“We Came All the Way From Cuba So You Could Dress Like This?” Presented by Marilyn Pinto and Kelly Sanchez

General Themes Migration to the U.S. from socialist Cuba Migration to the U.S. from socialist Cuba Machismo, Feminism and Homosexuality Machismo, Feminism and Homosexuality Political Issues Political Issues Cuban Americans Cuban Americans Discrimination Discrimination Nostalgia Nostalgia

Elements of the Story What is different about the way that Obeja narrates the story? What is different about the way that Obeja narrates the story? She is telling the future as she sees it She is telling the future as she sees it “But this is a long way off, of course.” “But this is a long way off, of course.” She does not put special emphasis on any one part of her persona. She is not JUST Latina, JUST a Cuban immigrant or JUST a lesbian. She does not put special emphasis on any one part of her persona. She is not JUST Latina, JUST a Cuban immigrant or JUST a lesbian.

Elements of the Story When you first started reading the story, did you know if the narrator was male or female? When you first started reading the story, did you know if the narrator was male or female? It is not until her father refers to her as “she” and “her” It is not until her father refers to her as “she” and “her” Even after we know she is a female, her language is still very genderless Even after we know she is a female, her language is still very genderless

Elements of the Story Do you feel like her gender is almost “chosen” for her? Do you remember what was given to her in at the “processing center”? Do you feel like her gender is almost “chosen” for her? Do you remember what was given to her in at the “processing center”? “oatmeal cookies, a plastic doll with blonde hair and a blue dress and a rosary made of white plastic beads” “oatmeal cookies, a plastic doll with blonde hair and a blue dress and a rosary made of white plastic beads” Plastic doll = preparing her for her domestic future? A child? Plastic doll = preparing her for her domestic future? A child? Rosary = forcing her to be religious? Rosary = forcing her to be religious?

Elements of the Story Do you think the narrator is lesbian, bisexual, straight or curious? Do you think the narrator is lesbian, bisexual, straight or curious? Why? Why? “For all the blond boyfriends I will have, there will be only two yellow-haired lovers. One doesn’t really count – a boy in the military academy… The other will be Martha, perceived by the whole lesbian community as a gold-digger” (115) “For all the blond boyfriends I will have, there will be only two yellow-haired lovers. One doesn’t really count – a boy in the military academy… The other will be Martha, perceived by the whole lesbian community as a gold-digger” (115)

Elements of the Story Do you think the father was a hero? Do you think the father was a hero? What characteristics does the father have? What characteristics does the father have? Role of a rescuer to his wife and child Role of a rescuer to his wife and child Saves his patria Saves his patria “Protector” though abusive “Protector” though abusive What does he want for his daughter? Career goals? What does he want for his daughter? Career goals? Things a father would want for a son, typically Things a father would want for a son, typically Blames daughter for everything Blames daughter for everything Where do you see machismo present in this story? Where do you see machismo present in this story?

Elements of the Story What is the relationship between father and daughter like? What is the relationship between father and daughter like? “My father does not imagine me… as a wife or mother because to do so would be to imagine someone else closer to than he is, and he cannot endure that” (Obeja 117) “My father does not imagine me… as a wife or mother because to do so would be to imagine someone else closer to than he is, and he cannot endure that” (Obeja 117) Gives her permission to act outside of the normal “female” roles/behavior Gives her permission to act outside of the normal “female” roles/behavior When they get into that argument, does she questions his “heroic” deeds? When they get into that argument, does she questions his “heroic” deeds?

Elements of the Story What about the mother? What does she want the narrator to be? What about the mother? What does she want the narrator to be? “Owner of many appliances; mother of two mischievous children; the wife of a boyishly handsome North American man; a career woman with a well-paying position in local broadcasting” “Owner of many appliances; mother of two mischievous children; the wife of a boyishly handsome North American man; a career woman with a well-paying position in local broadcasting” What do you think about this dream? What do you think about this dream? “double shift” “double shift”

In Relation to Chapter 9 Do you see this as a coming out tale? Or Does Obeja just talk about Latino/as sexuality? Do you see this as a coming out tale? Or Does Obeja just talk about Latino/as sexuality? “Obejas makes no apologies and offers no excuses as a lesbian and does not place her ethnic and sexual selves oppositionally – rather, they exist, as the should, as facts of her identity, not as deciding and ruling factors (Quiroga and Lopez 144) “Obejas makes no apologies and offers no excuses as a lesbian and does not place her ethnic and sexual selves oppositionally – rather, they exist, as the should, as facts of her identity, not as deciding and ruling factors (Quiroga and Lopez 144)

Final Thoughts “And then there’s a noise – a screech out in the alley followed by what sounds like a hyena’s laughter – and my father leaps up and looks out the window, then starts laughing, too… Only in America, echoes my mother” “And then there’s a noise – a screech out in the alley followed by what sounds like a hyena’s laughter – and my father leaps up and looks out the window, then starts laughing, too… Only in America, echoes my mother” What do you think they saw? What do you think they saw? What none of us can measure yet is how much of the voyage is already behind us (Obeja 131) What none of us can measure yet is how much of the voyage is already behind us (Obeja 131) What does this quote mean to you? To the narrator? What does this quote mean to you? To the narrator?

References Cooper, Sara. “Queering Family: Achy Obeja’s “We Came All the Way from Cuba so That You Could Dress Like This?” Chasqui, Vol Print. Cooper, Sara. “Queering Family: Achy Obeja’s “We Came All the Way from Cuba so That You Could Dress Like This?” Chasqui, Vol Print. Obeja, Achy. We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This Pittsburgh: Cleis P, Print. Obeja, Achy. We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This Pittsburgh: Cleis P, Print. Quiroga, Jose, and Melanie Lopez Frank. “Cultural Production of Knowledge on Latina/o Sexualities.” Latina/o Sexualities. New Brunswick: Rutgers P., Print Quiroga, Jose, and Melanie Lopez Frank. “Cultural Production of Knowledge on Latina/o Sexualities.” Latina/o Sexualities. New Brunswick: Rutgers P., Print