My America: Reyna Grande on Writing and Belonging Across Borders

American Writers Museum
24 Dec 201903:37

Summary

TLDRThe speaker shares their personal journey of navigating cultural identity between Mexico and the United States. Writing serves as a refuge, allowing them to explore experiences without the judgment they face in daily life. They feel like an outsider in both countries: in Mexico, they are seen as too Americanized, and in the U.S., they grapple with their immigrant status. The speaker also reflects on the challenges of raising middle-class American children while holding onto their cultural roots, revealing the complexities of identity and belonging in a bicultural experience.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Writing serves as a safe space for exploring dual identities related to Mexico and the U.S.
  • 🌍 The speaker feels a sense of belonging in their writing that is often absent in their daily life.
  • 🤔 Navigating cultural identity is complex, with the speaker experiencing exclusion in both countries.
  • 🇲🇽 In Mexico, the speaker is seen as too American, often criticized for their Spanish skills.
  • 🗣️ Language plays a crucial role in identity; the speaker uses Spanglish and feels judged for it.
  • 👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker grapples with parenting challenges as an immigrant raising middle-class American children.
  • 🚶‍♀️ The speaker's lifestyle contrasts sharply with their relatives in Mexico, highlighting cultural differences.
  • 💬 The speaker observes a gender disparity in Mexico, noting that their cousins often seek permission from their husbands.
  • 🏡 The speaker feels like an outsider even at home, struggling to relate to their children's experiences.
  • 🔄 Cultural critique is part of the speaker's narrative, especially concerning traditional values in their hometown.

Q & A

  • How does the speaker feel about their writing?

    -The speaker feels most at home when writing, as it allows them to explore their experiences in both Mexico and the U.S. without facing judgment.

  • What cultural challenges does the speaker face in Mexico?

    -In Mexico, the speaker is treated as an outsider and is criticized for being 'too Americanized,' particularly regarding their Spanish language skills.

  • What specific criticism does the speaker receive about their Spanish?

    -The speaker's Spanish is described as broken, using wrong verbs, false cognates, or Spanglish, which draws criticism from others.

  • How do traditional gender roles affect the speaker's experience in Mexico?

    -The speaker contrasts their independent lifestyle with that of their female cousins in Mexico, who are expected to seek permission from their husbands for decisions.

  • What is the speaker's view on their hometown culture in Mexico?

    -The speaker critiques their hometown's culture for being unprogressive and reflective of outdated norms, particularly regarding gender roles.

  • How does the speaker navigate parenting in the U.S.?

    -As an immigrant parent, the speaker struggles to understand their children's experiences, which are vastly different from their own childhood in Mexico.

  • What feelings of belonging does the speaker experience?

    -The speaker often feels a lack of belonging, feeling like a foreigner both in Mexico and in the U.S., despite having lived in the latter for over 34 years.

  • What role does writing play in the speaker's identity?

    -Writing serves as an outlet for the speaker to express and reconcile their complex identity and cultural experiences without external judgment.

  • In what ways does the speaker feel excluded in everyday life?

    -The speaker feels excluded in daily life due to constant reminders of their perceived foreignness and the cultural differences between themselves and those around them.

  • What is the significance of the speaker's experience with their children?

    -The speaker's experience with their children highlights the generational and cultural divides that can exist within immigrant families, further complicating their sense of belonging.

Outlines

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Mindmap

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Keywords

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Highlights

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Transcripts

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相关标签
IdentityBelongingMexican-AmericanCultural CritiqueImmigrant ExperienceParentingLanguageCultural DifferencesFeminismNarrative
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