Spanish terms:

mujer - woman

Chicano/Chicana - Mexican American man/woman

mestiza - woman who stands at the crossroads of Mexican(Hispanic), indigenous, and Anglo cultures

1. Anzaldua develops as the key concept of her chapter the notion of a mestiza consciousness. What is a mestiza consciousness and how does it function?

2. Anzaldua’s writing blends prose and poetry, English and Spanish, and is full of rich imagery (e.g. corn, borders, eagle and serpent eyes, etc.). How does the form of her writing embody her meaning? What are some specific examples?

3. What are Anzaldua’s views on Chicanos (pp. 83-85)? Do these views mesh with the rest of the views she expresses in the chapter? Why or why not?

4. What role does the category "queer" and the actuality of lesbians and homosexuals play in her thought?

5. What interpretations does Anzaldua offer of Chicano-White relations on p. 85ff?

6. What is the "true face" she writes about on pp. 86-87?

7. Why does Anzaldua end this chapter of her book with a description of a trip to her childhood homeland? Is this an effective ending to this chapter? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast Anzaldua to at least one previous thinker we have read. How would you describe Anzaldua’s thought in terms of key issues in feminist theory? What does her writing add to the mix? What are its problems and possibilities? Be sure to be able to illustrate your answer with examples from her chapter.  You might want to jot down the page numbers and highlight examples.