meXicana Encounters: The Making of Social Identities on the Borderlands (American Crossroads) (Volume 12)

meXicana Encounters charts the dynamic and contradictory representation of Mexicanas and Chicanas in culture. Rosa Linda Fregoso's deft analysis of the cultural practices and symbolic forms that shape social identities takes her across a wide and varied terrain. Among the subjects she considers are the recent murders and disappearances of women in Ciudad Juárez; transborder feminist texts that deal with private, domestic forms of violence; how films like John Sayles's Lone Star re-center white masculinity; and the significance of la familia to the identity of Chicanas/os and how it can subordinate gender and sexuality to masculinity and heterosexual roles. Fregoso's self-reflexive approach to cultural politics embraces the movement for social justice and offers new insights into the ways that racial and gender differences are inscribed in cultural practices. meXicana Encounters charts the dynamic and contradictory representations of Mexicanas and Chicanas in culture. Moving from the most recent to past Mexicana and Chicana representations, it examines the vital role of popular culture in the formation of social identities on the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Rosa Linda Fregoso's deft analysis of the cultural practices and symbolic forms that shape social identities takes her across a wide and varied terrain. Among the subjects she considers are the recent murders and disappearances of women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; transborder feminist texts that deal with private, domestic forms of violence; the manner in which films such as John Sayles's Lone Star recenter white masculinity; the significance of "la familia" to the identity of Chicanas/os; how la familia can subordinate gender and sexuality to masculinity and heterosexual roles; and the genealogy of Chicana and Latina film actresses in Hollywood. Illustrations......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 18 1. Toward a Planetary Civil Society......Page 22 2. Cross-Border Feminist Solidarities......Page 51 3. Gender, Multiculturalism, and the Missionary Position on the Borderlands......Page 69 4. The Chicano Familia Romance......Page 92 5. Familia Matters......Page 112 6. “Fantasy Heritage” Tracking Latina Bloodlines......Page 124 7. Haunted by Miscegenation......Page 147 8. Ghosts of a Mexican Past......Page 169 Epilogue......Page 190 Notes......Page 192 Bibliography......Page 220 Index......Page 232 Contents: List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments 1. Toward a Planetary Civil Society 2. Cross-Border Feminist Solidarities 3. Gender, Multiculturalism, and the Missionary Position on the Borderlands 4. The Chicano Familia Romance 5. Familia Matters 6. "Fantasy Heritage": Tracking Latina Bloodlines 7. Haunted by Miscegenation 8. Ghosts of a Mexican Past Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index Charts the dynamic and contradictory representation of Mexicanas and Chicanas in culture. The author's self-reflexive approach to cultural politics embraces the movement for social justice and offers fresh insights into the ways that racial and gender differences are inscribed in cultural practices. Fregoso charts the dynamic and contradictory representation of Mexicanas and Chicanas in culture. Her self-reflexive approach to cultural politics embraces the movement for social justice and offers new insights into the ways that racial and gender differences are inscribed in cultural practices Looks at contradictory representations of Mexicanas and Chicanas in popular culture, discussing the cultural practices and symbolic forms that impact social identities. Rosa Linda Fregoso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 199-209) And Index.