Chicana Feminism

Willie Gibson
Womens Studies 200

Chicana Feminism is also known as Xicanisma and is a movement that covers many areas of the fight against the socio-economic oppression of Mexican-American women in the United States. It’s foundation comes from the Chicano movement of the 1960’s and 70’s where Mexican-American men talked about maintaining “La Familia” and the Mexican cultural values while here in the United States.
The movement addresses and fights for change against the oppressive traditions of discrimination and mistreatment Mexican-American women in the home and society.
While there are many types of other Feminism, Chicana Feminism focuses more on the socio-economic place Chicanas hold in society. Chicana Feminists find themselves in a struggle, not only against the oppressive social injustices against women but also against upper-middle class Anglo women and the struggle for cultural and racial equality. Many brown skin Chicanas find the only commonality they have with their Anglo sisters is just being a woman.
I find Chicana Feminism interesting because of the culturalistic aspect of the movement. The United States is made up of many races and cultural backrounds including many different languages. Keeping that in mind, I think it is critical that we as a society incorporate that and challenge ourselves to view feminism as a whole rather than from the narrowed viewpoint of White America.
As a bi-racial(African American/White) male I can identify with the racial portion of Chicana Feminism, however I cannot truly call myself a Chicana Feminist.

For more information on Chicana Feminism you can find works by renown Chicana Feminist Gloria Anzaldua
http://www.chicanas.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicana_feminism
http://www.anacastillo.com/a/index.phphttp://www.chicanas.com/defs.html