Mexican Women A) Luz Maria Gordillo Wrote

Mexican Women

a) Luz Maria Gordillo wrote Mexican Women and the Other Side of Immigration because the stories of women are often excluded in analyses of immigration. The focus of this book is on 20th century cross-border narratives, and touches upon issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and identity. The author's focus is 20th century cross-border experiences.

The book is not for or against anyone. However, the author argues in favor of a more balanced historiography and approach to the immigration issue, and urges a more compassionate view of immigration as well. The author does champion the rights of women.

b) After the introduction to the topic, Gordillo divides Mexican Women and the Other Side of Immigration into four main chapters: "La Fiesta de los Ausentes," "Transnational Sexualities," "The Politics of Movement," and "Transnational Identities and Citizenship." In the introduction, the author addresses the core focus of the book, which is on the trans-national relationships formed between communities in San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Jalisco, Mexico and Detroit, Michigan.

In the first chapter, the author focuses on the customs and religious rituals in San Ignacio to draw attention to the daily lives of individuals. This helps ground the research in reality. The author discusses the Bracero program and its impact on women, a subject that has been previously ignored. In "Transnational Sexualities," the author discusses the importance of framing sexual identity in terms of race and class. Issues like contraception, gender norms, and how to raise families in fragmented communities are all part of the discussion.

The author also shows how relationships between people in American expatriate communities and their families in Mexico evolve. There are many complex and ambivalent relationships, as Mexicans are caught between worlds in the diaspora. Some prefer to maintain a life in the United States in spite of the difficulties that entails; whereas others intend to return to Mexico but never actually do. Generation gaps and other issues are also discussed.

c) The author reaches several conclusions related to the future of the trans-national communities that have already been established. For one, it is important to recognize all the parameters of the trans-national identities and communities. Second, it is necessary to include female voices because otherwise, one would be excluding half the population. Third, the analysis of cross-border relationships calls into question the current norms and laws related to immigration.