Although Mexican Americans comprise the United States' second largest minority group, most studies have provided only a historical perspective on Chicano issues. In contrast, Toward a Chicano Social Science presents an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Mexican Americans, incoporating race relations theory to analyze the sociohistorical conditions of Chicanos in contemporary society. A special feature of the book is its focus on Chicanos and gender roles within Chicano life, a topic often neglected in other texts. Written at the undergraduate level, Blea's text provides a...

In this study, Irene I. Blea describes the social situation of La Chicana, a minority female whose life is influenced by racism and sexism. Blea analyzes contemporary scholarship on race, class, and gender, scrutinizing the use of language and labels to examine how La Chicana is affected by these factors. The wide-ranging study explores the history of Chicanas and the meaning of the term Chicana, and considers her socialization process, the consequences of deviating from gender roles, and the evolution of Hispanic women onto the national scene in politics, health, economics, education,...

This is a multifaceted approach to understanding one of the nation's largest ethnic communities. Blea incorporates community social history, physical, psychological, and spiritual space. The book strives to teach the student how to do research in an ethnic community. It also describes what is already understood about those communities and defines the nature of the 25 year old discipline of Chicano studies. The use of the Chicana feminist perspective lends not only a gender role analysis, but also demonstrates the structure and function of the balance of personal and social control within...

Using her observations of the United Nation's Fourth World Women's Conference held in China in 1995 as a foundation, the author examines the history and current situation of Latinas and attempts to place them in a global context. After examining the goals, objectives, and atmosphere of the Conference, she analyzes the Chicana feminist movement and its legacy and how Chicanas have struggled to relate to the Conference and its human rights platform. She then profiles U.S. Latinas and presents data on their reality in today's world. The response to U.S. expansionist policies and the...

Using her observations of the United Nation's Fourth World Women's Conference held in China in 1995 as a foundation, the author examines the history and current situation of Latinas and attempts to place them in a global context. After examining the goals, objectives, and atmosphere of the Conference, she analyzes the Chicana feminist movement and its legacy and how Chicanas have struggled to relate to the Conference and its human rights platform. She then profiles U.S. Latinas and presents data on their reality in today's world. The response to U.S. expansionist policies and the...

Blea provides a synthesis of the women's history of Native Americans, Asians, African Americans, and Latinas, and she examines the similarities and differences among these women. From each she extracts suggestions on ways to promote racial and ethnic tolerance.

After examining the backgrounds and experiences of female radicals, Blea looks at indigenous or Native American women and the impact of European colonization and domination. Subsequent chapters examine African American women, Asian and Pacific Island women, and ways the experiences of these groups can help devise an approach to...

This is a multifaceted approach to understanding one of the nation's largest ethnic communities. Blea incorporates community social history, physical, psychological, and spiritual space. The book strives to teach the student how to do research in an ethnic community. It also describes what is already understood about those communities and defines the nature of the 25 year old discipline of Chicano studies. The use of the Chicana feminist perspective lends not only a gender role analysis, but also demonstrates the structure and function of the balance of personal and social control within...