Mujers Adelante Themes
The film “Mujeres Adelante” focuses primarily on the role of Mexican-American women, throughout major historical events (from the beginning of the Spanish conquest to the end of the 20th century). Women have been major contributors to maintaining a functional society. Throughout the film some themes that arose were in regards to the United States oppressing Mexicans, and the lack of portrayal of women as intelligent activist.
The first topic acknowledged the United States as the oppressor of the Mexican-American population. After the Mexican-American war, Mexico ceded half of its land to the U.S. More than 100,000 Spanish-speaking people were forced to either move to Mexico or live in the U.S as Americans. The average American looked down at the Mexican population. There were no laws that protected people of Mexican ancestry, which contributed to the many social and political inequalities Mexicans encountered. Big wealthy rancheros were forced to give up their power as landowners. Ultimately there was a major ideology that the U.S practices were far superior to the values of the Mexican. In Caballero people of Mexican ancestry had to give up their traditional values and beliefs in order to fit in this new government. In this historical novel, every Mexican who resisted was subjected to death. Both Álvaro and Don …show more content…
Santiago died because they held tightly to their beliefs. Alvaro and Don Santiago felt mocked that Americans wanted to enforce their laws and practices at them. Throughout the novel, the U.S oppressed Mexican people because they killed many Mexican-Americans who rejected them as the authoritative figure.
In Don Chipote the Mexican population was also oppressed.
When Mexican people emigrated to the U.S, they were subjected to harassment, discrimination, and exploitation. For instance, the United States established their superiority by humiliating the Mexicans. All Mexicans who entered the U.S were forced to take showers because they were deemed dirty. The U.S government established these rituals because they perceived themselves as superior. All jobs that were available to Mexicans were heavy duty. Don Chipote had to work building roads and placing concrete. Overall, the Mexican living in the U.S was simply there for the benefit of the
American.
Another theme that was presented was the lack of recognition of the Mexican-American women as an intelligent activist. The film mentioned that many Mexican-American women have been left out as political activist. During WWII, many Mexican-American women kept their homes together by working. While men fought in the military, women took on heavy-duty jobs in order to keep the U.S from collapsing. Women like Jessie Lopez and Dolores Huerta were activist fighting for human rights. In the poem “Notes from a Chicana ‘Coed”, Zamora mentions that men make women believe that the gabacho is the oppressor, yet men are the ones who belittle them. Zamora’s line “when you ask me to write your thesis” is important because she is speaking to the Chicana. She is speaking for the women who help organize the movement, but end up getting overshadowed by the authoritative figure of men.
The first topic acknowledged the United States as the oppressor of the Mexican-American population. After the Mexican-American war, Mexico ceded half of its land to the U.S. More than 100,000 Spanish-speaking people were forced to either move to Mexico or live in the U.S as Americans. The average American looked down at the Mexican population. There were no laws that protected people of Mexican ancestry, which contributed to the many social and political inequalities Mexicans encountered. Big wealthy rancheros were forced to give up their power as landowners. Ultimately there was a major ideology that the U.S practices were far superior to the values of the Mexican. In Caballero people of Mexican ancestry had to give up their traditional values and beliefs in order to fit in this new government. In this historical novel, every Mexican who resisted was subjected to death. Both Álvaro and Don …show more content…
Santiago died because they held tightly to their beliefs. Alvaro and Don Santiago felt mocked that Americans wanted to enforce their laws and practices at them. Throughout the novel, the U.S oppressed Mexican people because they killed many Mexican-Americans who rejected them as the authoritative figure.
In Don Chipote the Mexican population was also oppressed.
When Mexican people emigrated to the U.S, they were subjected to harassment, discrimination, and exploitation. For instance, the United States established their superiority by humiliating the Mexicans. All Mexicans who entered the U.S were forced to take showers because they were deemed dirty. The U.S government established these rituals because they perceived themselves as superior. All jobs that were available to Mexicans were heavy duty. Don Chipote had to work building roads and placing concrete. Overall, the Mexican living in the U.S was simply there for the benefit of the
American.
Another theme that was presented was the lack of recognition of the Mexican-American women as an intelligent activist. The film mentioned that many Mexican-American women have been left out as political activist. During WWII, many Mexican-American women kept their homes together by working. While men fought in the military, women took on heavy-duty jobs in order to keep the U.S from collapsing. Women like Jessie Lopez and Dolores Huerta were activist fighting for human rights. In the poem “Notes from a Chicana ‘Coed”, Zamora mentions that men make women believe that the gabacho is the oppressor, yet men are the ones who belittle them. Zamora’s line “when you ask me to write your thesis” is important because she is speaking to the Chicana. She is speaking for the women who help organize the movement, but end up getting overshadowed by the authoritative figure of men.