CS 313- La Chicana Patricia A. Pérez, Ph.D. CHICANAS AND THE BORDER(LANDS)- THEORIZING IN LAS FRONTERAS

NAFTA  North American Free Trade Agreement  U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Congress passed NAFTA in Nov  Implemented since January 1st, 1994  Eliminated tariffs between U.S., Mexico and Canada  Positive effects of NAFTA: Poverty levels down in Mexico, business owners/elites profit, trade increased dramatically, & maquiladora (prominent trade) sector rose15.5%  Negative effects of NAFTA: U.S. workers lost jobs, Mexican farmers lost money, contributed to rising levels of inequality in U.S. and Mexico  On the Edge: Free Trade On the Edge: Free Trade

Anzaldúa- U.S.-Mexican Border  “Borders are set up to define the places that are safe and unsafe, to distinguish us from them. A border is a dividing line, a narrow strip along a steep edge. A borderland is a vague and undetermined place created by the emotional residue of an unnatural boundary. It is in a constant state of transition. The prohibited and forbidden are it inhabitants” (Anzaldúa, 1999, p. 25).

Maquiladora Murders in Juárez  Difficult to define how many women actually missing and assaulted/murdered  Varying problematic definitions of what constitutes “violación”  Under-reporting of crimes  Several theories regarding who is responsible  Drug cartels, gangs, satanic cults, serial killers, etc.  On the Edge: Torture (3 minute video) On the Edge: Torture (3 minute video)

 Why are the women of Juárez being murdered?  Sex slaves, organ harvesting, lead double-lives, dress provocatively, resentment by men  Why has it been difficult to end the murders?  Police/authority corruption  Incompetence, personnel turnover  No profiles/no access to police files/poor evidence collected  Border region characteristics (see next slide)

 Border Characteristics:  Constant influx of migrants  Drug cartels operate in area  Job opportunities because of proximity  Examples of femicide:  Battery, torture, prostitution, rape, sexual assault, child abuse, female infanticide, genital mutilation, domestic violence, etc.

Anzaldúa- U.S.-Mexican Border  “Los atravesados live here: the squint-eyed, the perverse, the queer, the troublesome, the mongrel, the mulato, the half-breed, the half dead; in short, those who cross over, pass over, or go through the confines of the “normal.” Gringos in the U.S. Southwest consider the inhabitants of the borderlands transgressors, aliens- whether they possess documents or not, whether they’re Chicanos, Indians or Blacks. Do not enter, trespassers will be raped, maimed, strangled, gassed, shot” (Anzaldúa, 1999, p. 25).

Theoretical Contributions  Sexual Femicide Sexual Femicide Definition of femicide- systemic killing of women; misogynist killing of women by men Definition of misogynist- a person who dislikes and/or mistreats women  How to identify femicide: Sexual assault/violent acts Motives Imbalance of power Political, social and economic context Structural changes in society Community tolerance to acts/violence (Russell, 1976)

Theoretical Contributions (cont.)  Patriarchal system- sex crimes are a logical consequence (Caputi, 1987)  “Sexual murder is the ultimate expression of sexuality as a form of power” (p. 39).  Eroticization of violence- masculinity demonstrated as a form of supremacy over others- victimizer always men (Cameron & Frazer, 1987)  Social class system- societies under stress; religious systems and ideologies contribute to violence (McWilliams, 1998)

Theoretical Contributions (cont.)  Foucault- “the body is a political field, pulled taut between competing powers that act and leave their mark on it, restrict it, and subject it to torture, punishment, and rituals” (Fragoso, 2003, p. 162)  Bodies with less power are subjected to bodies with more power Little emphasis on murders because women are disposable Women blamed for atrocities- “They asked for it.” Those victimized are most oppressed “Sexuality itself is the object of punishment “Sexuality itself is the object of punishment (p. 163).

Patriarchy- recap  Greek- “father rule”  Control by men, rooted in subjugation of women  Significant roots in Christianity  Role of patriarchy- 3Ps:  Protect- property  Provide- familial, monetary  Privilege- male, heterosexual

Machismo vs. Marianismo- recap  Rooted in patriarchy  Standard by which men rate their masculinity  Virility, strength & status  Latin American definitions:  Provider  Honorable  Superiority of feminine over masculine  Veneration of women b/c they give life  Rooted in Catholic faith- worship of Virgin Mary as iconic symbol of what women should be  Results in whore/saint dichotomy

Is this topic relevant to us?  What is the role of marianismo in femicide?  What is our role in femicide?