposed to be machistas and instigators.

Many stereotypes were fulfilled, however other stereotypes were broken. For example. Mexican women are suppose to become mothers at a young age. Magdalena became pregnant at 14, without ever being with a man. It was interested how this stereotype was fulfills. Mexican women become pregnant at a young age eve if it happens miraculously, like in the case of Magdalena. In one of the scenes, Carlos tells Magdalena, that her life is over. In Mexican families when a women becomes pregnant, it signifies that she no longer will be able to pursue a career or become successful.

This movie shows that not all Mexican families carry the same values and beliefs. Like all families in the world, every family is different, many things are similar, but not all are the same. This movie is able to show this though the different roles that each character takes. We shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and learn to understand that not all Mexicans are the same.