W4 - Rasquachismo & Domesticana

Week 4 - Rasquachismo & Domesticana

I really liked Amalia Mesa- Bains piece on la domesticana. She describes how la domesticana came out of the rasquachismo formulation, yet it focused on feminine and domestic spheres as a result of patriarchal and cultural restrictions placed on Chicanas. Female rasquachistas used these spheres and began making art of this style- resourceful and re-purposing, as a form of resistance to challenge not just the imposition of Anglo culture but the patriarchal and religious restrictions places on Chicanas sexual liberation, identity , and politics. I like that Mesa Bains references the creation of altars and their significance in contesting stereotypical portrayals of Latinas. It reminded me of how artwork has a profound connection to the person who created it because they know what it means to them even if someone may interpret it as something else. I think Dia de Los Muerto altars as well as the Ofrendas made to praise/honor generations of Latinas/ Chicanas are a form of resistance and allow space to enact feminist representations and ideologies.

While I like the artwork and altars that are created with a certain consciousness and feminist politic, I'm critical of the word domesticana, particularly because it seems like a label made by men, and I feel it subtly re-enforces the idea that women are only operating in the domestic sphere. It seems to follow very gendered patriarchal roles and doesn't leave room to imagine or envision Chicanas completely outside of the domestic sphere. I wonder if rasquachista would be a better description of the artist who engages in this type of work.

With regards to the rasquachismo article, I think Luis Valdez gets too much credit. While he did contribute a great number of plays and performance that centered around Chicanos, his work was pretty patriarchal and sexist and wrongfully perpetuates the image of La Chicana as "the supporter," inactive, always consumed in the domestic role/ sphere. Just as Mesa Bains discusses, this duality between public and private spaces needs to be re/ de constructed to reflect a different form of being and thinking. If your going to produce work that perpetuates the oppression of Chicanas then don't produce it at all.