Cornejo, Hannah

 

As a jewish resident from Northern California, I have very minimal experience with the Virgen of Guadalupe. I have learned about her in my past Spanish classes and in my religious classes when I attended Catholic school, but I do not have a strong personal connection with her image. 

In my past Spanish classes, we learned about the Virgen of Guadalupe as the figure who made Catholicism  approachable to the people of Mexico. Because she appeared to a working man, her image showed that Catholicism was not just for the wealthy Spaniards who introduced Catholicism, but for everyone. I know that she was also an important figure in Mexican independence against the Spanish and served as a kind of figurehead. I know her image hold strong personal connection for many Mexicans, Chicanos, and Catholics. As I am not Mexican or Catholic, I am not fully capable of understanding her importance, but I know she has great cultural and personal significance to many. I often see the Virgin of Guadalupe visually represented on clothing, jewelry, and art in LA. In my understanding, the Virgin of Guadalupe is the mother of Christ; she is a pure and saintly figure of the Virgin Mary. 

A religious figure who holds a similar place to the Virgin of Guadalupe to Catholics but to Jewish people, is Moses. He liberated the Jewish people from a cruel tyrant, and served as a protector and leader specifically for Jews. Both religious figures hold a unique position in relation to the people they historically have served, and act as protectors and spiritual guides. 

My one critique of both of these figures is how they continue problematic gender stereotypes. Although both these figures lived many years ago, the problematic tropes they feed into affect millions of women today. Women should be able to exist in other categories than "saintly mother" or "whore," and women should have been able to serve as physical leaders like Moses as well. Although both figures have incredible significance and are worthy of respect; the world has modernized, industrialized, and almost all aspects of society have advanced –why are women still unable to break out of these categories?