Natural Phenomenon or Social Construct

For the people of preColonial Latin America, the Aztec, Maya, and Inca, an individuals place in society and his/her gender was perceived as another natural phenomenon of their existence. The arrival of the Europeans in Latin America drastically influenced the cultures and customs of ancient Latin American peoples; insofar, that a New People and a New World evolved. With this in mind, are race and gender a social construction or a natural phenomenon?

Be sure to use textual evidence for your argument from the reading provided in class today. Post your own argument and respond to one of your peers. Remember, you can not access this site through your cps.edu email, so use a personal gmail or yahoo account.

Anzaldua: Chapter Seven - La conciencia de la mestiza / Towards a New Consciousness

Choose one
Discuss the following statement: “A massive uprooting of dualistic thinking in the individual and collective consciousness is the beginning of a long struggle, but one that could, in our best hopes, brings us to the end of rape, of violence, of war.” What is this “dualistic thinking” that must be uprooted?

OR

Discuss Anzaldúa’s formulation of the “mestiza consciousness.” How might the mestiza consciousness break with our limited cultural perception? How does the new mestiza deal with cultural conflict/clash? Why does she mean by “[t]he new mestiza copes by developing a tolerance for contradictions”? Explain.

Anzaldua: Chapter Six - Tlilli, Tlapalli / The Path of Red and Black ink

Discuss Anzaldúa’s view of writing and the artistic creative process. What is the connection between creative expression and personal transformation? How does this relate to her phrase of "I change myself, I change the world'? What is the connection between personal change and social change?

Anzaldua: How to Tame a Wild Tongue

Discuss Anzaldúa’s view of language. How is it that “robbing” a people of their language is violent? How can language, according to Anzaldúa, be a “homeland”? What is the connection between identity and language? Use specific examples from the text to support your claims and warrants.

Anzaldua: The Coatlicue State

 After discussing the image/figure of Coatlicue for the Aztecs (Mexica), discuss the “Coatlicue State” as a state/moment of transformation. What forces a person into this critical moment? How does “Coatlicue,” according to Anzaldúa, help us cope with painful experiences?

Anzaldua: The Serpent

Gloria Anzaldúa claims that western culture “made ‘objects’ of things and people when it distanced itself from them thereby losing ‘touch’ with them. This dichotomy is the root of all violence.” Why would this dichotomy/split became the root of violence? How is the making of people into objects the root of violence? Explain.

Anzaldua: Cultural Tyranny

Chapter Two


Why does Anzaldúa claim that “Not me sold out my people but they me”? How did her people “sold” her? Why does she bring up the story of malinche? Do cultures betray women? Be sure to use textual evidence to support and validate your claims and warrants!