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From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues

Chicanas Speak Out. Women: New Voices of La Raza

First National Chicana Conference

Mirta Vidal

Houston, Texas

May 1971

Sex and the Chicana

We feel that in order to provide an effective measure to correct the many sexual hangups facing the Chicano community the following resolutions should be implemented:

I. Sex is good and healthy for both Chicanos and Chicanas and we must develop this attitude.

II. We should destroy the myth that religion and culture control our sexual lives.

III. We recognize that we have been oppressed by religion and that the religious writing was done by men and interpreted by men. Therefore, for those who desire religion, they should interpret their Bible, or Catholic rulings according to their own feelings, what they think is right, without any guilt complexes.

IV. Mothers should teach their sons to respect women as human beings who are equal in every respect. No double standard.

V. Women should go back to the communities and form discussion and action groups concerning sex education.

VI. Free, legal abortions and birth control for the Chicano community, controlled by Chicanas. As Chicanas we have the right to control our own bodies.

VII. Make use of church centers, neighborhood centers and any other place available. “Liberate your mind and the body will follow...” “A quitarnos todos nuestros complejos sexuales para tener una vida mejor y feliz” (Let’s cast off all our sexual complexes to have a better and happier life).

Marriage-Chicana Style

Reaffirmation that Chicano marriages are the beginnings of Chicano families which perpetuate our culture and are the foundation of the movement.

Points brought up in the workshop:

1. Chicano marriages are individual and intimate and solutions to problems must be primarily handled on an individual basis.

2. A woman must educate and acquaint herself with outside issues and personal problems (sexual hangups, etc.).

3. It is the responsibility of Chicanas with families to educate their sons and thus change the attitudes of future generations.

4. Chicanas should understand that Chicanos face oppression and discrimination, but this does not mean that the Chicana should be a scapegoat for the man’s frustrations.

5. With involvement in the movement, marriages must change. Traditional roles for Chicanas are not acceptable or applicable.

Resolutions:

I. We, as mujeres de La Raza, recognize the Catholic Church as an oppressive institution and do hereby resolve to break away and not go to it to bless our unions.

II. Whereas: Unwanted pregnancies are the basis of many social problems, and Whereas: The role of Mexican-American women has traditionally been limited to thehome, and

Whereas: The need for self-determination and the right to govern their own bodies is a necessity for the freedom of all people, therefore,

Be It Resolved: That the National Chicana Conference go on record as supporting free family planning and free and legal abortions for all women who want or need them.

III. Whereas: Due to socio-economic and cultural conditions, Chicanas are often heads of households, i.e., widows, divorcees, unwed mothers, or deserted mothers, or must work to supplement family income, and

Whereas: Chicana motherhood should not preclude educational, political, social, and economic advancement, and

Whereas: There is a critical need for a 24-hour child-care center in Chicano communities, therefore,

Be It Resolved: That the National Chicana Conference go on record as recommending that every Chicano community promote and set up 24-hour day-care facilities, and that it be further resolved that these facilities will reflect the concept of La Raza as the united family, and on the basis of brotherhood (La Raza), so that men, women, young and old assume the responsibility for the love, care, education, and orientation of all the children of Aztlan.

IV. Whereas: Dr. Goldzieher of SWRF has conducted an experiment on Chicana women of westside San Antonio, Texas, using a new birth control drug, and

Whereas: No human being should be used for experimental purposes, therefore,

Be It Resolved: That this Conference send telegrams to the American Medical Association condemning this act. Let it also be resolved that each Chicana women’s group and each Chicana present at the conference begin a letter writing campaign to:

Dr. Joseph Goldzieher c/o SW Foundation for Research and Education, San Antonio, Texas, and Director, SW Foundation for Research and Education, San Antonio, Texas.

Religion

I. Recognize the Plan de Aztlan

II. Take over already existing Church resources for community use, i.e., health, Chicano awareness-public information of its resources, etc.

III. Oppose any institutionalized religion.

IV. Revolutionary change of Catholic Church or for it to get out of the way.

V. Establish communication with the barrio and implement programs of awareness to the Chicano movement.

Source: Chicanas Speak Out. Women: New Voices of La Raza by Mirta Vidal (1971). © 1971 by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by permission.

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Congresswoman Barbara Jordan served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979. Her melodious voice and her exquisite delivery held audiences’ attention as she talked about the nation’s highest ideals. Below is her keynote address to the 1976 Democratic National Convention.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
"Chicanas Speak Out. Women: New Voices Of La Raza." From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues, edited by Suzanne O’Dea, Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Suffrage3e_1048.
APA 7th
Chicanas Speak Out. Women: New Voices of La Raza. From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues, In S. O’Dea (Ed.), Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Suffrage3e_1048.
CMOS 17th
"Chicanas Speak Out. Women: New Voices Of La Raza." From Suffrage to the Senate America's Political Women: An Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes & Issues, Edited by Suzanne O’Dea. Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Suffrage3e_1048.