Mexican-American Women in Twentieth-Century America

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses, from all angles, at home, at work and in the community, Twentieth-Century Mexican-American women, descendants of some of the first immigrants to the United States. The paper reviews Ruiz's book that shows Mexican-America women working for menial wages to help support the family and suffering from stereotypes. The author states that, although often history texts can be dry and lifeless, Ruiz's text comes alive with the voices of the women about whom she writes.

From the Paper:

"Each of the causes of change was important and devastating, but probably the most devastating was the discovery of gold in California. Mexican-Americans had long made California their home, and some owned extensive ranchos, but California glittered too brightly, and the United States took the country for its own in 1850. The rancho way of life disappeared, especially when the ranchos belonged to women, which was not unusual in Mexican society. Unlike the U.S., Mexican women could and did own their own property, but their title was not recognized when the U. S. annexed California, and they lost much if not all of their land."

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