Mestiza Women and Her Contradictions

“Soy un amasamiento”* I am an act of kneading, of uniting and joining that not only has produced both a creature of darkness and a creature of light, but also a creature that questions the definitions of light and dark and gives them new meanings.”– Gloria Anzaldúa

I encountered this reading and wanted to share it with you all. Gloria Anzaldúa, renowned Chicana writer and scholar, is describing the condition of a mestiza, a mestiza being a women with a mixed heritage of indigenous and Spanish blood**, a contradiction that leads her to question her identity. This contradiction is highlighted by the fact that according to our experience with electric or natural light, it cannot share the same space with darkness, therefore, theoretically, a person can only be one. But the mestizaje is both, hence a multicultural, multilingual, multiracial phenomenon, as it is both “light” and “darkness” at the same time. This quote also highlights the state of the mestiza having to move to the other side of the border, to the United States, and develop another identity based on the Anglo Saxon view and on her own view towards her heritage. Because she is mixed, she questions her multiple roots and adds new meanings to them. She is a person of contradictions, being from both the colonized, and the colonizer, and having to move to the nation that took land away from Mexico, whose English ancestors had deep prejudices about the Spanish for being Catholic and the Indigenous for their non-Christian believes, even before settling into the Americas. Now, with the growing Latina/o population in the United States, a mestiza is given yet another identity, that of being a Chicana, a Salvadoran–U.S American, a Peruvian–U.S. American, among many others.

* Amasamiento, is a Spanish word meaning kneading dough. Because of the constant inter mixing of race between the Spanish the indigenous, the mestiza is a very mixed cross-breed of two different cultures, trying to be part of yet another culture, the United States culture, but being treated as a perpetual foreigner. I believe amasamiento is such a beautiful word to described her mixed race, as kneading is a big part of the preparation of food in Latina/o culture, as one kneads dough to make tortillas, a staple food. Anzaldúa describes the need to explore all of our identities and not pick and choose the one that society deems the best. A mestiza is a woman who strengthens her tolerance for ambiguity as she is willing to make herself vulnerable to new ways of seeing the world.

** When talking about mestizaje, it is also important to note that aside from being a mixture of Spanish and Indigenous (Native American) blood, it can also be composed of African, Asian and Middle Eastern blood; what Jose Vasconcelos refers to as “la raza cósmica” the “cosmic race.”

A Big Loss To Mexico and Spanish Literature: Carlos Fuentes Died at 83

Hello Everyone,

Carlos Fuentes, one the best Mexican writers of all times, died at age 83 in Mexico last Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Although he was born in Panama, he lived most of his life in Mexico. I consider him one of the best Mexican writers of all times, accompanied by Octavio Paz, and Elena Poniatowska‏, Paz and Fuentes who have sadly passed away. During Fuentes’ lifetime, wrote 22 novels that depicted with great skill, Mexican and Iberoamerican history, culture and politics. Carlos Fuentes wrote his first book when he was 29, laying the groundworks for the “boom” of Latin American literature during the 1960′s and 1970′s. His book, “The Death of Atermio Cruz,” beautifully depicts the history of Mexico, starting with the Mexican Revolution of 1910 through 1920, and narrates the story through the life of Artemio Cruz, who is in his death bed, reminiscing about his life, and being regretful for the arrogant and selfish decisions he took during his youth. Artemio Cruz is the epitome of Mexican history. He represents the rich bourgeoisie who takes every opportunity to exploit in order to survive and hold all the privilege that he can have, therefore, his character represents selfishness, greed, and no space for love until his deathbed. Although he becomes one of the riches men in Latin America, he never reaches happiness because what he loved the most, his wife Catalina, was never loving to him due to his selfishness and need for quick gratification. Carlos Fuentes chose the name Artemio Cruz, because when broken apart “Arte-mio Cruz,” it says, “My art, the Cross”, depicting Catholic influence in Mexico’s culture.

Fuentes is said to have died of a broken heart due to the fact that both of his kids from his second marriage died and he could not longer withstand the pain in his heart.

I had the privilege to meet Carlos Fuentes at UCLA, where he came to give an introductory speech for Jared Diamond’s famous book “Guns, Germs and Steel.” In the above picture, it is I in my traditional Salvadoran attire, getting my books “The Death of Atermio Cruz,” and “The Eagle’s Throne,” signed. Also, it was because of him that I went to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the first time to hear the first chapter of his second to last book he would write in his life, “Adan en Eden,” which was narrated by Damian Bichir, the actor who was the protagonist for the film, “A Better Life.” I feel really sad that he died, but I am thankful that I got to meet him during the last years of his life.

Sources:

Cruz, Juán. “Muere at los 83 años el escritor Carlos Fuentes.” El País. 15 Mayo 2012.

http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2012/05/15/actualidad/1337107962_042539.html.

Planas, Roque. “Mexican Author Carlos Fuentes Dies at 83.” Fox News. May 15 2012.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/05/15/mexican-author-carlos-fuentes-dies-at-83/.

Bad Girls, Bad Mothers, and Betrayers: How Women are Represented in Films

Hello everyone,

In this blog, I focus on the way women are negatively portrayed in films. We already know the dichotomy between the virgin and the prostitute, but what about other stereotypes and meanings that we have unconsciously taken for granted?  Therefore, I will cover how women who do not fit the system are depicted, when they do not conform to the male norm, and how their ultimate destiny is to die.

1) Women who are Bad Girls Die Young.

Women who do not fit in with the patriarchal rule of society do not have anywhere to go in this world, as it is mostly ruled by men. They have two options, either to succumb, or to die. If they do not die by their reckless behaviour, they must be killed. A famous example is in the movie, “Thelma and Louise,” about two regular young women who kill a rapist. They are fugitives that ride in their blue thunderbird trying to get into Mexico where they will reach freedom. However, they are caught by a whole army of police, and the film ends with Thelma and Louise deciding that instead of going to jail, and possibly getting a life sentence, they rather drive their car over a cliff.

More, in Jurassic Park, the depiction of two out of control females is depicted by the two dinosaurs left at the end of the movie. The two dinosaurs are the young females that must be killed in order to regain the natural order of society. Hence the movie must end with the demise of the two dinosaurs.

The most recent example is the famous song, “Bad Girls,” by MIA where women “live fast, dye young, bad girls do it well.” Although this song promotes the strength of women, why can’t they live long?

2) Women as Bad Mothers

-In films, women who are bad mothers contribute to the fall of their children. The father is not blamed, but solely the bad caretaking skills of the mother. This is displayed by a mentally differentabled mother drowning her own children. For example, this is the case with the Greek mythology story of Medusa, once a beautiful women, but turned into a beast as a punishment for drowning her children. More, in “Shutter Island,” the same Medusa like characteristic is given to Teddy Daniel’s wife, as she drowns her children due to her mental illness. Although Teddy blames himself, the film is more sympathetic for him as he collects their dead bodies from the water, while his wife wants to dress them up and have dinner.

3) Women as Poisonous, or Poison Makers

-The Greek story of Medea portrays a beautiful and intelligent woman who has mastered all the arts, including the art of poison making. When her beloved Jason leaves her for another woman, she gives the other women a robe contaminated with poison on her wedding day.

-All the fairytale’s female witches are master’s of the art of poison making. Snow White: poison apple made by the evil queen, Sleeping beauty: poison needle made by another evil witch,  and Shrek 2: poison tea made by the fairy godmother. Why would fairytales not simply depict women killing another women physically, but must be done in a sneaky way?

- In “Alice and Wonderland,” directed by Tim Burton, the good white princess is an expert at alchemy and poison.

Women as Monsters

-Think of the deadly Hydra with many heads whom Hercules kills.

-Think of the Little Mermaid, where the Octupus turns into a gigantic man killing beast.

-How about the movie “Alien” which depicts an egg laying black monster mother much more menacing and dangerous than her drones.

- How about the film ”Teeth”? It is about a teenage woman who has sharp teeth in her vagina that castrates men who threaten or mistreat her during intercourse.

Women as Tricksters

When you have an evil man, the protagonist knows that he is dealing with the devil himself. However, when it comes to an evil woman, she first appears to be innocent, but ends up being the betrayer or ugly monster underneath.

- Once again in “The Little Mermaid,” where Ursula, the octopus woman, turns into a beautiful woman who seduces the kind and good prince.

-Puss in Boots, where the black female cat named “Kitty” is first thought to be a male, and then later on, betrays Puss.

-Sherlock Holmes, where his lover played by Rachel McAdams distracts Holmes by playing the victim, but later on is discovered to have been on the plot with the evil mastermind as well.

How about in Disney’s rendition of Hercules, where Mel pretends to be in love with Hercules, but was originally interested in him only to steal his powers. Whereas the rest of the characters are either good or bad.

Okay, so you get the idea, right? Women are depicted as sneaky wolves in sheep clothing.

Women as Responsible for the Fall of Mankind and Civilizations

Women are often blamed for the fall of man or of historical civilizations. Eve of course, is blamed for the downfall of mankind, even though the Bible clearly states that Adam was right next to her when she was offered the forbidden fruit. In Greek Mythology, Pandora was given a box that she was not supposed to open, but due to her curiosity, she opens the box that spread pain, disease and other negative forces to what used to be a perfect earth. Lastly, in Mexican history, Malinche, a native who was sold into slavery by her family and given to Cortéz, the Spaniard conquistador, was blamed by the fall of the Aztec civilization because she was the liaison between Cortéz and the Aztec rulers as she knew both languages, namely Nahuatl and Spanish. If not for her, Cortéz would not have found out that Montezuma, the Aztec king, wanted to kill him, and thusly, would have destroyed his plans of conquering what is now Mexico.

So there you have it. Films spread mesogyny and fear of women. Women are blamed for the fall of civilizations, for the death of children, and for lack of proper leadership. I think the only movie where I have seen the strongest female lead is in “Fargo,” where a pregnant cop single handedly catches two dangerous killers, and takes them to prison. The she calls it a day, and goes to sleep next to her husband who is gloating that he fixed something around the house.

Works Cited

For all but the last:

Werner, Marina. “Managing Monsters: Six Myths of Our Time. The 1994 Reith Lectures.”

For women being portrayed as the fall of manking:

Del Castillo. “Malintzin Tenépal: A Preliminary Look Into a New Perspective.” Essays on La Mujer. Los Angeles: Chicano Studies Center Publication, 1977.

Picking up the Pencil from the Floor

How many times have you seen a lone lost pencil on the floor while going to class, or any other places? Sometimes one might not even bother to pick it up. For many poorer communities, a pencil represents a chance for education, an opportunity to read and write. Think of the child who is at home and is using a piece of coal because she does not have access to a pencil. Pick up the pencil even if it is scratched, or is broken in half and give it a new home. You will be surprised by how many forgotten pencils you find on the floor, and how useful they will become.

Replace Boba Thai Milk Tea with Tea and Chai Seeds!

Hello everyone,

I have not really thought about the caloric content of bubble teas before. I just know that I have been drinking it every week when I have a lot of work to do, or when I need extra energy from the sugar. I like the milk teas and chewing the boba balls! My favorite is really just the classic milk tea, or green tea milk tea. It really helps me treat myself while I am studying. Well, I just found out that bubble tea is actually really bad for one’s health!

This is because each boba ball contains around 7-15 calories each! That means that I have been drinking around 100 calories more on an already sugar packed drink! Boba balls are made from different ingredients. But mostly, they are made from refined tapioca flour, brown sugar, sweet potato, and black tea, most which are refined sugars. Anyways, boba contains black tea, hmmmm… doesn’t that have cafeinne? if you are trying to avoid caffeinne, stay away from boba. Not all boba has caffeine, but if you are pregnant, or are going to sleep, do not have boba.

I need to find another drink, or simply stick to good old water. I wish restaurants had tea sprinkled with chai seeds, I think that would be a great alternative to bubble teas. Have you heard of chai seeds? In El Salvador, we call them “Chan,” but they are cute little seeds that look like quail eggs that are enjoyed in cold drinks such as punch or any fruit drink. It is a great source of omega-3 fatty acid and one ounce of chia seeds contain around 42% of daily fiber. Drinking chia seeds is also superb for a hot day because since they have water retaining properties, it keeps your body refreshed! It also provides your drink with a textured and stomach filling substance that is natural and not refined like boba!

Facing Your Fears to Face Your Eating Disorder

Hello Everyone,

Anorexia, Bulimia and OBED (Overcompulsive Binge Eating Disorder) are not mutually exclusive. Meaning, that it is possible to have all of them at the same time! Most eating disorders are tools for helping a person temporarily develop a fantasy world, in order to live in denial of their harsh reality.  A lot of people live in a culture of fear where they know something is wrong with the system (the government, media, beliefs, folklore, social class, race, construction of gender, etc…), yet do not speak out about it, but internalize it.  Have you noticed that parks tend to be empty? Or that when you knock on a stranger’s door, the person tends to be hostile? People want to shut themselves away from others, and from being hurt. Eating disorders is way to shut yourself from your problems and fears, and as long as one is losing weight, or has the right comfort food,  the world seems a bit better. It helps one feel as if they are solving a problem, but are not really solving anything. This is another way to turn one’s real problems into fears about food, which in a way, is easier to face. However, one soon realizes that instead of molding one’s problems into something easier to deal with, one now has to deal with the additional problem and anxiety of having an eating disorder.

For a lot of people, an eating disorder starts from innocent dieting as an attempt for self improvement, and then transforms into anorexia, and then, due to the starvation and hunger associated with it,  leads to OBED, or bingeing at every meal.  This process begins when one suffering anorexia finally realizes that lack of eating is horrible for his or her health and future (as some symptoms are the loosing of hair, always feeling cold, low immunity, and fatigue), one cannot transition right away to a healthy eating behavior, but instead finds oneself overeating at every meal. Hence, to overcome anorexia, one might unintentionally develop OBED. However, binge eating and the calories associated with it, is something that a recovering anorexic cannot handle. Therefore, although one wants to gain weight, the anorexic mentality freaks out and pulls one back towards eating less. This constant back and forth tugging between eating and not eating, makes food the central problem of one’s day. After a depressed night of binge eating, the anorexic mentality might persuade the sad person that the best way to get rid of the food and the calories associated with it, is to purge it, hence leading to a new disorder: bulimia.

Therefore, not all women or men with eating disorders will be extremely thin or overweight. I believe that they are the people who fall in the cracks of what society thinks a person with an eating disorder looks like. Also, unlike their names, the cure is not just about building a healthier relationship with food, but has more to do with facing one’s fears, forgiving oneself and others, and building unapologetic confidence and assertiveness. It also involves understanding the entitlement society that we live in, and realizing that there is only a limited set of things under one’s control. Eating disorders can be a fantasy, in which divorce, low grades, and poor self esteem can be solved by not eating food, or eating lots of food to overcome the lack of control and worry, to hurt from a food coma instead of the rejection from others.

It is extremely difficult to make friends when one is experiencing anorexia and OBED because most social events and getting to know other people happens around food. Food is a great source of building friendship and trust. Inviting someone over to have a meal with you can be a compliment to the other person. Therefore, a person with an eating disorder will find going over to restaurants and family dinners to be an anxious ridden and carefully planned out event. Slowly the person will start to avoid people altogether.

Eating disorders are also a vicious cycle of fostering low self esteem. It may have started by having some insecurity about any part of your life, and now having an eating disorder makes you feel even worse about yourself. Because this cycle is so toxic, forgiving yourself instead of punishing yourself can make a significant impact on the healing process. Shame only motivates a person to do the same thing the next day, as eating disorders tend to be attempts at neglecting your negative emotions.

Hence, many beautiful men and women are afflicted with eating disorders, yet the media is reluctant to change the message they are sending to young people because it brings in revenue. When you walk into a book store, the first thing you see is a pile of books on how to lose weight. Celebrities look thinner and thinner, or are always fluctuating weight, while their fans want to emulate them. Clothes are made so small! And also, the existence of the size zero. That is not a size. Zero is nothing, and cannot be measured. Size zero reflects how society wants women to become invisible in order to be acceptable and belong.*

Eating disorders is a public health concern and societal problem. A person with an eating disorder should not be looked down upon or ridiculed, or considered as vain, because an eating disorder demonstrates something much deeper going wrong in the person’s life. Some people choose drugs, others choose self mutilation to forget their problems and fears; eating disorders can be another way to respond to one’s fears in a negative way.

*Kilbourne, Jean. “Killing Us Softly.” 2004. Documentary Film.

My New Find: Dr. Bronner’s Patchouli and Lime Organic Lotion

Hello Everyone,

By now, I know that not everything that says it is organic, is actually organic. Therefore, when I bumped into Dr. Bronner’s lotion line, I was more than excited. This is because Dr. Bronner’s is a trustable organic and fair trade company (Fair Trades means that the product comes from farmers and workers who have been justly compensated and treated fairly). After looking through their creative and great smelling selections such as lavender coconut and lavender orange, I fell in love with their patchouli and lime lotion. I tried it for the first time this morning and it smelled amazing! I still smell like patchouli and lime seven hours later. What I love about Dr. Bronner’s products is that they are indeed organic, and trustable (hence the USDA seal). They are even taking measures to correct other brands that claim to be organic, but are simply lying to trick people into buying more expensive things.

I dare you to try patchouli! Patchouli is actually a new smell for me. The first time I heard about it was from a youtube video by soap maker Micky Koishikawa who named one of her soaps “Goat in the Patchouli Patch.” Although some people say that you either hate it or love it, I cannot imagine why people would not like it. Patchouli smells like sweet earth just damp with the first drops of rain. So if you like that rain smell, you will like patchouli. The lime adds energy into the mix, and it makes you feel more awake in the morning!

Patchouli has numerous benefits that is worth checking out. Some of many is that it is an anti-depressant, an aphrodisiac, and a cicratisant, meaning that it helps heal wounds and reduces scars.* It is also a natural insecticide that repels mosquitos. Like I mentioned earlier, it is a great way to start your morning because it actually lightens up your mood! Its aromatherapy effect is amazing as I noticed right away that I felt happier about my day. I cannot wait to add more patchouli in my everyday products. Aside from my already favorite tea tree, I will add patchouli to my list of useful and great smelling herbs.

*The health benefits of patchouli essential oil http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-patchouli-essential-oil.html

I Think I am Ugly Forum

Hello Everyone,

Did you know that there is a support group for people who think they are ugly? I had never thought of the possibility, that just like alcoholism, and eating disorders, people with poor views towards themselves would also need a support group.

I was especially amazed when I read the stats of what most post are about and who writes in these forums. It turns out that 83% of the people who think they are ugly in the forum are women. Also, 64% of the total population are in their teens. I find these stats enlightening of how prevalent the messages from the media is hurting our young women. There are so many people who think they are ugly! How can that be?  I find these to be a troubling phenomenon. Our ideas are not based on how the average person looks like, but how those 1% of the population that we seen in ads, tv, and everywhere we go, look. If you would like to read people’s posts regarding how they feel, you can check out this forum here.

I hope there is a day where numerous women feel beautiful in the inside and out and won’t be condemned for it. Isn’t it interesting that one cannot say “I think I am beautiful!” without being judged? Or even more, that they realize that their feelings of ugliness and low self worth is not real, but constructed so that we buy more things to make ourselves feel better.   What happens when people think they are ugly? Self sabotage, depression, and more likely to accept worse treatment from other people. Is there such thing as an ugly woman? No. Do numerous women around the world feel ugly? Yes. What if we think deeper about issues of beauty and realize that it is also an issue of belonging, and wanting to be known.

If You Add Vitamins to a Lollypop, Is it Healthful Now?

Eating healthfully is becoming more tricky with food companies trying to fool people that eating high calorie foods are good for them. I get so sad when people fall for these claims because all they have to do is read the food label to see the false claims (sometimes even the food label is misleading!). Remember the Nutella and Vitamin Water commercials? When Vitamin Water got sued for making false claims, their defense was that people who believed Vitamin Water was healthful were stupid for believing that claim. I like how Mike Lenningham, writer for Time Magazine puts it, “A sugar product is a sugar product: you can’t say a jellybean fights heart disease because it contains no cholesterol.” How about that? A jellybean that fights cholesterol! Can you think of other silly claims you can make by stretching the truth of a fatty food?

Here are a few examples of misleading sugary and fatty foods with supposed health benefits:

1. Protein bars: They are simply candy bars with fiber, vitamins and granola. You could probably take a snickers, melt it an mix it with granola and you have your protein bar!

2. Dried Fruits: Since they are smaller due to water loss, a cup of dried fruit will have so much more calories than a cup of the fresh thing. Not to mention dried fruit that has added sugar and salt.

3. Fat Free Salad Dressing: To make up for the lack of fat, more sodium is added. Instead of dressing, try using my favorite: lemon and pepper flakes. I love how it tastes in a salad, even with fruit.

4. Yogurt: Yogurt may seem better than ice cream, but only if you get the type that is low in calories, sugar (make sure they don’t add a variety of sugars to sneak the real amount of sugar) and fat. Stick to plain if you can.

5. Diet Soda: The sugar in this soda is simply replaced with sugar that is undetected by the body.

6. Nutella: Is very high in calories and sugar to even be considered a healthful food.

7. Reduced Fat Peanut Butter: Reduced fat simply means that it has less fat, but more carbs, hence the same calories. If you want peanut butter, get the real savory thing! The best peanut butter is simply made up of peanuts and salt, and contains a good source of vitamin E and good fats.

8. Margarine: This has more trans fat, the sort that clog your arteries. Better get polyunsaturated as this type of fat cleans your arteries!

9. Sushi: Although they may appear small and innocent, choose sushi with the wrong ingredients and you might as well have given yourself a giant meal. Avoid tempura, cream cheese or spicy mayo if you are looking for the less calorie packed alternative.

10. Turkey Burgers: Same amount of calories as a beef burger. In this case, portion control is key.

11. Bran Muffins: Have you ever opted for the dry and not as good tasting bran muffin instead of the blueberry muffin to feel better about your healthier breakfast choice? Well, to make up for the dryness and more chewing associated with the fiber, a lot more sugar is added to make the experience a bit more pleasant.

And the list can go on and on!  It is important to know when you are actually having more calories than you think, so you can plan your daily calories accordingly. I am not a big fan or restricting people about what they should eat. It should be more about moderation. Go ahead and have your sushi with spicy mayo! Just know that it has a lot of calories and your next meal should be something with lesser calories. Can you think of any more of these wolves in sheep clothing foods?

Splenda maybe?

Sources:

Gregory, Sean. “Is Vitamin Water Really a Heathy Drink? http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2007106,00.html#ixzz1oah3xcQv

The Most Dangerous Health Foods. http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/555952-the-9-most-dangerous-health-foods/?utm_source=popslideshow&utm_medium=s1#slide-9

Why Organic Cotton?

Do you love cotton? I love wearing cotton, from my sheets to my socks to my clothes. But have you thought about how it is grown? Cotton is one of the biggest non-food exports in the world, yet countries that produce cotton are in extreme poverty. Buying organic cotton will help protect farmers from the pesticides, and protect future children from birth defects. This video has staggering news regarding the production of non-organic cotton and how it is hurting whole communities that reproduce them.

Environmental Justice Foundation focuses on protecting cotton farmers, their environment and economies from corrupt practices. You can get involved in numerous ways, such as campaining, buying from their shop or volunteering. To visit their website, click here.