Chicanas
Women of Aztlán
Chicanas are women of Mexican descent living in the United States, particularly those who embrace a politicized ethnic identity.
The term emerged from the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 70s, emphasizing cultural pride and social justice.
Unlike the broader "Mexican American," Chicana carries connotations of activism and feminist consciousness: Chicana writers have shaped Latina literature.
The masculine form is Chicano; the gender-neutral Chicanx has recent currency.
Woman of dual ancestry
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- culturaCollective social heritage
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- bilingualismProficiency in two languages
borderlands · Mexican-American · Southwest · identity · self-determination · belonging · roots · biculturalism
Hispanic urban district
- familiaHousehold, in Spanish
- comadresWomen in godparent relationship
- fiestasFestive cultural celebrations
- quinceañeraFifteenth birthday celebration
traditions · cuisine · tamales · pan dulce · music · conjunto · corridos · muralism
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- marchRhythmic group walk
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
civil rights · social justice · farmworker rights · labor organizing · demonstration · community organizing · solidarity · resistance
Interconnected identity-based discrimination study
- womanismBlack female-focused social theory
- herstoryWomen-focused historical narrative
- genderSocial identity category
- matrilinealDescended through maternal line
body autonomy · reproductive justice · feminist theory · mujeres
Ability to direct others
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- agencyPower to act
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
mentorship · role models · achievement · education · first-generation · college access · career advancement · entrepreneurship
mestiza
Woman of dual ancestry
bilingualism · borderlands · Mexican-American · Southwest · identity · self-determination · belonging · roots · biculturalism · hyphenated identity
barrio
Hispanic urban district
- familiaHousehold, in Spanish
- comadresWomen in godparent relationship
- fiestasFestive cultural celebrations
quinceañera · traditions · cuisine · tamales · pan dulce · music · conjunto · corridos · muralism · lowrider
Cesar Chavez
grassroots · civil rights · social justice · farmworker rights · labor organizing · demonstration · community organizing · solidarity · resistance · advocacy
intersectionality
Interconnected identity-based discrimination study
- womanismBlack female-focused social theory
- herstoryWomen-focused historical narrative
- genderSocial identity category
matrilineal · body autonomy · reproductive justice · feminist theory · mujeres
leadership
Ability to direct others
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- agencyPower to act
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
aspiration · mentorship · role models · achievement · education · first-generation · college access · career advancement · entrepreneurship · representation
- Latinas
- peoplepeople, persons, person, individuals, humans
Chicanasgringas
Foreign women, especially American
WASPs · Mexican immigrants · Anglo-Americans · European Americans
- Chicano muralsMexican-American public wall paintings
- Chicano cultureMexican-American ethnic identity
- Chicano MovementMexican American civil rights campaign