The United States of America is viewed as a land of equal opportunity, liberty and freedom to all. The freedom enjoyed by people belonging to different racial minority groups did not, however, come easy. Some minority groups had to endure decades of racial discrimination, inequalities based on sex, and prejudice to enjoy the freedom they have. One classic example of a minority group that has been affected is the Mexican-American Women. Forces of Americanization played a significant role in ensuring that Mexican-American women gained their economic freedom and independence. Culture and tradition dictated the type of life activities women participate. Chaperonage is an example of such a tradition that barred Mexican-American women from exploring their feminism as it dictated their mode of dressing and how they associated with members of the opposite sex.
Chaperonage is a cultural tradition that controlled and supervised the conduct of young unmarried women in public places. Young women were monitored when attending dances, movies, and church-related events. A mother or a grown-up woman close to the family would always be hired to accompany young ladies on public occasions to ensure that they conduct themselves in accordance with accepted feminine societal norms. The traditional institution of chaperonage gave society elders the power to dictate the dressing code of young women and the social activities they engage in. Parents also had a say on places their daughters will work and control the income they receive. In “From out the Shadows,” Vicki Ruiz gives an insight into the pressures Mexican-American women endured to adjust to the segregation of cultures in social America. He says that young Mexican-American women were expected to uphold certain standards and act as guardians of traditional culture (Arora, Munoz, &Sanos, 2016) .
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Most Mexican-American women rebelled against chaperonage as it inhibited them from finding a social and economic place in the country. Women were tired of remaining in the shadows. They united and created Chicano movement to help them fight against discrimination in employment, housing, and public recreation. A change in political perception among Mexican-American women ensured commitment to social justice and social change.
Young women decided to embrace the flapper convention that was rising during this period. They defied the traditional roles set to them by parents and the society. Mexican American women became free thinks and spent most of their time pursuing fun instead of pursuing traditional female gender roles like raising children and marriage. Young Mexican women began applying makeup and using cosmetic products that enhanced their beauty. They also took charge of their dressing and their sexuality. Some women went an extra mile of leaving their family homes and renting apartments on their own. As free-wheeling single women, young Mexican-American women gained freedom to go out on romantic dates unsupervised (Hunter, 2013) .
It is only women who felt the impact of Chaperonage. Chaperonage culture placed a watchful eye on young women by controlling their dressing code and their romantic lives. Young men, on the other hand, had the liberty to choose the mode of dressing they deem fit and attend dances and movies without supervision. Society elders stamped their authority by dictating youth activities to protect the family honour. According to the society, “a woman’s purity had a great influence not only on her reputation but that of her entire family” (Hunter, 2013). Such beliefs are actual manifestation of familial oligarchy as it infringed on a woman’s liberty and way of behavior while young men remained unchecked.
The cultural, political and economic environment in the 1920s and the 1930s was changing rapidly. Women began to find their political voice to fight against social injustices they were facing. The thirst for both social and economic freedom made women rebel against the cultural fabric that was impeding their social development. Chaperonage limited the liberty of women and their pursuit of happiness (Arora, Munoz, &Sanos, 2016) . Women, therefore, decided to compromise against chaperonage values for them to successfully fight against discrimination and segregation in employment and public recreation. Women wanted to be entirely in charge of their social life.
In conclusion, Toxic cultures like chaperonage went against American values of equality and freedom to all. It curtailed the development of women in the society by dictating on the kind of life they lead. American Women were brave enough to rebel and compromise against the values of chaperonage. Their bravery enabled freedom to take control of their social, political, and economic life.
References
Hunter, M. L. (2013). Race, gender, and the politics of skin tone . Routledge.
Arora, A., Munoz, L. K., &Sanos, S. (2016). A history of their own: A conversation with Vicki L. Ruiz. Routledge.
