From Out of the Shadowswas the first full study of Mexican-American women in the twentieth century. Beginning with the first wave of Mexican women crossing the border early in the century, historian Vicki L. Ruiz reveals the struggles they have faced and the communities they have built. In a narrative enhanced by interviews and personal stories, she shows how from labor camps, boxcar settlements, and urban barrios, Mexican women nurtured families, worked for wages, built extended networks, and participated in community associations--efforts that helped Mexican Americans find their own place in America. She also narrates the tensions that arose between generations, as the parents tried to rein in young daughters eager to adopt American ways. Finally, the book highlights the various forms of political protest initiated by Mexican-American women, including civil rights activity and protests against the war in Vietnam.
For this new edition of
From Out of the Shadows, Ruiz has written an afterword that continues the story of the
Mexicanaexperience in the United States, as well as outlines new additions to the growing field of Latina history.
Introduction
1. Border Journeys
2. Confronting America
3. The Flapper and the Chaperone
4. With Pickets, Baskets, and Ballots
5. La Nueva Chicana: Women and the Movement
6. Claiming Public Space
A rich source book and an excellent overview of Mexican American women's crucial contributions to labor organizing, community formation, and social movements in the West and Southwest. --
Women's Review of Books Not only celebrates the lives of Mexican women in the United States but provides a blueprint for social justice and human dignity. --
Journal of American History In...a stirring portrayal of women's courage and agency, Ruiz's book epitomizes illuminative scholarship. --
Latin American Research Reviewl³&