WGSS 2340: The Latina Experience in the U.S.
Professor Guisela Latorre
Time and Days: MWF 11:30-12:25pm
Classroom: Denney Hall 250
Office Hours: Mon and Fri 1:30-3:30pm or by
appointment
Office Location: 286 University Hall
Office Phone: 242-7720
Email: latorre.13@osu.edu
Course Description
Throughout this semester we will explore the various layers of complexity that have historically made up
the Latina experience in the United States. Traditionally defined as women of Latin American descent
born and/or raised in the United States, Latinas form part of the fastest growing ethnic group in this
country yet in most aspects of public, social and cultural life they remain largely underrepresented, often
rendered invisible though structural processes of erasure. Through a careful analysis of the specific
histories and experiences of Latinas and the colonial legacies of the Americas, we will gain a greater
understanding of the reasons behind this persistent marginalization while at the same time acquire
increased knowledge about their struggles over empowerment and self-determination. In other words, in
spite of the multiple oppressions that Latinas have suffered at the intersection of class, race, gender and
sexuality, their personal and collective testimonios as well as their intellectual interventions provide
effective strategies for women of color to survive and thrive in a neo-colonial and patriarchal world.
Of great importance to our class will be the issue of representation. How are Latinas represented in the
mass media and other outlets? How do preconceptions of race, class, gender and sexuality affect this
representation? How does representation influence the lives of Latinas in real and tangible ways? How is
this representation different when it is Latina cultural producers themselves—namely artists, writers,
performers and others—who render their own images before a larger public? We will operate under the
assumption that representation is not only about the production of images, but it is also about the
production of social identities that can inform cultural attitudes and behaviors as well as public policy and
regulations.
Another salient component of the course will be the intellectual contribution made by Latina feminist
scholars to the disciplines of feminism, ethnic studies, postcolonial theory and others. Theoretical
concepts like testimonio, mestizaje, tropicalization, and latinidad, just to name a few, have been critically
influenced by Latina feminist thought. We will discover, however, that these ideas are deeply rooted in
women’s lived experience thus putting theory and practice into an intimate dialogue.
Disability Accommodation
The Office of Disability Services, located in 150 Pomerene Hall, offers services for students with
disabilities. They can be reached at 292-3307. If you wish to have a disability accommodation, be sure to
let me know right away.
A Note on Language
Even though knowledge of Spanish is not required for this class, you will find that many Latina feminist
writers use code-switching in their writing, that is, they utilize both English and Spanish as part of their
intellectual vocabulary. Translations or explanations of Spanish words will be provided in class as the
need arises. Nevertheless, you will be expected to familiarize yourself with a few words in Spanish that
have become critical components of Latina feminist discourse (la frontera, la familia, testimonio, etc.).
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Required Texts
The Latina Feminist Group. Telling to Live: Latina Feminist Testimonios. Durham and
London: Duke University Press, 2001.
CARMEN readings.
* Please print out or bring electronic versions of the readings to class in order to facilitate discussion.
Course Requirements
1- Midterm Examination (20%): You will be tested on the concepts and ideas covered in class. This
will include material from the lectures and the readings. This exam will be comprised of two
parts: a) ten fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions, and b) one long essay question. The
midterm will cover material from the first half of the semester.
2- Final Examination (25%): This exam will have the same format as the midterm and, for the most
part, will cover the material from the second half of the semester. In addition, this exam will
include one comprehensive essay question where you will be asked to bring together material
from the first and second halves of the semester.
3- Quizzes 1 and 2 (5% each): This will be fill-in-the-blank and short answer quizzes meant to
prepare you for the midterm and final examinations respectively.
4- Testimonio Research Paper (20%): You will write a 12-15 page paper based on a real person’s
testimonio account coupled with secondary source research material. Specific guidelines for this
paper will be handed out during the second week of class.
5- Oral Response to Readings (10%): Each one of you will be assigned 1-2 readings and will lead a
class discussion on those readings. You will be expected to summarize the content of the text(s)
and to generate 1-2 questions meant to promote discussion and/or dialogue in the classroom.
6- In-Class Discussion and Participation (15%): Your participation points will be based on your
level of engagement with class discussion. It is extremely important that you actively partake in
our classroom conversations and always come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings.
Attendance Policy
You are allowed two unexcused absences this semester without affecting your course grade. I will
subtract half a letter grade off your final grade in class for each additional absence you may incur. For
those of you who leave class early or arrive late, you will earn only partial attendance credit for that day.
In addition, you are still responsible for all the course material you miss during your absences (excused or
unexcused.)
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious offense that is strictly forbidden. Use of another’s work without proper
documentation, intentional or not, is tantamount to plagiarism and thus unacceptable. For information on
plagiarism and how to avoid it, see the following link:
http://cstw.osu.edu/wrtingCenter/handouts/research_plagiarism.cfm
Class Discussion Etiquette
As many courses on feminism, gender and ethnic studies do, this class deals with numerous controversial
and sensitive issues that often elicit heated discussion. I expect that a number of you will disagree with
the opinions expressed in the class readings and discussion. I certainly expect you to express your honest
opinion. Nevertheless, all in-class dialogue needs to happen within an atmosphere of civil intellectual
exchange and mutual respect. Personal attacks, loud speaking, heckling and cutting people off before
they are done talking will not be permitted.
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Personal Emergencies
If you experience a personal emergency during this semester such as a serious illness, death in the family,
accidents and/or other unforeseen circumstances that may potentially prevent you from completing
coursework in this class, please contact me immediately. I will deal with these emergencies on a case-tocase basis. Be aware, however, that you will need to provide documentation for any reported emergency
in order to for me to help you. Note that social events such as weddings, vacations, quinceañeras and
barmitzvahs, to cite just a few examples, are not considered emergencies.
Note on PowerPoint Presentations
I use PowerPoint as a pedagogical tool in almost all my lectures. It is important, however, that you not
misunderstand the function that my PowerPoint presentations have in this course. These are meant to
facilitate in-class note-taking by providing you with general outlines for each lecture. Nevertheless, I do
not share my PowerPoint slides outside of class, nor do I post them on the web. Moreover, it is not
sufficient for you to just write down what is up on the screen because these outlines will merely contain
keywords and ideas that will not make much sense without the oral explanations and discussions that we
will have in class.
Technology Policy
You may use laptops, tablets and/or book readers to do coursework in class. Web surfing and unrelated
work is strictly forbidden and will result in the loss of 5 points off the student’s final grade. Cell phones
need to be turned off at all times.
Class Calendar
WEEK 1
Wednesday, August 22 – Introduction and General Overview
 No Readings
Friday, August 24 – Latina Feminist Theories – Borderlands and the New Mestiza
 Gloria Anzaldúa, “The Homeland, Aztlán,” and “La conciencia de la mestiza,” Borderlands/La
Frontera, 23-35, 99-120. CARMEN (posted as one file)
WEEK 2
Monday, August 27 – Latina Feminist Theories: Spiritual Activism
 AnaLouise Keating, “ ‘I’m a Citizen of the Universe’,” Feminist Studies, 53-69. CARMEN.
Wednesday, August 29 – Latina Feminist Theories: Testimonio
 The Latina Feminist Group, “Introduction: Papelitos Guardados,” Telling to Live, 1-24
 Inés Hernández Ávila, “Telling to Live,” Telling to Live, 298-301.
Friday, August 31 – Latina Feminist Theories – Tropicalization and Latinidad
 Frances Aparicio, “On Sub-Versive Signifiers,” Tropicalizations, 194-212. CARMEN.
 Isabel Molina-Guzmán, “Mapping the Place of Latinas in the U.S. Media,” Dangerous Curves, 121. CARMEN.
WEEK 3
Monday, September 3 – Labor Day (No classes)
Wednesday, September 5 – The Colonial Legacy
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
Antonia E. Castañeda, “Sexual Violence in the Politics and Policies of Conquest: Amerindian
Women and the Spanish Conquest of California,” in Building With Our Hands, 15-33.
CARMEN.
Friday, September 7 – The Colonial Legacy
 Astrid Cubano Aguina, “Legal Constructions of Gender and Violence Against Women,” Rituals
of Violence in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico, 49-73. CARMEN.
WEEK 4
Monday, September 10 – The Chicana and Mexican-American Experience
 Catherine S. Ramírez, “Crimes of Fashion,” Meridians, 1-35. CARMEN.
Wednesday, September 12 – The Chicana and Mexican-American Experience
 Patricia Zavella, “Silence Begins at Home,” Telling to Live, 43-54.
 Norma E. Cantú, “Getting There Cuando No Hay Camino,” Telling to Live, 60-68.
Friday, September 14 – The Caribbean Experience
 Iris Ofelia López, “Reflection and Rebirth: The Evolving Life of a Latina Academic,” Telling to
Live, 69-85.
 Luz de Alba Acevedo, “Daughter of Bootstrap,” Telling to Live, 139-147.
WEEK 5
Monday, September 17 – The Caribbean Experience
 Maritza Quiñones Rivera, “From Trigueñita to Afro-Puerto Rican,” Meridians: Feminism, Race,
Transnationalism, 162-182. CARMEN.
Wednesday, September 19 – The Central American Experience
 Arturo Arias, “Central American Americans: invisibility, power, and representation,” The Other
Latinos, 101-124. CARMEN.
Friday, September 21 – The Latina Challenge to Male Nationalism
 Maylei Blackwell, ¡Chicana Power! (excerpt), CARMEN.
WEEK 6
Monday, September 24 – The Latina Challenge to Male Nationalism
 Jennifer A. Nelson, “ ‘Abortions Under Community Control’,” Journal of Women’s History, 157180. CARMEN.
Wednesday, September 26 – The Latina Challenge to “White” Feminism
 Chela Sandoval, “Feminism and Racism: A Report on the 1981 National Women’s Studies
Association Conference,” The Chicana/o Cultural Studies Reader, 458-471. CARMEN.
Friday, September 28 – The Latina Challenge to “White” Feminism
 Luz de Alba Acevedo, “Speaking Among Friends: Whose Empowerment? Whose Resistance?”
Telling to Live, 250-262.
WEEK 7
Monday, October 1 – Midterm Exam
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Wednesday, October 3 – Latina Immigration
 Cecilia Menjívar and Leisy J. Abrego, “Legal Violence” American Journal of Sociology, 13801421. CARMEN.
Friday, October 5 – Latina Immigration
 Maura I. Toro-Morn and Marixsa Alicea, “Gendered Geographies of Home,” Gender and U.S.
Immigration, 194-214. CARMEN.
WEEK 8
Monday, October 8 – Latinas and Education
 Nancy López, “Resistance to Race and Gender Oppression: Dominican High School Girls in New
York City,” Latina Girls, 79-92. CARMEN.
Wednesday, October 10 – Latinas and Education
 Latina Anónima, “Welcome to the Ivory Tower,” Telling to Live, 218-223.
Friday, October 12 – Latina Labor
 Cecilia Menjívar, “The Intersection of Work and Gender,” American Behavioral Scientist, 601627. CARMEN.
WEEK 9
Monday, October 15 – Latinas and Labor
 Mary Romero, “Conceptualizing the Latina experience in care work,” A Companion to Latina/o
Studies, 264-275. CARMEN.
Wednesday, October 17 – Latina Leadership: Dolores Huerta
 Alicia Chávez, “Dolores Huerta and the United Farm Workers,” Latina Legacies, 240-245.
CARMEN.
Friday, October 19 – Latina Leadership: Sonia Sotomayor
 Sonia Sotomayor, “A Latina Judge’s Voice,” Berkeley La Raza Law Review, 87-93. CARMEN.
 “Sonia Sotomayor,” JudgePedia (http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Sonia_Sotomayor). LOOK UP
ONLINE.
WEEK 10
Monday, October 22 – Culture and Representation: Chicana Art
 Chela Sandoval and Guisela Latorre, “Chicana/o Artivism” Learning Race and Ethnicity: Youth
and Digital Media, 81-108. CARMEN.
Wednesday, October 24 – Culture and Representation: Chicana Art
 Clara Roman-Odio, “Queering the Sacred: Love as Oppositional Consciousness in Alma López’s
Art,” Our Lady of Controversy, 121-147. CARMEN.
Friday, October 26 – Culture and Representation: Literature
 Monica Palacios, “Personality Fabulosa,” Latina, 200-207.
WEEK 11
Monday, October 29 – Culture and Representation: Literature
 Julia Alvarez, “Daughter of Invention,” How the García Girls Lost their Accents, 133-149.
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Wednesday, October 31 – Culture and Representation: Music and Performance
 Deborah Vargas, “Rita’s Pants,” Women & Performance, 3-14. CARMEN.
Friday, November 2 – Culture and Representation: Music and Performance
 Frances Aparicio, “ ‘Así son’,” Poetics Today, 659-684. CARMEN.
WEEK 12
Monday, November 5 – Culture and Representation: Latinas and the Media
 Charla Ogaz, “On the Semiotics of Lorena Bobbitt,” in From Bananas to Buttocks, 201-219.
CARMEN.
Wednesday, November 7 – Culture and Representation: Latinas and the Media
 Isabel Molina-Gúzman, “ ‘Ugly’ America Dreams the American Dream,” Dangerous Curves,
119-150. CARMEN.
Friday, November 9 – Culture and Representation: Film and Latino Masculinity
*** In-class film screening: Peter Bratt (director), La Mission (2009), starring Benjamin Bratt and
Jeremy Ray Valdez***
WEEK 13
Monday, November 12 – Veteran’s Day (No Classes)
Wednesday, November 14 – Cultural Production: Film and Latino Masculinity
 Alfredo Mirandé, “ ‘Macho’: Contemporary Conceptions,” in Hombres y Machos, 63-79.
CARMEN.
Friday, November 16 – Gendered Violence
 Caridad Souza, “The Christmas Present,” Telling to Live, 169-176.
 Latina Anónima, “La Princesa,” Telling to Live, 286-288.
WEEK 14
Monday, November 19 – Testimonio Paper: On-Line Workshop
***Thanksgiving Break***
WEEK 15
Monday, November 26 – Gendered Violence
 Carlos G. Velez, “Se me acabó la canción,” Latina Issues, 183-203. CARMEN.
Wednesday, November 28 – Sexuality and Queer Identities
 Ruth Behar, “El Beso,” Telling to Live, 196-200.
 Latina Anónima, “Entre Nosotros,” Telling to Live, 331-333.
Friday, November 30 – Sexuality and Queer Identities
** Film Screening: Judith McCray, dir. Tal Como Somos – Just as We Are (2007), a Juneteenth
Production **
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WEEK 16
Monday, December 3 – Latina Reflections on Recent Political Events/
“Tentative” Pizza Party
 Cherríe Moraga, “From Inside the First World: On 9/11 and Women-of-Color Activism,” A
Xicana Codex of Changing Consciousness, 18-33. CARMEN.
 Cherríe Moraga, “What’s Race Got to do with it? On the Election of Barack Obama,” A Xicana
Codex of Changing Consciousness, 151-162. CARMEN.
***** FINAL EXAM- Monday Dec 10, 12:00pm-1:45pm *****
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