Queer Chicano Families: The Importance of Converging Literature on Queer Families, Chicano Families, and Chicano Queers

Abstract

Despite growing literature on Latino families and Latino queer identities, there has been relatively little empirical research on Latino same-sex families. Likewise, emerging empirical research on gay and lesbian couples tends to focus on the experiences of middle-class, well-educated, White couples. I argue that combining theoretical and empirical works on sexuality, Chicano studies, and queer studies can assuage this lack of diversity in each body of literature. This work first examines current literature on Latino families, with a focus on Latino familism. This is followed by a brief examination of current literature on queer Chicanos. Lastly, it will discuss queer families and the lack of current literature on Latino same-sex couples, in order to present a course of action for further research on the intersectional social location of queer Chicano families.

Queering Family Scholarship: Theorizing from the Borderlands

“…When queerer family scholarship centers Latinx subjectivities, it can potentially contribute to the destabilization of familismo to describe Latinx family values. Familismo promotes the idea that Latinx individuals are culturally obliged to support their family members economically, emotionally, and physically and to place the needs of the family unit above one's own individual needs (Loughrin, ). In addition to being culturally reductive, familismo is often presented as unique and inherent to Latinx families, without any discussion of the institutions that fuel it (Baca‐Zinn, ).…”

Precarious familismo among Latinas/os/xs: Toward a critical theoretical framework centering queer communities

“…Suppressing their queer identity, however, may be linked with emotional distress. Simply put, familismo may diminish queer Latinos’ sexuality in favor of familial ties (Loughrin, 2015). Guarnero and Flaskerud (2008) contended, “The ordeal of chronic conflict between the gay and family worlds contributes to the mental distress experienced by Latino gay men.…”

“…Simply put, patriarchy refers to the systemic domination of women by men (Abalos, 2002). Although men are often perceived as patriarchs within Latina/o families (Loughrin, 2015), patriarchy affects everyone regardless of gender in different ways. Patriarchy is not exclusive to Latinas/os, although literature has used the term machismo when specifically involving Latina/o populations.…”

Feminist analysis of women's role in the film Desperate Housewives

“…After marrying to Carlos, a rich merchant, she constantly changed her luxury cars and designer clothes. In terms of gender relations in traditional Latino families, men were often portrayed as actively practicing male chauvinism, namely the dominant role and authority of men in the family [9]. In the earlier marriage pattern, Gabrielle had no subjectivity of her own, but more like Carlos' private property, a tool to show off to other men.…”