This blog is a collaborative project for students enrolled in AC 213: Intro to Latina/o Studies (Fall 2008) at the University of Michigan. Check out the other sections at *Section A* and *Section B*
hicano Men: A Cartography of Homosexual Identity and Behavior
Tomás Almaguer
1.) Why does only a segment of homosexually active Chicano men identify as “gay”?
2.) In what ways does this show how the “gay” identity is socially constructed?
3.) How are gender roles maintained in male homosexual activity?
4.) Almaguer writes, “In Mexican/Latin-American context there is no cultural equivalent to the modern gay man” (78). In what ways is this true? Do you think this is helpful to obtaining sexual equality or not?
5.) How does examining La Malinche help us interpret the ideas in the article?
6.) Almaguer writes, “From early childhood, the young Mexican male develops an ambivalence toward women, who are less valued than men in patriarchal Mexican society” (80).
a. Could the same be said for United States’ society?
b. List some similarities/ differences you see between Mexican/Latin-American ideologies and that of the U.S.
7.) How does the structure of family affect Mexian/Latin-American ideologies about homosexuality?
8.) How does assimilation of the “gay” Chicano change his identity?
9.) What do you think of Moraga’s quote on page 92? Has this changed at all in recent years?
Sylvia Rivera’s Talk at LGMNY, June 2001 Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center, New York City
1.) When Rivera said, “We had nothing to lose. You had all the rights” who do you think she is referring to when she says you? Why?(118)
2.) Rivera gives several shout outs to allies.
a. How do you think she would want people to ally with transgender causes?
b. Do you have any additional ideas?
c. Does it matter what sex/gender/sexuality allies have?
3.) How does Rivera see class playing into the oppression of transgendered people?
4.) What do you think of the idea of “normalcy” within sexuality? How can we see intersectionality playing into this hierarchy?
a. How does Rivera use Randy Wicker and Matthew Shepard/ Amanda Milan as examples?
1. What has research on Chicana/Mexicano sexuality in contemporary times confirmed as important? 2. What do lesbian theorists claim as their icon? And why? 3. The title “Playing with Fire” is used as a metaphor, and referred to throughout the article. What does this title mean? 4. How would you describe Mirella Hernandez’s background and family situation? How did she identify herself? 5. How was the topic of sex treated in her family? Did they discuss it? Was she curious as a child? 6. What was her parent’s relationship like and how did this affect her? How did she begin to view men and their relationship with women, especially after her mother described them to her? 7. After becoming a young adolescent, what was she warned about impregnation from her father and mother? How did her mother have a stronger effect on her? 8. What were Mirella’s thoughts on sexual intercourse at that time? How did she feel about her virginity? 9. After being taught by her parents what did Mirella see as possible threats of becoming a woman? Did she know anything different? What is an example of this? 10. What did her quinceanera represent for her own identity and her family? What changed after and what kind of rules was she given? Were they strict? 11. How did her mother treat Mirella compared to her brother? What kind of dating advice did her mother give? 12. What was expected from Mirella in terms of her personal life within her family and how did the dominant culture and her friends question this? 13. In her first relationship, at 16, what were some of the major problems? Did people approve of this relationship? 14. The article says that she was “playing with fire”, can you explain why? 15. How did the outcome of this relationship hurt MIrella and how may her past and upbringing have affected the reaction? 16. Who was her 2nd relationship with, describe the problems that existed and how her past was again brought up. How did this relationship change Mirellas views of her future? 17. What difference in Mirellas 3rd relationship has caused the change, a positive change in her attitude and view towards men? How has she used what her parents taught her as a child in her adult life?
1. Describe Maria Perez, her background (schooling) and religious views. What was she taught about gender and sexuality as a child? What was her parent’s response if she questioned or showed any unusual and curious behavior? 2. What role did Maria typically like to play and what are some examples of this? 3. How did Maria learn about heterosexuality and how did it affect her? Did she hide this? 4. What does “muy macho, muy marimacho” mean and how did this term relate to Marias relationships with other women? 5. After her first relationship ended, Maria was drawn to the “power of a kiss”, describe her second relationship. What were each of their roles (gender roles? How did they communicate? 6. When school officials became suspicious of a relationship, how did they treat the girls? 7. How did the classmates treat the girls? What term was sued to describe the code of honor? 8. Did Maria and Josefina know what was going on and how did they hide their relationship? How were they eventually “pushed” out of the closet? 9. How did each of the parents treat their child? 10. What were Maria and Josefina’s three vows? How did these affect their relationship? Did they follow their rules? 11. How did the relationship end? Why was Josefina’s decision unfathomable to Maria? 12. Where did Maria move after her and Josefina ended their relationship? How did these moves change her views on her sexuality? 13. How did the “lesbian utopia”, Santa Cruz, help Maria redefine herself? How were these two women similar in their stories and relationships? How do individuals in general construct their sense of sexual pleasure or identity in conformity and/or resistance to cultural discourse? How is power coded into sexual behavior and relationships?
2 comments:
hicano Men: A Cartography of Homosexual Identity and Behavior
Tomás Almaguer
1.) Why does only a segment of homosexually active Chicano men identify as “gay”?
2.) In what ways does this show how the “gay” identity is socially constructed?
3.) How are gender roles maintained in male homosexual activity?
4.) Almaguer writes, “In Mexican/Latin-American context there is no cultural equivalent to the modern gay man” (78). In what ways is this true? Do you think this is helpful to obtaining sexual equality or not?
5.) How does examining La Malinche help us interpret the ideas in the article?
6.) Almaguer writes, “From early childhood, the young Mexican male develops an ambivalence toward women, who are less valued than men in patriarchal Mexican society” (80).
a. Could the same be said for United States’ society?
b. List some similarities/ differences you see between Mexican/Latin-American ideologies and that of the U.S.
7.) How does the structure of family affect Mexian/Latin-American ideologies about homosexuality?
8.) How does assimilation of the “gay” Chicano change his identity?
9.) What do you think of Moraga’s quote on page 92? Has this changed at all in recent years?
Sylvia Rivera’s Talk at LGMNY, June 2001 Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center, New York City
1.) When Rivera said, “We had nothing to lose. You had all the rights” who do you think she is referring to when she says you? Why?(118)
2.) Rivera gives several shout outs to allies.
a. How do you think she would want people to ally with transgender causes?
b. Do you have any additional ideas?
c. Does it matter what sex/gender/sexuality allies have?
3.) How does Rivera see class playing into the oppression of transgendered people?
4.) What do you think of the idea of “normalcy” within sexuality? How can we see intersectionality playing into this hierarchy?
a. How does Rivera use Randy Wicker and Matthew Shepard/ Amanda Milan as examples?
"Playing with Fire"
by Patricia Zavella
1. What has research on Chicana/Mexicano sexuality in contemporary times confirmed as important?
2. What do lesbian theorists claim as their icon? And why?
3. The title “Playing with Fire” is used as a metaphor, and referred to throughout the article. What does this title mean?
4. How would you describe Mirella Hernandez’s background and family situation? How did she identify herself?
5. How was the topic of sex treated in her family? Did they discuss it? Was she curious as a child?
6. What was her parent’s relationship like and how did this affect her? How did she begin to view men and their relationship with women, especially after her mother described them to her?
7. After becoming a young adolescent, what was she warned about impregnation from her father and mother? How did her mother have a stronger effect on her?
8. What were Mirella’s thoughts on sexual intercourse at that time? How did she feel about her virginity?
9. After being taught by her parents what did Mirella see as possible threats of becoming a woman? Did she know anything different? What is an example of this?
10. What did her quinceanera represent for her own identity and her family? What changed after and what kind of rules was she given? Were they strict?
11. How did her mother treat Mirella compared to her brother? What kind of dating advice did her mother give?
12. What was expected from Mirella in terms of her personal life within her family and how did the dominant culture and her friends question this?
13. In her first relationship, at 16, what were some of the major problems? Did people approve of this relationship?
14. The article says that she was “playing with fire”, can you explain why?
15. How did the outcome of this relationship hurt MIrella and how may her past and upbringing have affected the reaction?
16. Who was her 2nd relationship with, describe the problems that existed and how her past was again brought up. How did this relationship change Mirellas views of her future?
17. What difference in Mirellas 3rd relationship has caused the change, a positive change in her attitude and view towards men? How has she used what her parents taught her as a child in her adult life?
1. Describe Maria Perez, her background (schooling) and religious views. What was she taught about gender and sexuality as a child? What was her parent’s response if she questioned or showed any unusual and curious behavior?
2. What role did Maria typically like to play and what are some examples of this?
3. How did Maria learn about heterosexuality and how did it affect her? Did she hide this?
4. What does “muy macho, muy marimacho” mean and how did this term relate to Marias relationships with other women?
5. After her first relationship ended, Maria was drawn to the “power of a kiss”, describe her second relationship. What were each of their roles (gender roles? How did they communicate?
6. When school officials became suspicious of a relationship, how did they treat the girls?
7. How did the classmates treat the girls? What term was sued to describe the code of honor?
8. Did Maria and Josefina know what was going on and how did they hide their relationship? How were they eventually “pushed” out of the closet?
9. How did each of the parents treat their child?
10. What were Maria and Josefina’s three vows? How did these affect their relationship? Did they follow their rules?
11. How did the relationship end? Why was Josefina’s decision unfathomable to Maria?
12. Where did Maria move after her and Josefina ended their relationship? How did these moves change her views on her sexuality?
13. How did the “lesbian utopia”, Santa Cruz, help Maria redefine herself?
How were these two women similar in their stories and relationships?
How do individuals in general construct their sense of sexual pleasure or identity in conformity and/or resistance to cultural discourse?
How is power coded into sexual behavior and relationships?
Post a Comment