Intro To Latino Cultures

Short Analytical Assignment

Professor Mendez

September 30, 2022

Chican@ Term and its Implications in Their Dogs Came with Them

The term Chicana/o/x/@ is widely used to describe a person of Mexican heritage who

currently resides in the United States. According to Sheila Marie Contreras, “‘Chicano’ is a

Mexican American who knows their own history.” In the book Their Dogs Came with Them,

author Helena María Viramontes showcases the meaning behind this term in several ways. One

main example which I found really brings forth the meaning of the term is found primarily on

page 7 of the text, which highlights the usage of code-switching, or going back and forth

between Spanish and English, which in this case, is used to show the character Chavela’s

personal life and how it ties back into the meaning of being Chicano.

On page seven of the text, there are several examples of Viramontes showcasing some of

the struggles that Chicano/as deal with as the culture in the US is oftentimes very different from

Mexico. Code-switching is a big part of this section of the text, as Chavela, a chicana woman is

shown to be writing down various pieces of information that are important for her to remember

in her daily life. Viramontes showcases this piece of life that many Chicanos share in this

section, such as “Cal Mr ... Lencho's tio sobre apartment. Shut off luz” (p. 7) This translates to

“Call Mr. Lencho’s uncle about the apartment. Shut off lights.” Her usage of both English and

Spanish shows her attempt to integrate into the culture of the US and the English Language,

while still maintaining her roots in a Spanish-speaking heritage. It also shows that she has still
held on to her culture which is something that sets her apart from others that may be technically

of Mexican heritage but live in a more Americanized way. Viramontes showcases the idea of

code-switching not only in dialogue, but sprinkled throughout the chapters as well, with phrases

like “It’s important to remember… where I put my cigarillo down…or how the earthquake

cracked mi tierra firme, mi país, now as far away as my youth”(pg. 7), which shows Chavela’s

thoughts which also switch between English and Spanish like her writing.

Another example of Viramontes’ view of Chicano background is with her verbiage and

word choices, especially with descriptive adjectives and phrases. One example of this is the

phrase, “bursting red hibiscus bushes that bloomed lush and rich as only ancient deep-rooted

hibiscus shrubs can do” (pg 7). I think this is Viramontes’ way of saying that the background of

Chicano people is deeply rooted and is a beautiful thing that cannot be explored at a surface

level. It requires a deeper understanding of the history of Mexican culture and how American

culture has been integrated into it to create a Chicano cultural view.

Although only one section of the text was analyzed here, there is many more examples of

Viramontes expanding on the understanding of Chicano/a culture throughout this novel. One key

point that I gained from this book is the history and diversity that is encompassed in the term

Chicano. In Sheila Marie Contreras’ words, “To name oneself as ‘Chicana’ or ‘Chicano’ is to

assert a gendered, racial, ethnic, class, and cultural identity in opposition to Anglo-American

hegemony and state-sanctioned practices of representing people of Mexican descent in the

United States.” In other words, the term “Chicano,” as opposed to “Mexican” or “Latino” is a

term that is more empowering and brings light to all the different backgrounds that are shared by

those who identify with this term, while bringing them together in a non-homogenizing way.
Viramontes did a good job showcasing the nuances in this term while showing some experiences

that may be common throughout the community.