Border Identifications: Narratives of Religion, Gender, and Class on the U.S.-Mexico Border (INTER-AMERICA SERIES)

From poets to sociologists, many people who write about life on the U.S.-Mexico border use terms such as "border crossing" and "hybridity" which suggest that a unified culture—neither Mexican nor American, but an amalgamation of both—has arisen in the borderlands. But talking to people who actually live on either side of the border reveals no single commonly shared sense of identity, as Pablo Vila demonstrated in his book Crossing Borders, Reinforcing Borders: Social Categories, Metaphors, and Narrative Identities on the U.S.-Mexico Frontier. Instead, people living near the border, like people everywhere, base their sense of identity on a constellation of interacting factors that includes regional identity, but also nationality, ethnicity, and race. In this book, Vila continues the exploration of identities he began in Crossing Borders, Reinforcing Borders by looking at how religion, gender, and class also affect people's identifications of self and "others" among Mexican nationals, Mexican immigrants, Mexican Americans, Anglos, and African Americans in the Cuidad Juárez-El Paso area. Among the many fascinating issues he raises are how the perception that "all Mexicans are Catholic" affects Mexican Protestants and Pentecostals; how the discourse about proper gender roles may feed the violence against women that has made Juárez the "women's murder capital of the world"; and why class consciousness is paradoxically absent in a region with great disparities of wealth. His research underscores the complexity of the process of social identification and confirms that the idealized notion of "hybridity" is only partially adequate to define people's identity on the U.S.-Mexico border.

this Book Is A Great Contribution To Different Fields: Sociology Of Culture, Identity Theories, Border Studies, Multiculturalism, Gender Studies, Religious Studies, Cultural Studies, And Postmodern Theory. It Is Also An Important Critique To A Current Within Postcolonial Theory That Uses Hybridity As A Central Concept.

—eduardo Barrera, Associate Professor Of Communication, University Of Texas At El Paso

from Poets To Sociologists, Many People Who Write About Life On The U.s.-mexico Border Use Terms Such As Border Crossing And Hybridity Which Suggest That A Unified Culture—neither Mexican Nor American, But An Amalgamation Of Both—has Arisen In The Borderlands. But Talking To People Who Actually Live On Either Side Of The Border Reveals No Single Commonly Shared Sense Of Identity, As Pablo Vila Demonstrated In His Book crossing Borders, Reinforcing Borders: Social Categories, Metaphors, And Narrative Identities On The U.s.-mexico Frontier. Instead, People Living Near The Border, Like People Everywhere, Base Their Sense Of Identity On A Constellation Of Interacting Factors That Includes Regional Identity, But Also Nationality, Ethnicity, And Race.

in This Book, Vila Continues The Exploration Of Identities He Began In crossing Borders, Reinforcing Borders By Looking At How Religion, Gender, And Class Also Affect People's Identifications Of Self And Others Among Mexican Nationals, Mexican Immigrants, Mexican Americans, Anglos, And African Americans In The Cuidad Juárez-el Paso Area. Among The Many Fascinating Issues He Raises Are How Theperception That All Mexicans Are Catholic Affects Mexican Protestants And Pentecostals; How The Discourse About Proper Gender Roles May Feed The Violence Against Women That Has Made Juárez The Women's Murder Capital Of The World; And Why Class Consciousness Is Paradoxically Absent In A Region With Great Disparities Of Wealth. His Research Underscores The Complexity Of The Process Of Social Identification And Confirms That The Idealized Notion Of Hybridity Is Only Partially Adequate To Define People's Identity On The U.s.-mexico Border.

CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION Chapter 1. CATHOLICISM AND MEXICANNESS ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER Chapter 2. MEXICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN PROTESTANTS Chapter 3. REGIONALIZED GENDER NARRATIVES ON THE MEXICAN SIDE OF THE BORDER Chapter 4. GENDER, NATIONALITY, AND ETHNICITY ON THE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE BORDER Chapter 5. THE PROBLEMATIC CLASS DISCOURSE ON THE BORDER: THE MEXICAN SIDE Chapter 6. THE PROBLEMATIC CLASS DISCOURSE ON THE BORDER: THE AMERICAN SIDE Chapter 7. CONCLUSIONS NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX "An ethnography that explores the role of religion, gender, and class in the formation of social identity on both sides of the US-Mexico border. A continuation of the study Vila began in Crossing Borders, Reinforcing Borders"--Provided by publisher.