Ojeda, Alejandro: Rasquachismo

Rasquachismo, although often misinterpreted, is an attitude held by those in low-income communities in which resources are saved and made to last. It’s difficult to determine what exactly rasquachismo looks like, because it does not look the same for every person as it is particular to the experience of every such individual. 

In my experience growing up, my family has exemplified rasquachismo in our reuse of certain containers for purposes other than intended. For example, opening up the blue tin of cookies expecting the treat but instead finding common household necessities like sewing supplies (see image below). After reading through some other accounts of similar experiences, it seems as though such creativity embodies the exact idea of rasquachismo in that it's a showcase of the ability to make every last resource available. Eventually, I began to notice this kind of attitude as I grew older and understood the reason behind it, being that it would be a waste to let such resources not be put to use as they are, in most cases, some of the most functional of resources. What seems to be somewhat of an “underdog” concept can, in most cases, be described as the need to survive with what one has. It is for this reason that, in most discussions of rasquachismo, low-income Chicanx communities are often considered to be those who embody this attitude in their daily lives. For those who may not be familiar with it, it is sometimes described as something “poor” for people who “can’t afford” anything new. Yet, some of these same practices continue to become an “aesthetic” for White-dominated spaces. 

Rasquachismo, an embodiment of what some refer to as a survivalist attitude, has been present in communities long since, and has now grown to become a part of the lives of many Chicanx families today.