Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2017

Abstract

Women in Latin America are suffering from oppression by men in economic, political, and social aspects of their life. Because of the stereotypical gender roles and the idea that women should be quiet and submissive, their fight for equality is often met with a backlash while their identities are belittled or even demonized. However, many Latin American feminist writings significantly contribute to the women’s rights movement by providing new representations of women and their roles in the society while shattering the stereotypical “ideals” of a woman. Those literary works also shed light on the violence that women experience within their homes, exposing the issue and demonstrating that it needs to be addressed by the entire society.

The article focuses on analysis of machismo and its effect on the family structure in Latin American culture. The article also explores the concept of machismo in “The House on Mango Street”, a 1984 novel by Sandra Cisneros, and how the individual characters demonstrate problems faced by women in the modern Latin America. The issues include search for one’s own identity, lack of educational and professional opportunities, and violence against women.

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