Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in English and Writing Studies
Department
English
First Reader/Committee Chair
Dr. Robert Kyriakos Smith
Abstract
Chicana literature's emphasis on personal and collective narratives provides an essential critique of societal norms and injustices, illustrating how the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and class shape the lived experiences of Mexican American women in a rapidly changing world. This study analyzes nonfiction autobiographical narratives by three Chicana writers—Ana Castillo, Cherrie Moraga, and Sandra Cisneros—and the historical contexts of their production and reception. These texts focus on different aspects of Chicanismo, and when placed in conversation with each other they illuminate the multifaceted experiences of Chicanas from diverse backgrounds. All three writers have become well established in Chicana studies and have largely contributed to English literature more broadly. Although it may be tempting to examine these writers’ works solely through a traditional literary critique, I propose that analyzing their autobiographies and memoirs warrants an intersectional framework—one that highlights the interplay between the writers' lives and the circumstances that shaped their contributions to literature. By exploring how writing served as an outlet for them, this approach seeks to reveal what this creative outlet offered both personally and in the larger context of literary discourse. At the crossroads of cultural expression and social activism, Chicana literature not only chronicles the unique narratives of Chicana women but also makes possible a transformative experience that challenges patriarchal and colonial structures, fostering a deeper understanding of identity and belonging.
Recommended Citation
Morales, Veronica, "Voicing the Margins: Contemporary Chicana Autobiographical Writing" (2025). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 2273.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/2273