Mexican American Women Dress and Gender

<p>Mexican American women have endured several layers of discrimination deriving from a strong patriarchal tradition and a difficult socioeconomic and cultural situation within the US ethnic and class organization. However, there have been groups of women who have defied their fates at different times and in diverse forms.</p><p>Mexican American Women, Dress, and Gender observes how <em>Pachucas, Chicanas</em>, and <em>Cholas</em> have used their body image (dress, hairstyle, and body language) as a political tool of deviation and attempts to measure the degree of intentionality in said oppositional stance. For this purpose and, claiming the sociological power of photographs as a representation of precise sociohistorical moments, this work analyzes several photographs of women of said groups; with the aim of proving the relevance of "other" body images in expressing gender and ethnic identification, or disidentification from the mainstream norm.</p><p></p><p>Proposing a diachronic, comparative approach to young Mexican American women, this monograph will appeal to students and researchers interested in Chicano History, Race and Ethnic Studies, American History, Feminism, and Gender Studies.</p><p></p> <p>Table of Contents</p><p></p><p>Acknowledgements</p><p></p><p>A Note to the Reader</p><p></p><p>Table of Contents</p><p></p><p>Introduction</p><p></p><p>Chapter 1. Dress, Clothing, Fashion and Style</p><p></p><p>1.1. The Function of Dress</p><p></p><p>1.2. Clothing, Fashion and Style</p><p></p><p>Chapter 2. The 20th Century and Fashion</p><p></p><p>Chapter 3. Style, Subcultures and Mexican American Women</p><p></p><p>Chapter 4. <i>Pachucas: </i>Breaking the Norms in the Forties</p><p></p><p>4.1. Life and Expectations for US Women in the Forties</p><p></p><p>4.1.1. World War II and Mexican American Women</p><p></p><p>4.2. Women’s Fashion in the Forties</p><p></p><p>4.3. The <i>Pachuca: </i>A Rebel Withouth a Cause</p><p></p><p>4.3.1. <i>Pachucas, Pachucos </i>and the Zoot Suit Riots</p><p></p><p>4.3.2. The <i>Pachuca</i> Style Politics</p><p></p><p>Chapter 5. <i>Chicanas: </i>Fighting the Norm in the Seventies</p><p></p><p>5.1. Life and Expectations for US Women in the Seventies</p><p></p><p>5.2. Women’s Fashion in the Seventies</p><p></p><p>5.3. El <i>Movimiento Chicano </i>and <i>La Chicana</i></p><p></p><p>5.4. The<i> Chicana</i> Style Politics</p><p></p><p>5.4.1. The Brown Berets</p><p></p><p>5.4.2. The <i>Chicana</i> Feminist Activists</p><p></p><p>Chapter 6. <i>Cholas: </i>Adapting to Other Norms in the Nineties</p><p></p><p>6.1. Life and Expectations for US Young Women in the Nineties</p><p></p><p>6.2. Women’s Fashion in the Nineties</p><p></p><p>6.3. Gangs and Cholo/a Style in 20th century <i>Barrios</i></p><p></p><p>6.3.1. The Girls in/around the Gang</p><p></p><p>6.4. The<i> Chola</i> Style Politics</p><p></p><p>Concluding Remarks</p><p></p><p>Works Cited</p><p></p>