Survival Strategies of Mexicanas

Description of Research

Mexicanas contribute much to their family and community. In order to value and understand Mexicanas’ beliefs, it is important to realize the strategies used to resist internal colonialism1 and endure in a social environment hostile to their culture. Mexicanas are confronted by a set of social values that regard their culture as deficient or dysfunctional. A recent study of family “…that promoted the nuclear family as the standard, portrayed Latino families as dysfunctional and therefore responsible for their own lack of social progress” (Villenas 1999:4). This study demonstrates a narrow and inaccurate view of Latino families. Critical race theorists argue that “schools teach students of color that what they learn in the homes is primitive, mythical, and backward,” and that schools also devalue the viewpoints they bring to the classroom, labeling them “backward, deprived, and deficient” (Villenas 1999:4). It is clear that for the most part schools do not find the experiences of many students of color, including Mexicanas, important or relevant to their education. The attitude of not wanting to know or understand their viewpoints might explain why there is such a high dropout rate among Mexicano and Mexicana students.

Chicana scholars such as Villenas discuss how the educational system positions Mexicanas as incapable while providing evidence of their capabilities for engaging in most current forms of literacies, such as computer and reading literacy (Villenas 2005:276). This research focuses on the survival strategies of Mexicanas and also their ability to adapt and resist social and economic pressures (Villenas 1999:103). The literature reviewed for this research focuses mostly on working-class mothers who migrated to the United States as married or single (widowed, divorced, separated, never married) women. Most of the literature did not discuss or address the influence of men in the lives of Mexicanas. This may be due to the fact that the authors were more influenced by their mothers’ experiences than by their fathers’ experiences. It may also be related to the additional oppression Mexicanas suffer as a result of sexism in contrast to their male counterparts. The majority of the literature reviewed for this research focused on Mexicanas living in the United States. Most of the Mexicanas whose lives I read about live in towns along the U.S./Mexico border and throughout the states of California, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and New Mexico.