I Am Joaquin

The popular revolutionary poem “I am Joaquin” by Rodolfo Corky Gonzales influenced many Chicana/os to embrace their heritage in the Chicano Movement in the 1960s. The poem created psychological work for the Chicano identity. Moreover, this poem developed and promoted social consciousness, commitment to activism, and cultural pride for many Chicanos. However, Gonzales primarily focuses on the identity and struggles of a Mexican-American male which excludes other narratives. Thus, the lack of inclusivity influenced me to recreate the popular poem, which centers on women from Central America who are rarely acknowledged in Chicano Studies. Therefore, our poem “I am Dolores” is focused on these three main themes: empowerment of women of color, resistance

against hegemonic society, and social consciousness and awareness in Central America’s disparities.

In the beginning of the poem I focused on the way women are perceived throughout history in our systematic patriarchal society. Unfortunately, in Latino counties due to the machismo embedded in the culture, women are often seen as sexual objects who are incapable of male-oriented gender roles in society. For instance, when I describe the inequities and lack of privileges women have compared to men “Caught up in a world that is ruled by heterosexual patriarchal men” (Line 3). In other words, many women are enslaved and trapped to follow society’s gender norms. Women are restricted to a certain category. Specifically, in Latino countries where machismo is still prevalent. According to Michael Hardin, the Americas adopted machismo from the Spanish during the colonial period. Hardin speaks of the

archetypes that are labelled on Latina women that marginalize, stigmatize, and reduce them to submissive roles (Hardin, 1-2). It is a recurring theme throughout history to brand women inferior to men. Thus, in the poem when I state “I am the Malinche, a proud survivor! Mother of Mestizaje, loyal conquer and traitor. Scorned by Marianism for my sexuality” (Line 17-19). I am liberating and empowering the negative historical stigma many indigenous women are marked in by transforming the Malinche archetype into a dynamic identity. To clarify, I am embracing the Malinche archetype to be less restricted and condemn to the dominant heterosexual male views. Moreover, by reviving the female historical figure to an empowering figure is a form of resilience and resistance against hegemony and it gives pride to many women of color to be represented strong and powerful.
Additionally, I speak of the gender-based violence phenomenon occurring in many Central American countries that target women.

Femicide is violence and hate towards women due to the extreme aggressive machismo, gender inequalities and discrimination, and economic disempowerment embedded in Latino culture (Prieto-Carron, 26). To put differently, femicide is an epidemic that has occurred for years in Latino countries, but is more prevalent today due to the systematic corruption in society and media coverage. For instance, in the poem this issue is expressed when I assert “I watch for my sisters. I grieve for those who have been raped and killed, only to be forgotten and marginalized” (Line 15-16). To clarify, many women in Central America are killed due to this gender-based violence that is historically linked to the colonial period, when the Europeans categorized women inferior to men. This patriarchal mentality is instituted to many systems that it becomes normalize and ignored. According Mariana Prieto-Carron, who analyzes femicide in Central American countries, states, “those in power, both in the household and in state institutions, can exert greater control over women’s behavior and mobility” (Prieto-Carron, 30). In other words, this is a form of social-control from the elite in order to regulate women and keep them from going against hegemonic patriarchal society. These social constructs are restraining women from social mobility and freedom. Correspondingly, when I

state “only to be forgotten and marginalize” means that this is a recurring theme throughout Latino history to forget those women who are victims of discrimination and violence. Many women never find justice for the crimes committed by corruption and the imbalance of power. Therefore, social awareness is key in order to understand and fight to change the social and gender inequities in Central America.