Angela Cisneros
Professor Perez-Torres
Chicana(o) Studies M105C
T.A. Timothy Fosbury
9 June 2016 Gender, Sexuality and Family
In City of God by Gil Cuadros and The Rain God by Arturo Islas, there is a constant clash between identity and the gender roles one has always been expected to fulfill in the Chicana/Chicano household. The narrator in City of God throughout the book is at different stages of his life and through these stages one can see his journey of acceptance of who he is. Whereas, in Rain God, one of the protagonist through the use of gender role is able to fulfill his sexuality for a short amount of time. There is an inability to fulfill the “proper codes” of Chicano masculinity and as well be able to abide to their true identity.
To begin, in City of God, the narrator from the very beginning informs us the expectations a parent has on a child.For instance, as the eldest son, Reynaldo was expected to be ladies man,
“My mother begged me to find a girl soon...don 't you want to make your father proud, your brother should look up to you” (Cuadros 7). In the eyes of the family, he needs to continue the family line. They …show more content…
Whereas, Reynaldo embraced his sexuality and stop trying to fulfill the gender role that was placed on him. Through the use of sexuality Felix was capable of exploring the traditional notions of masculinity.Even as a child Felix would demonstrate the thin line between masculinity and sexuality. “When Felix was a child he would run outside and dance when the storms clouds passed over, while his brothers and sisters hid under the bed...Good I’ll die dancing”(Islas 114). He is unafraid and this contrasts to his dancing, since dancing is seen as something only girls were supposed to do. In death he dies in rain symbolizing that he is living out his
Professor Perez-Torres
Chicana(o) Studies M105C
T.A. Timothy Fosbury
9 June 2016 Gender, Sexuality and Family
In City of God by Gil Cuadros and The Rain God by Arturo Islas, there is a constant clash between identity and the gender roles one has always been expected to fulfill in the Chicana/Chicano household. The narrator in City of God throughout the book is at different stages of his life and through these stages one can see his journey of acceptance of who he is. Whereas, in Rain God, one of the protagonist through the use of gender role is able to fulfill his sexuality for a short amount of time. There is an inability to fulfill the “proper codes” of Chicano masculinity and as well be able to abide to their true identity.
To begin, in City of God, the narrator from the very beginning informs us the expectations a parent has on a child.For instance, as the eldest son, Reynaldo was expected to be ladies man,
“My mother begged me to find a girl soon...don 't you want to make your father proud, your brother should look up to you” (Cuadros 7). In the eyes of the family, he needs to continue the family line. They …show more content…
Whereas, Reynaldo embraced his sexuality and stop trying to fulfill the gender role that was placed on him. Through the use of sexuality Felix was capable of exploring the traditional notions of masculinity.Even as a child Felix would demonstrate the thin line between masculinity and sexuality. “When Felix was a child he would run outside and dance when the storms clouds passed over, while his brothers and sisters hid under the bed...Good I’ll die dancing”(Islas 114). He is unafraid and this contrasts to his dancing, since dancing is seen as something only girls were supposed to do. In death he dies in rain symbolizing that he is living out his