User:Cbushtamucc/sandbox

Las Pachucas
Claire Bush

Senior (Class of '19)

Vice President TAMUCC History Club

Topic: Las Pachucas

Even though popular understanding of the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles concentrates on the racial tensions between young Mexican American and white servicemen, there is a lack of recognition of women zoot suitors, Las Pachucas, in discussion around the zoot suit and the riots. Latina women actively participated in the movement but have been eliminated from the narrative of the Zoot Suits. Literature on the riots has been written without regard to the fact that Latina women participated and took backlash from both the Latino and Anglo communities for, not only wearing the suit, but being female. This article will serve to bring issues of social norms, societal standards, and Latina women’s rights to the forefront of discussion within Mexican American history, for Mexican American women and historians. It will give knowledge to the community on Latina women's contribution and their participation in critical events within Mexican American history, specifically the Zoot Suit Riots.

Outline for article:

First major issue:  Las Pachucas in the history of the Zoot Suit Riots


 * 1) First example of support: Participation;
 * 2) Rise of “female delinquency after Sleepy Lagoon Case
 * 3) Second example of support: lack of recognition in media, newspapers
 * 4) Third example of support: lack of recognition in literature, “Mexican American perspectives (male)”

Second major issue:  Backlash from Mexican American community


 * 1) First example of support: la Pachuca, a contested figure in the Mexican American community; some women admired and wore the style; others saw her dangerous and disruptive (ideal Mexican American womanhood), Patricia Adler (Ruiz).
 * 2) Second example of support:  Los Angeles newspapers, “vilified as incorrigible delinquents, La Opinion vs. The Eastside Sun
 * 3) Third example of support: Pachucos praised in community for taking a stand, las Pachucas criticized in media and in community

Third major issue: Back lash from Anglo communities


 * 1) First example of support: Mexican American Rosies, “un-American and unfeminine”
 * 2) Second example of support: Servicemen ripping the zoot clothing from the    male mobsters, treatment of the female branch presented a problem for Anglo law enforcement, tensions built as they could not take the same physical actions against the Pachucas (Ruiz)
 * 3) Third example of support: Latina feminist movement vs Anglo feminism

Comparison/Contrast


 * 1) First example of support:  Recognition in newspaper articles negative compared to reality; Pachuca With a Razor Blade (Carmen Lomas Garza)
 * 2) Second example of support: Literature perspectives dependent on gender of author, Mex. American male authors vs. Mex. American female authors
 * 3) Third example of support: Pachucos/s as both condemned in media; Pachucos/Zoot suitors praised in community for taking a stand, Las Pachucas criticized in media and in community