overweight Chicano man who constantly struggles with personal identity. As a county appointed lawyer in Oakland, California, Acosta experiences a mental struggle between his Mexican heritage and his personal integration into American culture. Oscar Zeta Acosta reacts to this internalized racism with a lack of personal identity displayed through his abandonment of responsibility, traditional male dominated gender dynamics, and his return to El Paso Mexican border. Prior to embarking on a journey of self-discovery throughout the Southwest, Oscar Acosta is a divorce and domestic relations lawyer for the poverty stricken county of East Oakland. Although Oscar is not constrained by a wife and children, he is responsible for assisting the powerless,
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Throughout the novel, Acosta exercises his self-imposed male privilege through his constant objectification of women. An example of Oscar’s commodification of women is shown through his sexual attitude towards female bodies. During a trip Oscar’s favorite bar JJ’s he refers to two women as his ‘sister;’ however the encounter becomes sexual. “Bertha removes his hand from around her waist. She throws her deliciously zoftig breasts into me. ‘My Brown Buffalo can take even Bertha babes whenever he’s ready too.’ Because she comes to my defense and because I love her gorgeous cans against my chest I stick my tongue in her ear as a reward.” Oscar’s commodification of women and utilization of vulgar, descriptive language is an attempt to emphasize his male sexuality. Oscar’s objectification follows the traditional male dominated societal view which utilizes grotesque language and the physical characteristics of women to highlight their machismo. In addition, Acosta’s uses his constant obsession and with the female figure as a distraction from his negative perception towards his own bodily image. This anxiety stems from his childhood when he describes how he would attempt to hide his obesity by writing, “But look, if I suck it in just a wee bit more, push that belly button up against the back; can you see what will surely come to pass if you but rid yourself of this extra flesh? Just think of all the broads you’ll get if you trim down to a comfortable 200." Oscar bodily insecurities not only influence his relationship with women, but play a critical role in his personal perception of race and cultural
Throughout the novel, Acosta exercises his self-imposed male privilege through his constant objectification of women. An example of Oscar’s commodification of women is shown through his sexual attitude towards female bodies. During a trip Oscar’s favorite bar JJ’s he refers to two women as his ‘sister;’ however the encounter becomes sexual. “Bertha removes his hand from around her waist. She throws her deliciously zoftig breasts into me. ‘My Brown Buffalo can take even Bertha babes whenever he’s ready too.’ Because she comes to my defense and because I love her gorgeous cans against my chest I stick my tongue in her ear as a reward.” Oscar’s commodification of women and utilization of vulgar, descriptive language is an attempt to emphasize his male sexuality. Oscar’s objectification follows the traditional male dominated societal view which utilizes grotesque language and the physical characteristics of women to highlight their machismo. In addition, Acosta’s uses his constant obsession and with the female figure as a distraction from his negative perception towards his own bodily image. This anxiety stems from his childhood when he describes how he would attempt to hide his obesity by writing, “But look, if I suck it in just a wee bit more, push that belly button up against the back; can you see what will surely come to pass if you but rid yourself of this extra flesh? Just think of all the broads you’ll get if you trim down to a comfortable 200." Oscar bodily insecurities not only influence his relationship with women, but play a critical role in his personal perception of race and cultural