In this paper, it shall be examined how African American and Mexican American women writers have both developed highly innovative narrative strategies in order to establish their literary voice in which to express their experiences of being women belonging to an ethnic minority. Rather than attempting a direct comparison
between the works of African and Mexican American women writers, I shall focus on the methods writers of both ethnicities have used in order to establish two separate literary traditions of female expression. My observations shall be based on texts by Zora
Neale Hurston and Sandra Cisneros. Despite the fact that the works were written decades apart and thus also mirror major differences in the social and cultural development of the US, I will show that it is possible to draw significant parallels between them. Besides, the different contemporary reception of their work can be considered an indication of how much the American literary canon has changed in the
last decades of the 20th century.
Gender and race are important aspects in the works of both African American and Mexican American writers. Women writers of these two ethnicities have used different narrative devices to depict the themes of marginalization and discrimination, as well as issues of racial, sexual and artistic empowerment of women. The transgression of traditional gender roles and the questioning of gender boundaries and categories are a vital part of their works.
The quest for a collective identity is another frequent theme in the works of African American and Mexican American women writers. However, as is to be shown in this paper, the treatment of this topic can be considered one of the most crucial difference markers between African American and Mexican American women authors. In the following, a detailed analysis of Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God and Sandra Cisneros' prose collections The House on Mango Street and Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories will serve to illustrate this argumentation.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. African American Women Writers
- II. 1. The Harlem Renaissance - A Quest for African American Identity
- II. 1. 1. The Predecessors - Literary Production and Women Writers of the 19th Century
- II. 1. 3. Women Writers of the Renaissance
- II. 2. 1. Zora Neale Hurston - Biographical Note
- II. 3. 1. Contemporary and Posthumous Reception of Their Eyes Were Watching God
- II. 3. 2. Janie Crawford: Emerging Heroine of Their Eyes Were Watching God
- II. 3. 3. Dynamics of the Metaphor in Their Eyes Were Watching God
- II. 3. 3. 1. Storytelling, Communal Discourse and Verbal Empowerment in Their Eyes Were Watching God
- II. 3. 4. Race and Gender in Their Eyes Were Watching God
- II. 3. 5. An Alternative Reading: Voodoo in Their Eyes Were Watching God
- III. Mexican American Women Writers
- III. 1. Mexican Americans in US Society: the Beginnings of Chicano/a Literature
- III. 2. Chicana Feminism and Feminist Discourse
- III. 3. 1. Biographical Note and Literary Work
- III. 4. The House on Mango Street
- III. 4. 1. Narrative Structure and Perspective
- III. 4. 2. Style and Language in The House on Mango Street
- III. 4. 3. The House as Leitmotif
- III. 4. 4. Gender Constructions: Opera and Fairytales as Subtexts
- III. 5. Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories
- III. 5. 1. Narrative Structure
- III. 5. 2. Finding Voice: Code-switching and the Language Issue
- III. 5. 3. The Mericans – Marginality and Borderland Themes
- III. 5. 4. Subversion through Subtext: Womanhood and (Soap) Opera
- IV. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines how African American and Mexican American women writers developed innovative narrative strategies to establish their literary voices and express their experiences as women within ethnic minority groups. The focus is on the methods used to establish separate literary traditions of female expression, drawing parallels between the works of Zora Neale Hurston and Sandra Cisneros despite the differences in their time periods and cultural contexts. The analysis explores the evolution of the American literary canon and its changing reception of these authors' work. * The establishment of a distinct African American and Mexican American female literary voice. * The exploration of themes of marginalization and discrimination. * The portrayal of racial, sexual, and artistic empowerment of women. * The transgression of traditional gender roles and questioning of gender boundaries. * The quest for a collective identity within each respective ethnic group.Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the symbolic significance of Barack Obama's election as a watershed moment in American history, representing a shift in perspectives on race and gender. It connects this event to the long struggle for civil rights and the cultural movements that fueled it, particularly the Harlem Renaissance and the Chicano Movement. The chapter introduces Zora Neale Hurston and Sandra Cisneros as pivotal figures who explored the intersection of race and gender in their writing, paving the way for the establishment of distinct African American and Mexican American female literary voices. The introduction also emphasizes the author's intention to analyze the unique narrative strategies employed by these writers to express their experiences and challenge societal norms. II. African American Women Writers: This section delves into the literary contributions of African American women, situating them within the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance and its subsequent impact. It highlights Zora Neale Hurston's innovative use of Black English Vernacular as a literary language and explores her complex portrayal of race and gender in her works. The chapter lays the groundwork for a detailed analysis of Hurston's *Their Eyes Were Watching God*, examining its themes, narrative techniques, and lasting significance in shaping African American literature. It also introduces the concept of the "double barrier" faced by African American women, navigating both racism and sexism. III. Mexican American Women Writers: This section focuses on Mexican American women writers, their struggles for representation within the Chicano movement, and their efforts to create a distinctive Chicana literary tradition. The chapter explores the challenges they faced, including exclusion from male-dominated literary movements, and the adoption of techniques such as code-switching and Ecriture Feminine to express their unique perspectives. It uses Sandra Cisneros as a case study, examining her use of language and narrative to challenge traditional gender roles and expose the marginalization of Mexican American women. The analysis will delve into *The House on Mango Street* and *Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories* to illustrate the themes of identity, marginalization, and resistance present in Chicana literature.Keywords
African American women writers, Mexican American women writers, Harlem Renaissance, Chicano Movement, Zora Neale Hurston, Sandra Cisneros, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The House on Mango Street, Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories, race, gender, identity, marginalization, discrimination, narrative strategies, Black English Vernacular, code-switching, Ecriture Feminine, feminist discourse, literary canon.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is this document about?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of a language preview focusing on the works of African American and Mexican American women writers. It analyzes their narrative strategies, explores themes of race, gender, and identity, and examines how these writers established distinct literary traditions within the broader American literary canon. The analysis centers on the works of Zora Neale Hurston (African American) and Sandra Cisneros (Mexican American), comparing and contrasting their approaches despite differences in time period and cultural context.
What are the main topics covered?
The key themes explored include the establishment of distinct African American and Mexican American female literary voices, the exploration of marginalization and discrimination, the portrayal of racial, sexual, and artistic empowerment, the transgression of traditional gender roles, and the quest for collective identity within each ethnic group. Specific works analyzed include Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street and Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories.
What is the structure of the document?
The document is structured as follows: an introduction setting the historical context; a section on African American women writers, focusing on Zora Neale Hurston and Their Eyes Were Watching God; a section on Mexican American women writers, focusing on Sandra Cisneros and her works; and a concluding section. Each section contains detailed chapter summaries, outlining the key arguments and analyses presented.
What are the key authors discussed?
The main authors analyzed are Zora Neale Hurston and Sandra Cisneros. The document examines their individual styles, narrative techniques, and thematic concerns, drawing parallels between their works while acknowledging their unique cultural contexts and historical periods.
What are the key literary works analyzed?
The primary literary works analyzed are Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street and Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories. The analysis delves into narrative structure, language use, thematic development, and the authors' innovative strategies for expressing their experiences as women within ethnic minority groups.
What are the key concepts and terms used in the analysis?
Key concepts and terms include: Harlem Renaissance, Chicano Movement, Black English Vernacular, code-switching, Ecriture Feminine, feminist discourse, race, gender, identity, marginalization, discrimination, narrative strategies, and literary canon.
What is the overall argument or conclusion of the document?
The document argues that African American and Mexican American women writers developed innovative narrative strategies to establish their literary voices and express their experiences as women within ethnic minority groups. It highlights the parallel yet distinct literary traditions these writers created, showing how they challenged societal norms and contributed significantly to the evolution of the American literary canon. The analysis emphasizes the importance of understanding these works within their historical and cultural contexts.
How can I access the full text?
The full text of the analyzed works and the complete academic paper are not included in this preview. This document provides a summary and overview of the content for academic purposes.
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- Carmen Fuchs (Author), 2009, Race, Gender and the Vernacular in the Works of African American and Mexican American Women Authors, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/174347
