Lecture on Chicana History and Struggle

Introduction to Chicana Roles

• Traditional image: Nurturing woman, providing social and economic support
• Role in preparing future labor force
• Preservation of culture without direct compensation
• Respect comes late, recognizing women's strength in enduring hardships

Historical Context and Matriarchal Roots

• Historians often ignore matriarchal roots in the Americas
• The Great Mother: a powerful deity dating back to pre-Aztec civilization
• Pre-Columbian women:
  • Domesticated vegetables
  • Served as paramedics
  • Faced economic, military, and religious subjugation

Spanish Conquest and Colonial Impact

• Arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1519
• Malinche (Dona Marina): a slave who became an interpreter, symbol of a ravaged Mexico
• Transformation by Colonial Catholic Church:
  • Indian goddess worship transformed to Virgin Mary
  • Marianismo: idealizing women’s endurance and suffering

Colonial Legacy and Social Structures

• Colonial rule from Mississippi to Pacific coast by 1793
• Women’s roles varied with geography and social class
• Pueblo Nation: women’s work highly valued
• Mexican women: involved in adobe construction and supervision
• Struggle for civil liberties and freedom inherent in legacy

Notable Figures in Mexican Independence and Education Advocacy

• Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz: Advocated for women’s education, faced inquisition
• Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez: Participated in 1810 Independence Movement, imprisoned

Mexican-American War and Economic Exploitation

• Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836
• U.S. invasion of Mexican territories in 1848
• Land and labor exploitation by powerful corporations
• Juan Cortina: Texas Rebellion leader

Labor Movements and Revolution

• Industrial demands led to labor movements
• Lucia Gonzalez Parsons: Advocated for women's role in labor movement
• Mexican Revolution (1910): Women participated as soldiers, protested for equal rights

Migration and Labor Struggles in the U.S.

• Migration of Mexican peasants to the U.S. from 1900 to 1930
• Chicana involvement in labor market due to economic conditions
• Emma Tenayuka: Led the pecan strike in San Antonio, 1938

Modern Chicana Activism

• Dolores Huerta: Vice president of United Farm Workers
• Alicia Escalante: Founded Chicana welfare rights organization
• Chicana Service Action Center: Supports employment and education for women

Ongoing Struggles

• Women continue to fight for:
  • Fair wages
  • Decent living conditions
  • Education
  • Overall social justice
• "Fight for bread and roses": symbolic for the broader struggle for rights and dignity

These notes cover the key points and historical progression of Chicana roles and activism from pre-colonial times to modern-day struggles. They include the ongoing efforts to achieve economic and social justice for Chicana women.