Cultural Tyranny

The exploitation and submission of women has been so embedded and ingrained in our culture that it is difficult to take a step back and take an objective view at the “Cultural Tyranny” that women must face today and have faced for as far back as anyone can tell. Which cultures am I referring to you may ask? Indeed, female oppression occurs in every culture regardless of race/ethnicity. However, I am strictly going to talk about the chauvinistic ways Chicano and American culture has oppressed our sisters.

Before I begin to exemplify my arguments, it is obliging and important for me to discuss my personal view on Chicana feminism. I define Chicana feminism as a critical scheme which looks at inequalities along aspects such as of race, class, gender, and sexuality as they affect women of Mexican descent in the United States. That means talking about sexism, racism, homophobia, and poverty as interlinked issues. Chicanas have launched important critiques of the Chicano movement, the women's movement, and the gay/lesbian movement, challenging each to think about the way racism, sexism, and homophobia are all embedded and interconnected.

Comments

[Ira]

Sociologist say that families are the building
blocks of society. If this is so and I have no
reason to doubt it. Then anything that distresses
and harms the family, will ultamately lead to
a breakdown of society as a whole. Sometimes it is
hard to know what future will result from the actions we take today, but not in this case.

[Michelle]

Interesting topic!

I think another thing that Chicana women have to deal with is that their family members may not be "legal". My son's dad is a Mexican national, and always lives with the threat of deportation hanging over his head. In fact, he was deported shortly before the birth of our son. He's back (albiet not with me), but what a stressor for families to live with the fact that they can be split up at any time without notice. I'm not trying to start an immigration debate of any kind...he immigrated when he was 12--not a choice for him. A man without a country.

Thanks for your compliment on my blog. 'Preciate it. :-)