Paper Example on Sociological Significance of Chicana/o Culture

Abstract

This paper addresses the sociological importance of the Chicana/o culture. It gives views on the way of life of the Chicanas/os and how that impacted to who they are today. In the United States, most people were regarded to be of distinct culture thus excluded and viewed as of different group creating racism. With the Chicana/o culture some sanity was created in the minds of Americans thereby erasing the ideologies of racism or gender inequality. Therefore, guided by the research done its evident that Mexican Americans acceptance of their traditions impacted their social wellbeing. It resulted in attaining better educational reforms, reclaiming all that was lost as well as gaining a voice to their human rights. Chicana/o culture created awareness to the society of the incorrect stereotype that existed and educated people on their particular norms and traditions. The society now has achieved cultural identity following the Chicana/o culture. It is this realization that has put an ease to people being able to identify themselves as Mexican-American. In conclusion, the paper reviews of what sociological importance this culture of Chicanas/os is by explaining on significant aspects of the culture and its impact on the society.

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Sociological Significance of Chicana/o Culture

In the United States, since the early twentieth century, some Mexican Americans had a chosen identity termed as Chicana/Chicano. During the Chicano movement, the term was widely used in expressing pride in the cultural, community and ethnic identity that the Mexican Americans shared. The Chicano way of life entailed an art movement that made attempts for the Mexican-American to come up with a distinct artistic identity. Chicano movement that commenced in the 1960s created the Chicano art. It had influence from pre-Columbian art, Mexican-American social, cultural, political issues and European painting techniques.

Culture has since been a conspicuous concern. Most sociologists have a reawakening interest in the significance of culture and in this case the sociological importance of Chicana/o culture. Chicana/os way of life led to the emergence of a sociopolitical culture of Chicana feminism. The movement was to analyze the Mexican-American intersections based on cultural, economic, historical and educational aspects. It has long had challenges from stereotyping in the lines of ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and race. The feminism by the Chicanas/os served as a praxis that assisted women in reclaiming existence in the Chicano art of movement.

Chicana feminism has had the society claim gender equality without having one identity over another. For one being from the Chicana/o culture then it meant more than being from the Mexican culture and lead to the social awareness of present inequalities amongst the community. Chicana/o culture of feminism alternatively achieved political as well as economic equality on both genders apart from socially. Most people attained the voice to air on oppressions like racism, class inequality and homophobia. The main perspective to the Chicana feminism was to bring back the dignity of all the Chicanas/os and attain cultural integrity.

Based on the history of the Chicana/o culture, the social significance of the movement was to enhance on education reforms for the society as well as restore people's lands. Earlier on the Chicanas who had the opportunity for getting access to education faced certain risk factors as lower academic expectations due to poverty risks as they attended particular segregated schools. However, due to the reforms, it came in hand with the benefits of shaping their culture. Activists sought to conduct protests that promoted the enhancement of the reforms as formerly racism was so inherent in their school curriculum. Most Mexican-Americans were considered racially and culturally inferior.

Apart from Chicana/o culture changing its laws and socially offering better treatment to people from the movement. It also helped fuel a renaissance in literary, politically charged visual art. The Mexican-Americans regained their voice and had them sensitized on injustices creating changes in the communities granting the people their human rights. Today the Mexican-Americans rights they own were as a result of the Chicano movement. Socially, much discrimination amongst the people was also erased.

Chicana/o culture had its selected artwork as posters used to affirm the people on the cultural values as well as its history. Works of Rupert Garcia had pastels and legendary prints that galvanized activists which served as an inspiration to the Chicana/o movement. Chicanas/os culture had women's work of art bring new cultural meaning to the community. Often contradictions existed on elements of gender, class or even race on women but following the Chicana activists piece of arts all that was placed in a different position. Most artworks from a person like Ester Hernandez had images that depicted imagery and interrogated domestic life on women terms.

People's wellbeing follows an important contributor which is its cultural identity, one of the sociological importance of the Chicana/o culture. An individual identifying with a certain culture, for instance, the Mexican-Americans have the Chicana/o culture it is of significance as it leads to having a sense of belonging and security. More so it has provided the people with access to social networks giving aspirations and shared values to the community. Identity is a project by the society at large despite the Chicanas/os being termed as inferior the struggle has long being the reclamation of culture, identity, language, and land. Following the Chicano movement, it has resulted in borderlands regarding the fact that earlier on Chicanas/os were termed as marginalized people. It has impacted the construction of border identity among the people leading to a clear understanding of their Chicana identity.

Chicana/o culture has since the 15th century helped people of America gained their identity as no more hindrance to the natives to favor the Spanish by stopping them to speak their own language. Most at times even have forcibly religious talks in Spanish dialect resulting in the people leaving their traditions and customs. Chicana culture has increasingly helped people reclaim their identity from a country that only promoted European identity. Today most Mexican Americans have embraced the lifestyle of Chicanas/os thus acknowledging their indigenous roots and heritage. It has gone to an extent of refusing to have colonialist devalue their heritage and historical culture. Being part of Chicana/o culture is of much importance to society as people have chosen to go against the ruling status quo of the government to have it decide of their traditions or values.

Globalization and social change among the Chicanas are among one of the sociological importance brought about by the culture. The emergence of a strong binding sense of national recognition and pride was amongst the effects brought about the Mexican Revolution cultural and political struggles. Globalization resulted due to the transnational global culture that the Chicanas/os choose. The culture entailed forms of goods and services, politics or customs pertaining to exchange amongst the communities either beyond national borders or across. The effects of the transnational culture impacted on a transnational identity amongst the people thus adding on the interconnectedness of the society.

Chicanas/os culture brought in also a sense of political importance in the fashion style. Throughout the 20th century, Chicana/o fashion styles constituted American culture in a series of political encounters. According to Parkins, Chicana/o way of fashion codes differed the dominant culture as it appeared like a provocative way of stylization. However, taking in consideration the cultural way of fashion of Chicanas/os it's evident that fashion may be a constituent element of the society impacting the socio-cultural life.

Communities develop or are rather sustained by culture and in any given society culture it is of positive influence. A society benefits majorly from how well participative they are in their culture. Chicanas/os culture has since enhanced the intrinsic value of the community resulting in great developments. For any progression of a society in relation to business cultural values constellation is essential. Culture is a valid driver to progress within the community as most interactions are influenced by our cultural values.

Culture is always bound to change and for Chicanas/os their cultural beliefs, norms, and values has not been static.it has impacted them sociologically in various ways. For instance, a change in globalization has since been on the rise following the acceptance of cultural diversity among the community. Apart from that, the Chicano movement rhetorically led to awareness to the community of the negative effects of racism. More political action groups arose from the Chicana/o culture making substantial amendments to how minorities are treated in the United States. Chicana/o culture has since revived Mexicano language improving on interactions among the people. It has not only brought in unity in the community but has also united people from other nationalities. Educational reforms have since been maintained following the Chicana/o culture and have schools come up with special subjects fulfilling Chicanas/os needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chicana/o culture is of sociological importance and understanding the importance is critical to structuring people's lives. Culture has since enhanced ties between the Mexican Americans living in the United States. Chicanas/os culture comprises of the people's struggles and art that has impacted the overall wellbeing of the community resulting in adverse changes. The movement from the culture has seen cultural identities being formed empowering the Mexican Americans. The cultural aspects tend to be inclusive of literature, visual arts, and music. For every aspect it had, its specific focus emphasizes on Chicano culture thus building the structure of the society as a whole. Today, the Chicana/o culture is a vital element in the revitalization of the community as well as a reclaimed sense of hope and pride to the people thus strengthening their cultural incongruity.