Movimientos de rebeldia y las culturas que traicionan

By: Hayley Turner 

In Gloria Anzaldua's book, Borderlands the second chapter titled Movimientos de rebeldia y las culturas que traicionan, discusses Anzaldua’s ability to leave the family, life and culture she grew up in order to live the life she decided, “I had to leave home so I could find myself, find my own intrinsic buried under the personality that had been imposed on me” (38). Anzaldua is a Chicana lesbian, who grew up in Texas.  Anzaldua believe that nothing in her culture approved of her and imposed that some thing was wrong with her.

With a strong cultural connection Anzaldua describes the rebel that lives in her, the Shadow-Beast. This beast is in constant battle with the cultural constraints/outside authority. The Shadow-beast is apparent when limitations are placed on Anzaldua, she states that, “At the least hint of limitations on my time or space by others, [the shadow-beast] kicks out with both feet. Bolts (38).

The chapter continues by explaining the different limitations that family, culture, and religions can place on a person and how the three are intertwined with each other. Anzaldua also explains how sexuality and gender differences are perceived and how culture effects these perceptions. Anzaldua focuses on the idea of half and halfs (being both male and female), a practice that is looked down upon in her culture. However is primal cultures with magico-religions thinking the half and half individual was believe to have supernatural powers and that there abnormality (being half and half) was the price the person had to pay for their extraordinary gift.

One of the most important aspect of the chapter is Anzaldua statement that, “half and halfs are not suffering from a confusion of sexual identity, or ever from a confusion of gender. What we are suffering from is an absolute despot duality that says we are able to be one or the other” (41). This goes against the western understanding that everyone is either male or female – with no alternatives. Anzaldua is challenging this understanding by implying that people can be one, the other or a combinations of the two.

In concluding Anzaldua was able to leave her family and culture because it didn’t accept her because her choices fell out side the social norms and values. Anzaldua beliefs that she can create a culture of her own that will give her the freedom to be whom ever she wants with out persecution. This is something she has not been able to find in the white, Mexican or Indian cultures she can identify with.