Encarnación : illness and body politics in Chicana feminist literature

Encarnacion takes a new look at identity. Following the contemporary movement away from the fixed categories of identity politics toward a more fluid conception of the intersections between identities and communities, this book analyzes the ways in which literature and philosophy draw boundaries around identity. The works of Gloria Anzaldua, Cherrie Moraga, and Ana Castillo, in particular, enable us to examine how identities shift and intersect with others through processes of "incarnation." Since the 1980s, critics have come to equate these writers with Chicana feminist identity politics. This critical trend, however, has been unable to account for these writers' increasing emphasis on bodies that are sick, disabled, permeable, and, oftentimes, mystical. Encarnacion thus turns our attention to aspects of these writers' work that are usually ignored--Anzaldua's autobiographical writings about diabetes, Moraga's narrative about her premature baby's medical treatments, and Castillo's figure of a polio-afflicted flamenco dancer--to explore the political and cultural dimensions of illness. Concerned equally with the medical-surgical interventions available in our postmodern age and with the ways of understanding bodies in the Native American and Catholic traditions these writers invoke, Encarnacion develops a model for identity that expands beyond the boundaries of individual bodies. The book argues that this model has greater utility for feminism than identity politics because it values human variability, sensation, and openness to others. The methodology of the study is as permeable as the bodies and identities it analyzes. The book brings together discourses as disparate as Mesoamerican anthropology, art history, feminist spirituality, feminist biology, phenomenology, postmodern theory, disability studies, and autobiographical narrative in order to expand our thinking beyond what disciplinary boundaries allow. Encarnacion Takes A New Look At Identity. Following The Contemporary Movement Away From The Fixed Categories Of Identity Politics Toward A More Fluid Conception Of The Intersections Between Identities And Communities, This Book Analyzes The Ways In Which Literature And Philosophy Draw Boundaries Around Identity.the Works Of Gloria Anzald A, Cherr E Moraga, And Ana Castillo, In Particular, Enable Us To Examine How Identities Shift And Intersect With Others Through Processes Of Incarnation. Since The 1980s, Critics Have Come To Equate These Writers With Chicana Feminist Identity Politics. This Critical Trend, However, Has Been Unable To Account For These Writers' Increasing Emphasis On Bodies That Are Sick, Disabled, Permeable, And, Oftentimes, Mystical.encarnaci N Thus Turns Our Attention To Aspects Of These Writers' Work That Are Usually Ignored--anzald A's Autobiographical Writings About Diabetes, Moraga's Narrative About Her Premature Baby's Medical Treatments, And Castillo's Figure Of A Polio-afflicted Flamenco Dancer--to Explore The Political And Cultural Dimensions Of Illness.concerned Equally With The Medical-surgical Interventions Available In Our Postmodern Age And With The Ways Of Understanding Bodies In The Native American And Catholic Traditions These Writers Invoke, Encarnaci N Develops A Model For Identity That Expands Beyond The Boundaries Of Individual Bodies. The Book Argues That This Model Has Greater Utility For Feminism Than Identity Politics Because It Values Human Variability, Sensation, And Openness To Others. The Methodology Of The Study Is As Permeable As The Bodies And Identities It Analyzes. The Book Brings Together Discourses As Disparate As Mesoamerican Anthropology, Art History, Feminist Spirituality, Feminist Biology, Phenomenology, Postmodern Theory, Disability Studies, And Autobiographical Narrative In Order To Expand Our Thinking Beyond What Disciplinary Boundaries Allow. Feeling Pre-columbian: Chicana Feminists' Imaginative Historiography -- Pain: Gloria Anzaldúa's Challenge To Women's Health -- Medicine: Cherríe Moraga's Boundary Violations -- Movement: Ana Castillo's Shape-shifting Identities -- Conclusion. Rethinking Body Politics: Maya González And Diane Gamboa. Suzanne Bost. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 215-227) And Index. Encarnacion takes a new look at identity. Following the contemporary movement away from the fixed categories of identity politics toward a more fluid conception of the intersections between identities and communities, this book analyzes the ways in which literature and philosophy draw boundaries around identity. The works of Gloria Anzald a, Cherr e Moraga, and Ana Castillo, in particular, enable us to examine how identities shift and intersect with others through processes of "incarnation." Since the 1980s, critics have come to equate these writers with Chicana feminist identity politics. This critical trend, however, has been unable to account for these writers' increasing emphasis on bodies that are sick, disabled, permeable, and, oftentimes, mystical. Encarnaci n thus turns our attention to aspects of these writers' work that are usually ignored--Anzald a's autobiographical writings about diabetes, Moraga's narrative about her premature baby's medical treatments, and Castillo's figure of a polio-afflicted flamenco dancer--to explore the political and cultural dimensions of illness. Concerned equally with the medical-surgical interventions available in our postmodern age and with the ways of understanding bodies in the Native American and Catholic traditions these writers invoke, Encarnaci n develops a model for identity that expands beyond the boundaries of individual bodies. The book argues that this model has greater utility for feminism than identity politics because it values human variability, sensation, and openness to others. The methodology of the study is as permeable as the bodies and identities it analyzes. The book brings together discourses as disparate as Mesoamerican anthropology, art history, feminist spirituality, feminist biology, phenomenology, postmodern theory, disability studies, and autobiographical narrative in order to expand our thinking beyond what disciplinary boundaries allow This book takes a new look at identity. Following the contemporary movement away from the fixed categories of identity politics toward a more fluid conception of the intersections between identities and communities, the book analyzes the ways in which literature and philosophy draw boundaries around identity. The works of Gloria Anzaldúa, Cherríe Moraga, and Ana Castillo, in particular, enable us to examine how identities shift and intersect with others through processes of incarnation. Since the 1980s, critics have come to equate these writers with Chicana feminist identity politics. This critical trend, however, has been unable to account for these writers' increasing emphasis on bodies that are sick, disabled, permeable, and, oftentimes, mystical. The book thus turns our attention to aspects of these writers' work that are usually ignored. Concerned equally with the medical-surgical interventions available in our postmodern age and with the ways of understanding bodies in the Native American and Catholic traditions these writers invoke, the book develops a model for identity that expands beyond the boundaries of individual bodies. It argues that this model has greater utility for feminism than identity politics because it values human variability, sensation, and openness to others. The methodology of the study is as permeable as the bodies and identities it analyzes. The book brings together discourses as disparate as Mesoamerican anthropology, art history, feminist spirituality, feminist biology, phenomenology, postmodern theory, disability studies, and autobiographical narrative __Encarnacion__The works of Gloria Anzaldua, Cherrie Moraga, and Ana Castillo, in particular, enable us to examine how identities shift and intersect with others through processes of "incarnation." Since the 1980s, critics have come to equate these writers with Chicana feminist identity politics. This critical trend, however, has been unable to account for these writers' increasing emphasis on bodies that are sick, disabled, permeable, and, oftentimes, mystical.__Encarnacion__Concerned equally with the medical-surgical interventions available in our postmodern age and with the ways of understanding bodies in the Native American and Catholic traditions these writers invoke, develops a model for identity that expands beyond the boundaries of individual bodies. The book argues that this model has greater utility for feminism than identity politics because it values human variability, sensation, and openness to others.The methodology of the study is as permeable as the bodies and identities it analyzes. The book brings together discourses as disparate as Mesoamerican anthropology, art history, feminist spirituality, feminist biology, phenomenology, postmodern theory, disability studies, and autobiographical narrative in order to expand our thinking beyond what disciplinary boundaries allow. Contents F I G U R E S A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S I N T R O D U C T I O N 1 Feeling Pre-Columbian: Chicana Feminists' Imaginative Historiography 2 Pain: Gloria Anzaldua's Challenge to "Women's Health" 3 Cherrie Moraga's Boundary Violations 4 Movement: Ana Castillo's Shape-Shifting Identities Conclusion: Rethinking Body Politics: Maya Gonzalez and Diane Gamboa B I B L I O G R A P H Y I N D E X