Marianismo has been a taught lifestyle for many Chicana women, it is usually enforced in Mexican/ Chicano and Latino households. The term marianismo was influenced by the Virgin Mary essentially taking the term “Maria” and converting it to marianismo. Along with the religiously rooted term also came rigid expectations enforced on women who were expected to be submissive, selfless, and devoted to their families. Marianismo originates in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. During which colonizers imposed their patriarchal hierarchies upon indigenous Americans whom they needed to convert to Christianity. In the centuries of deculturalization and colonization that have followed, marianismo has persisted as a tool for patriarchal oppression to keep women bound in service to men, to family, and to God. Chicanas suffer in all aspects of life under marianismo. Marianismo has created a rigid, restrictive, and controlive life for Chicana women. Therefore it has also allowed men to have power over Chicana women under marianismo. Such as demanding Chicanas to take care of all the housework labor and children, dressing feminine, dealing with abuse, and more. Marianismo has strictly set gender roles, cultural expectations, and norms for Chicanas. Such as women being expected to be family pillars, keeping the family cohesion, doing all the housework, obeying a man’s orders, living up to their femininity, and always putting their family and husbands first. Chicanas are also expected to show obedience and respect towards the social hierarchy in their households and are rebuked if they dare to defy it. Chicana women have been privatized from exploring their sexuality and have been indoctrinated to remain virgins until marriage. They have gone as far as internalizing machismo which has led Chicanas to side with perpetrators of rape and molestation towards women. Chicanas have internalized beliefs such as women being the ones who provoke men by the way they dress therefore women are at fault. In addition, Chicanas have endured violence and infidelity caused by their partner which also demonstrated how under marianismo Chicanas have to put up with the toxicity and disrespect perpetrated by men. Chicanas are also expected to fit into desired femininity roles and are expected to abide by them by dressing and acting feminine. Fully restricting them from showing their strong or masculine side. Overall, anti-feminist and conservative views have conditioned Chicana women and enabled them to embrace their sexuality as well as restricted them from exploring their desires. In which women are expected to be non-sexual while also being the figure who satisfies their husbands. Chicanas have been forced to remain pure until marriage ultimately restricting women from missing out on their journey of self-discovery by exploring their sexuality. If Chicanas decide not to follow the expectations enforced upon them, they are ashamed and often fall under categories of confusion and exclusion. Marianismo has affected the lives of Chicanas so much that it has affected their mental health, by having develop depression at such a young age. Under Marianismo queer Chicanas have been furthermore impacted as they do not seem to feel understood, they are often left, confused, ignored, and impacted by issues such as depression and belonging. In conclusion, for women to be liberated by generations of oppression and rules there needs to be a sense of healing and learning to unlearn things that have been indoctrinated to them. Women need to explore themselves and if possible find a community that lives free from marianismo. Chicanas have to remain strong enough to defy the norms and stay true to themselves and their journey of liberation. They need to come to peace with possibly being an outcast, the black sheep. Chicana women have to fight to liberate themselves from marianismo and machismo. They have to learn to not fear and ultimately know that it is okay to remain defiant and resistant. As well as come to peace with themselves that not following the lifestyle of marianismo does not make them a bad woman.
The toxicity of Marianismo tied to the life of Chicanas
