“Borderland La Frontera, The New Mestiza” Third Edition by Gloria Anzaldua is hailed as one of the most important books in our times. From the title itself one can glean the main points tackled in the story boil down to two- ‘borderland’ and ‘mestiza’. These two terms define the tone of the entire book as it provides a probing insight into the Chicana and Latina mentality.
The Border in Borderland La Frontera
The ‘Borderland La Frontera, The New Mestiza’ actually refers to the US-Mexico border. The term border, as used by Anzaldua, does not only to pertain to physical boundaries but also to other boundaries which encompasses race, gender, status and other considerations. Aside from that, ‘border’ also serves as an allusion to the boundaries that exist between the physical and spiritual realm.
The transgression of this border opens a space between. This space is where ‘mestiza consciousness’ develops. This third space is the middle, a cross between these two different borders, a meeting place where two ideologies meet, depending on the person viewing it. The “mestiza” or the third space symbolizes a fusion of two ideologies that are separated by a ‘border’.
Mestiza Consciousness
Anzaldua recognizes the fact that ‘mestiza consciousness’ that manifest at the borderland is actually a coping mechanism one needs to develop in order to thrive in another place. Why is this necessary? Crossing borders force one to adapt to new environment, new cultures and face new challenges. To be able to survive in such kind of environment, the ‘mestiza’ must be flexible.
She must learn a new language, shift to English instead of Spanish, adapt to the place’s traditions, even transforming identities. The challenge of a ‘mestiza’ then is to live without borders and be constantly evolving to adjust to the new place. There are dangers in pursuing this ‘mestiza’ endeavor.
Living at the Crossroads
Being at a crossroad is a dangerous place. With no definite identity, no definite stand and views, being pulled by opposing forces and loyalties, the mestiza could easily fall prey to “the mill with the razor white teeth [that] wants to shred off/your olive-red skin, crush out the kernel, your heart” (217) such as people of ill-repute, bad influences, vices and other negative influences.
Mestiza must learn to live with this kind of inner conflict. Live in the middle without sacrificing what matters to her. Multiplicity is the rule of the game. Self-transformation is a bygone conclusion. One cannot live or survive in another border without changing some aspects of oneself. This is the essence of ‘mestiza’ mentality – a deviation from its strictly Chicana or Latina origin. Different but still similar nonetheless.
The ‘borderlands’ or ‘Nepantla’ are associated with self and identity. Multiplicity leads to the layering of selves leading to a number of places a ‘mestiza’ inhabits. These selves overlap leading to the building of new identity which carries with it the potentials to self-transformation.
Gwendolyn Cuizon - Gwendolyn Cuizon is a seasoned freelance writer and a published book author. She holds a degree in BSC-Accounting. Her penchant to acquire ...
