Xicanisma refers to Chicana Feminism. The complexity of Xicanisma is in the fact that the term dives into the greater layers of women and men are equal, they deserve the same rights. Xicanisma strives for equality of all people, rather than the focus of feminism being on only white middle class women (leaving women of color out—this was quite common in the 1960s and 1970s). Xicanisma is about social justice for communities, and women are in the center of that movement just as they are the center of the community. Xicanisma reacts to fight against all forms of oppression and all forms of degradation that comes with being a woman. It focuses on not only on breaking stereotypical roles, but also breaking the cycle of torment brought upon domineering men. Chicana women as women are already oppressed, but it is their home life that oppresses them even more.
Viramontes gives voice to women through her literature; and although Xicanisma is a term created by Ana Castillo, it is important to note that Viramontes is aware that as a Chicana writer she is doing a powerful thing. She is aware that Chicana writers must have a collective voice. This collective voice is essential for Chicanas/Latinas to fight the surrounding negativity that comes with their ethnicity and gender, and to continually educate men of their culture. In the words of Viramontes, “We are providing a source of new breath in literature. We are giving life to people who have never been in literature before” (Heredia). These women are a united front with a common purpose.
Viramontes feels that even today women in modern-day society face the same obstacles (although there has been some progress). A lot of parents today still do not understand the importance of education, of the university. People have to realize the sexist culture women live in run by patriarchy. As she began to gain a political consciousness she wondered why it is that she never read stories that reflected her, her mother, and her sisters. It is for that lack of self-reflection that she began to write. She writes stories reflecting an entire culture of women going back generations. She writes about these women as a force to be reckoned with: the voices of the ignored, neglected, exploited rise above in characters that are fighting against the titles within oppression.
