4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
th
4 Annual Semana de
la Mujer
(SDLM)
INTRODUCTION
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
1
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
2
Throughout her/history the Latina/Chicana woman has been marginalized by this nation’s
dominant society and her own raza1. In the Chicano Movement of the 20th century, the
work carried out by women was often seen as unimportant and women were confined to
gender-specific roles.2 The current femicide3 women are experiencing in Juarez, Mexico has
occurred with impunity for the perpetrators. Latinas bodies have been sites of
experimentation for the health industry - from 1930 to 1980 one-in-three women in
Puerto Rico were forcibly sterilized.4 Latinas/Chicanas bodies have been places of
exotification, violence, and struggle. However, in the face of this marginalization, the
Latina/Chicana has excelled. The contributions that Latinas/Chicanas have made
throughout her/history in literature, medicine, research, politics, and many other fields,
challenges prevailing views on Latinas/Chicanas and the role they play or should play
within our society.
Therefore, for the fourth consecutive year, Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán
(M.E.Ch.A.) de UIUC will commemorate la mujer5, her struggles and her victories, in a
weeklong celebration during Women's Her/History month in March. We will strive to
remember women forgotten throughout history, honor those who have struggled for
equality, and encourage mujeres to continue to struggle for recognition. Each day there will
be a different event that focuses on matters that affect women. The themes addressed by
this year’s events will include art, herstory, politics, indigeneity, and media. Each event is
meant to bring mujeres from across the UIUC and larger Urbana-Champaign community
together to discuss their experiences and their futures as women of color. Through
dialogue, performances, guest speakers, and civic engagement the 4th Annual Semana de la
Mujer will commemorate the tradition of being a Chicana/Latina. The following is a
detailed explanation of what will happen throughout week, for more information please
contact Diana Alvarado at dalvara3@illinois.edu.
1
Raza is used interchangeably with Latino and people.
Espinoza, D. (2001). 'revolutionary sisters': women's solidarity and collective identification among chicana
brown berets in east los angeles. Aztlán, 26(1), 17-58.
3 The systematic killing of women.
4 Louis de Malave, F. Z. (1999). Sterilization of puerto rican women: a selected, partially annotated
bibliography. University of Wisconsin System Women's Studies Librarian's Office.
5 We use mujer throughout this proposal to refer to Latinas/Chicanas.
2
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
3
CURRICULAR AGENDA
Monday, February 28, 2011 to Friday, March 4, 2011
Dangerous Curves: Latina Bodies in the Media (Monday)
The dominant society’s media has historically objectified, and in the process disciplined
and subjugated, Latina’s bodies. The media’s ad nauseam depiction of the Chicana/Latina
maid or the sexy/sultry Latina has resulted in the marginalization of Latina’s within
society; as these restrictively constructed notions of Latinas reflect and define the
Chicana’s/Latina’s inferior position in the racial-economic hierarchy. Over time, the
prevailing representation of Latina bodies in the media has evolved from one of nearerasure and Anglicization (in the 19th and early-20th century) to the hypersexualization and
racialization we see today. It is with this herstory of the mainstream media’s prevailingly
negative portrayals of Chicanas/Latinas in mind that we will kick off the 4th Annual Semana
de la Mujer. Ultimately, it this herstory is what makes our project of Semana de la Mujer so
important.
The kick-off event for the 4th Annual Semana de la Mujer will be composed of a film viewing
and a book reading/presentation with the Chair of UIUC’s Latina/Latino Studies
Department- Dr. Isabel Molina-Guzman. The documentary unpacks Latina’s portrayals in
the media and works to dissect how these representations affect the lives of U.S. Latinas.
Following the film Professor Molina will present on her recently published bookDangerous Curves: Latina Bodies in the Media. The book will be available for purchase and
time will be allotted for book signing.
Chicanalogues (Tuesday)
The second day of this year’s SDLM will be geared towards promoting Latinas/Chicanas
self-expression through theatrical performances. The day’s first event, Chicanalogues, will
be monologues performed by members of M.E.Ch.A de UIUC based upon their daily lives
and their personal experiences as Latinas/Chicanas on this campus. Through having our
members share their narratives as mujeres within a sexist, racist, classist, and homophobic
institution and society we hope to empower all those that identify as Latinas/Chicanas and
impart upon the audience a greater sense of what it means to be a Latina/Chicana in the
Midwest and on this campus. This event, beginning at noon, will last approximately half
and hour to forty-five minutes. The day’s second event will be a workshop ran by the
women of M.E.Ch.A. de UIUC in one of the local high schools. The workshop will showcase
Latinas in a creative forum of social, political and educational outreach, will build upon our
own narratives and further help to empower Latinas/Chicanas and educate the campus on
Latinas/Chicanas experiences.
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
4
Latinas Take the Capitol (Wednesday)
Traditionally, the realm of U.S. politics & governance has been dominated by the normative
subject, i.e. the White, upper-class, heterosexual, Protestant, and able-bodied male. Today,
while over one-in-seven people in the United States are Latina/o, Latinas/os account for
fewer than one-in-twenty elected officials.6 When compare these statistics exclusively for
Chicanas/Latinas the disparity in representation only worsens. As recent budgetary cuts
highlight7, the underrepresentation of Chicana’s/Latina’s voices within the chambers of
government has serious consequences for Chicanas/Latinas and their communities. In the
State of Illinois we still have great strides to make before Latina’s voices and issues are fully
heard;8 however, thanks to a small but growing group of intrepid pioneers, it appears that
one day soon Latinas/Chicanas will be poised to take the Capitol. This past decade has
witnessed the Chicagoland area elect five Latinas to the Illinois General Assembly. These
five mujeres are making herstory as they redefine the role Chicanas/Latinas play in politics.
This day’s event will celebrate Chicanas/Latinas who have paved the way for mujeres to
advocate on behalf of themselves, for mujeres to be political agents in their own right, with
an evening reception with State Senator Iris Y. Martinez and State Representative Susana
Mendoza. This reception will furnish the UIUC community the opportunity to discuss with
and hear from Senator Martinez and Representative Mendoza on their experiences as
Latina elected officials and mujeres accomplishing firsts in the Midwest.
Writing Herstory (Thursday)
Semana de la Mujer emerged with the purpose of centering Herstory not only within our
immediate campus community but also within the broader realm of Academia. The term
"herstory" does not only problematize the patriarchy of history embedded within our society,
but it is a term that is constantly being redefined through the cultural productions of Chicana
feminist writers. Therefore, it is important to examine and recognize the groundbreaking work
of Chicana feminist writers that tremendously contribute to the literary field by providing
cultural and political discourse that create alternative political and intellectual spaces to
demand improvement and change in all aspects of the lives of mujeres—beginning with the
deconstruction of hetero-patriarchal institutions whose oppressive forces actively work to
delimit all mujeres. The works of Chicana feminist writers not only unpack these forces but also
actively challenge hetero-patriarchal practices by publishing critical essays, poetry, prose, and
anthologies that uncover their historically subjugated knowledges. On this day, we will center
the experience of Chicana feminist writers with the process of writing and publishing while
considering that the ‘personal is political’. We will delve into a deeper understanding of
mujeres behind the written word, beyond the prose and poetry of their cultural production for
Almanac of Latino Politics
Grassroots Coalition Report: Gendered Cuts
8 Latina’s make up over seven-percent of the state’s population but less than one-half of one percent of the
Illinois General Assembly.
6
7
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
5
a deeper insight to their struggles and accomplishments. Most importantly, this day we will
commemorate and highlight the ways Chicana feminist writers have shaped and continuously
reshape herstory for multiple intersecting spheres of society.
La Muxer Indigena (Friday)
As an organization MEChA promotes the principles of self-determination through higher
education, cultural awareness and political consciousness. We understand that in this
nation, given the dominant society’s demonization of Latinas/Chicanas as alien others,
Latinas/Chicanas will never be able to fully embody an “American” identity and receive the
power and privilege this identity affords. In response to this demonization as alien others
Latinas/Chicanas, since the Chicano Movement of the 20th century, have turned to
indigeneity, or indigenismo, to define who they are. In a country where brown skin and an
accent are characteristics of the outsider, Latinas/Chicanas have taken these traits and
used them as tools of resistance. Without the celebration of indigenous roots that
indigenismo calls for Latinas/Chicanas are a conquered people with no identity which to
defend. For La Muxer Indigena we will honor those indigenous women who have defended
our culture and land with an afternoon workshop and evening musical performance by the
all-Chicana indigenous music group – In Lak Ech.
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
6
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Monday, February 28, 2010 | Dangerous
Curves: Latina Bodies in the
Media
Dangerous Curves: Latina Bodies in the Media with Dr. Isabel Molina-Guzman
Siebel Center | 6:00 pm
Tuesday, March 1, 2010 | Chicanalogues
Monologues in the Courtyard
Illini Union Courtyard | 12:00 pm
Community Outreach Event
Local High School | 6:00 pm
Wednesday, March 2, 2010 | Latinas
Take the Capitol
Gendered/Racialized Budget Cuts Teach-In
Ikenberry Commons | 11:00 am
Latinas Take the Capitol: A Reception with Senator Martinez & Rep. Mendoza
Illini Union Colonial Room | 6:00 pm
Thursday, March 3, 2010 | Writing
Herstory
Lunch & Learn with Ana Castillo
La Casa Cultural Latina | 12:00 pm
Writer's Workshop
La Casa Cultural Latina | TBA
Keynote Lecture
Bevier Hall | 6:00 pm
Friday, March 4, 2010 |
La Muxer Indigena
Artist’s Workshop with In Lak Ech
Allen Hall Main Lounge| 1:00 pm
In Lak Ech Concert
Illini Union Courtyard | 6:00 pm
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
7
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
8
ANA CASTILLO
Chicana poet and writer Ana Castillo was born and raised in Chicago, but has spent most of
her writing career exploring her mixed indigenous-Spanish (Mestiza) heritage. In her first
novel, The Mixquiahuala Letters (1986), Castillo explores the relationship between two
women who travel to Mexico in search of a better understanding of their place in both the
U.S. and Mexican societies. The novel, written in the form of letters between the two
women, is considered the landmark novel that made Castillo a leading Chicana feminista
writer, winning the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation.
Castillo's interest in race and gender issues can be traced through her writing career,
culminating in Massacre of the Dreamers: Essays on Xicanisma, published in 1994. In this
collection of essays, Castillo explores the notion of Xicanisma, a term she herself created in
order to give name to the struggles of Brown women in the racially polarized U.S. In the U.S.
, much debate of racism becomes constructed in a Black-White paradigm, leaving little
room for others. In Massacre of the Dreamers, Castillo explores the Chicana feminist
movement of the 70's and where that movement is headed. Castillo notes that U.S. history,
especially, seems to neglect the struggles of Mexico and the indigenous peoples who
became involuntary migrants into what is now the Southwestern U.S. By exploring the
history of Mexico and Central America, Castillo hopes to integrate ideas about the
patriarchy and oppression of these societies with that of the United States, looking at how
Brown women must cope in both societies.
Castillo was schooled in Chicago for the most part, attending the Chicago City College for
two years before entering Northwestern Illinois University. Here, she received her B.A. in
art. After receiving her degree in 1975, Castillo moved to Sonoma County, California to
teach. In 1977 she moved back to Chicago and earned an M.A. in Latin American and
Caribbean Studies at the University of Chicago. Throughout this period of time, Castillo was
not only writing, but was also an activist -- something she still continues to be. In 1986
Castillo moved back to California and taught at various colleges. She eventually found
herself at the University of Bremen in Germany where she earned her Ph.D. in American
Studies.
Not only is Castillo a noted poet and novelist, she has edited many works with other
Chicana-Latina writers including Cherrie Moraga and Norma Alarcon. It was with Alarcon
and others that Castillo co-founded Third Woman, a literary magazine, for which she is a
contributing editor. Her most recent publication, qLa Diosa de las Americas/Goddess of the
Americas, is an anthology about the Virgin of Guadalupe with Castillo as editor. Castillo
proclaims herself a "devotee" of the Virgin of Guadalupe who is considered the Mother
Goddess in Mexican, Mestizo, and Mexican-Indian societies, but largely ignored by the
patriarchal Catholic church. It is the Catholic church and patriarch that led Castillo to
incorporate sexuality as one of the main themes in her writing. Because the Catholic church
does not condone sex unless it is for the sole purpose of having a child, many women in
Catholic cultures, including much of Latin America, lose a segment of their "self" by being
denied their sexuality. Castillo believes that women have lost their sense of self on many
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
9
levels, including psychologically, physically, and spiritually, and need to reclaim
themselves. Castillo herself does this through her writing and activism.
Other published works include:
Fiction
My Daughter, My Son, The Eagle, The Dove (2000)
Peel my Love Like an Onion (1999)
Loverboys (1996)
So Far From God (1993)
The Mixquiahuala Letters (1986)
Non-Fiction
Massacre of the Dreamers: Essays on Xicanisma (1994)
Video and Sound
Sapogonia: Uncorrected Proof (uncut version) (1994)
Ana Castillo reading from her works (sound recording) (1994)
Sapogonia: Uncorrected Proof (3/8 meter video) (1990)
Poetry
I Ask the Impossible: Poems (2001)
My Father Was a Toltec and Selected Poems 1973-1988 (1995)
My Father Was a Toltec (1988)
Women Are Not Roses (1984)
The Invitation (1979)
Otro Canto (1977)
Collections
This Bridge Called by Back. Co-edited with Cherrie Moraga. (1988)
The Sexuality of Latinas. Co-edited with Norma Alarcn and Cherrie Moraga. (1991)
Goddess of the Americas/La Diosa de las Americas. Editor (1996)
IN LAK ECH
In Lak Ech is a Mayan concept meaning you are my other me-tu eres mi otro yo. In the flesh,
In Lak Ech is a performance poetry and song collective of Xicana multi-media artists,
writers, students, and organizers uniting to tell Her-story through poetry & music. In Lak
Ech is comprised of Marisol Torres, Felicia Montes, Claudia Mercado, Cristina Gorocica,
Rachel Thorson Vliz, Liza Hita, and Marlene Beltran. Their flowering words, which express
their urban indigena realities are offered to the past, present, and future generations. Since
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org
4th Annual Semana de la Mujer Proposal
10
their birth on International Womens Day, 1997, they have been heard from the jungles of
Chiapas to the concrete jungles of Mexico City, Los Angeles, and beyond.
In Lak Ech has traveled throughout California and the southwest to give a voice to the many
who struggle for dignity, culture, and life. Through canto, comedy, poetry, and observation,
they are a unique blend of modern day oral tradition, exploring politics, spirituality, love,
and pain.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the women of In Lak Ech not only perform poetry and
song but also organize cultural celebrations, participate in conferences, and conduct
workshops for diverse communities. These performances have been used as tools for
expression, healing, communication, and organizing at various community centers,
festivals, high schools, universities, and indigenous ceremonies.
In Lak Ech utilizes words to bring awareness and empowerment to the issues of women,
family, humanity, and mother earth. As a result, In Lak Ech is the seed that has inspired
creative women circles such as Mujeres de Maiz. The collectives have become a significant
presence particularly in East Los Angeles through art shows, performances, and organizing
efforts including magazines and recordings for the Peace and Dignity CD compilation on the
Xican@ Records and Film label. In Lak Ech's newest project is the creation and premiere of
their first spoken word and music CD released in August of 2007.
Discography: "Mujeres Con Palabra" (2007)
Website: http://www.inlakech.net
“¡Que Viva La Mujer!”
www.mechadeuiuc.org