Week Six Discussion Post: Rasquachismo

     Straightforwardly, Rasquachismo "is an underdog perspective—a view from los de abajo (Tomas Ybarra Frausto, 85)." Nonetheless, it cannot be compartmentalized into mere notions of ideas or styles. However, it is resoundingly best understood as a form of taste or attitude. One can be or act rasquache, places and objects can be rasquache. As such, people of a lower class will typically never consider themselves to be rasquache or engaging with elements that are rasquache. The particular reason for this circumstance stems from poor and marginalized persons being unable to look at themselves from an outside perspective. Moreover, in certain social spaces, primarily those of esteem, Rasquachismo has come to mean something negative and an indication of severe character flaws. Therefore, no one sees themselves as embodying these attributes, especially when el que diran, is not of importance. Even so, what must be remembered when considering Rasquachismo is that it is a meager response to the harsh realities one confronts. It is rooted in survival and being as resourceful as one can possibly be. In following with Rasquachismo, one must be able to adapt at a moment's notice, and it is important to subvert all ruling paradigms in order to recode yourself and reestablish socially defined boundaries. The foundations of Rasquachismo originate from Mexican vernacular traditions, as it has long pertained to the ever-present and ever-hyper-marginalized lower class. However, in recent decades it has crossed over into the United States and taken on the same meaning with the Chicane populace. It still relates to an underclass perspective and it is most definitely recognized as one or something that is cursi. We all know someone or something that is cursi, but truthfully speaking, do we ever consider what this means? Do we ever consider the relation cursi has to Rasquachismo? Maybe it is time that we do.

    Personally, something that embodies Rasquachismo in my life is my dog, Pumpkin. Pumpkin was taken off the streets by a canine rescue center when someone called in reporting that they had found a newborn puppy thrown inside an industrial trash bin. From here, his entire life was about survival, as he was in such dire condition when he was taken in, that his rescuers were unsure if he was going to make it. Some months later, I came into the shelter, merely browsing, when his handler showed me who he was and I instantly fell in love with him. Over a year has passed now, and Pumpkin is completely healthy and happy in his new home with me. Still, my mother always says he is a little ratita rasquache because he is not at all a perro fino and when he first came to us, he had issues with people coming around his food, as he always felt that someone was going to take it from him. As a dog that had a terrible start at life, he felt that he needed to be on high alert and in survival mode all the time. However, his behavior has settled tremendously and now he is the most loving and protective dog anyone could ask for. He cherishes his human family and his other dog sibling Mateo immensely. Still, I think he will always be ratita rasquache.