Librería Samer Atenea
Librería Aciertas (Toledo)
Kálamo Books
Librería Perelló (Valencia)
Librería Elías (Asturias)
Donde los libros
Librería Kolima (Madrid)
Librería Proteo (Málaga)
This book documents the experiences of sixty-one women whoflourished in the ferment of the civil/ethnic/women’s rights movements of thelate twentieth century and beyond. While each life is unique, collectively theydemonstrate the benefits gained when a community and a society unleashes andfosters the potential of women who create, organize, and lead. Conversely, anundetermined degree of loss may accrue to societies that suppress or discouragethe freedom of women to shape their destinies.When women come together with a collective intention, powerful thingshappen. Simultaneously, but separately, in 1972-73, at San Diego State Universityand at Stanford University, and having never met, two of us had the same idea,to propose and design a course about Mexican American women. The idea forthis book also has a history. In those days, both of us wanted to contribute to thedevelopment of Chicano studies. The Mexican American voice, so much a fabricof U.S. history was missing from the dominant English narrative and the women’spresence was nearly absent from Chicano literature and history. Chicanas actedto change these injustices, thereby adding new energy to the Chicano Movementand to other liberation discourse. At that time, as graduate students, we had theopportunity to teach a Chicana women’s course.Such a course had never been taught at either university. While womeninstigated change at different colleges, in those years Chicanas/Latinas appearedto be anonymous. And although Anglo women around the country had alreadystarted addressing women’s needs, they did not include the new diverse studentpopulation that was entering the universities.the woman where she has most noticeably served. Chapters One andTwo begin with Mujeres Presentes, that is, the women who have passed awaybut whose presence lives on as their actions continue to affect the lives of others.Chapters Eleven and Twelve highlight educators whose work builds on that ofearlier mentors and their actions. The chapters between include: Three and Four,“Early Activists;” Five and Six, “Chicanas in the Arts:” Seven and Eight, “Chicanasin Education;” Nine and Ten, “Chicanas in Public Office.” Each chapter includesa brief introduction, but the women’s narratives are the core of the book; theirstories easily stand on their own.This collection may be considered a starting point and by no meansrepresents the entire Chicana/Latina community in San Diego. As it turned outthere were many more women than the sixty-one women presented here. Thehope is that others may read the book and decide to author a future edition. Allwomen ought to be honored for their efforts and receive the recognition theydeserve.
