Exploring Racial Crossover in Puerto Rican Wannabes

867 Words2 Pages

Wannabes
Racial crossover is not something that is new, and to outsider's to this behavior seems perplexing (Wilkins, 2008). For the Puerto Rican wannabe defines and effaces racial boundaries, through dress, attitude and interracial dating according to Wilkins (2008). Unlike the Goths and Unity Christians, Wannabes do not share a formal space with other Wannabes (Wilkins, 2008). That wannabe identity is at a disadvantage compared to the goths or Christians, as Wannabes do not have the same community resources to rely on according to the author. Racial transgressions are communicated through the consumption and incorporation of the hip-hop culture into the Wannabes life (Wilkins, 2008). When looking at their relationships sexual and romantic relations are …show more content…

For example, the girls are still looking for men's approval (no matter the race), also another complication is that the relationships are undermined with other white women and women of color which can increase their dependence on men, and lastly it adds to the gendered hierarchical constraints and isolate gendered relations (Wilkins, 2008). Although wannabes resist the limitations of being white, they take part in the racial crossover that gives them a sense of coolness, toughness, and excitement and allows them to avoid societal expectations they may actually be a nice person (Wilkins,2008). According to Wilkins (2008), wannabes use of sexuality is to achieve racial crossover, it can also mount a more significant obstacle to the racial boundary lines as it reworks the inequality of race, class, and gender in their lives. Their sexual strategy meshes them disempowering gender relations, puts limitations on their class resources, and by not directly confronting the issues of gender inequality, stunts the racial problems as well as stated by Wilkins (2008). Additionally, racial crossover for wannabes limits their ability to enact white power and privilege through material investments according to

Open Document