Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies

Event Title

Mexican and Chicana Women’s Use of Art Expression in Overcoming Oppression

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Location

Indianapolis, IN

Subject Area

Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies

Start Date

11-4-2014 12:00 PM

End Date

11-4-2014 1:00 PM

Description

I address the similarities between the ways that Mexican and Chicana women fought against oppression by using art, specifically through Mexican Rumbera films in the early- to mid-20th century and paintings of the 1970s. During the rise of Rumbera films in the 1930s, Mexican society was quite socially conservative with firm gender roles. Therefore, when Rumbera films made their debut, these "earth shaking dances" challenged what was permitted and prohibited for females in Mexican society. Dr. Laura Gutierrez's analysis reveals that these Rumbera films newly exposed female sexuality and power in light of the traditional female oppression at this time in history. Decades later, Chicanas of the 1970s mirrored female Rumberas when they began to challenge their oppression in American society. Popular portraits that depicted everyday Chicanas with features similar to the Virgin of Guadalupe inspired Chicanas by showing that they are magnificent just like the Virgin of Guadalupe. These two examples show how art expression played a powerful role in shifting Mexican and Chicana women's identities from powerless to powerful. Nowadays, Chicanas could continue use art expression as a means of overcoming oppression in society and expressing their racial, gender, and cultural identity by organizing community-based programs such as after school programs or night classes that teach Mexican dance or art styles.

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Apr 11th, 12:00 PM Apr 11th, 1:00 PM

Mexican and Chicana Women’s Use of Art Expression in Overcoming Oppression

Indianapolis, IN

I address the similarities between the ways that Mexican and Chicana women fought against oppression by using art, specifically through Mexican Rumbera films in the early- to mid-20th century and paintings of the 1970s. During the rise of Rumbera films in the 1930s, Mexican society was quite socially conservative with firm gender roles. Therefore, when Rumbera films made their debut, these "earth shaking dances" challenged what was permitted and prohibited for females in Mexican society. Dr. Laura Gutierrez's analysis reveals that these Rumbera films newly exposed female sexuality and power in light of the traditional female oppression at this time in history. Decades later, Chicanas of the 1970s mirrored female Rumberas when they began to challenge their oppression in American society. Popular portraits that depicted everyday Chicanas with features similar to the Virgin of Guadalupe inspired Chicanas by showing that they are magnificent just like the Virgin of Guadalupe. These two examples show how art expression played a powerful role in shifting Mexican and Chicana women's identities from powerless to powerful. Nowadays, Chicanas could continue use art expression as a means of overcoming oppression in society and expressing their racial, gender, and cultural identity by organizing community-based programs such as after school programs or night classes that teach Mexican dance or art styles.