1. Under the Feet of Jesus A Chicana Bildungsroman A Chicana Bildungsroman

2. Traditional Bildungsroman The struggle of a young man to become a subject of consciousness. The struggle of a young man to become a subject of consciousness. Focused on his integration into the social system. Focused on his integration into the social system. Looking for/at turning points in personal, psychological, social development. Looking for/at turning points in personal, psychological, social development.

3. Women’s Bildungsroman For women, the bildungsroman has been most often about finding a suitable mate. For women, the bildungsroman has been most often about finding a suitable mate. Often, marriage is often followed by unhappiness, or leads to madness, brought on by the realization that the marriage was the end of any hope for self- realization. Often, marriage is often followed by unhappiness, or leads to madness, brought on by the realization that the marriage was the end of any hope for self- realization.

4. a more contemporary scenario for the bildungsroman Women and especially ethnic women writers have tried to revise this story/formula for their women characters. Women and especially ethnic women writers have tried to revise this story/formula for their women characters. Women in these contemporary works become subjects of consciousness through self- knowledge, understanding of relationships, use of or interrogation of the uses of language, and the investigation of different forms of freedom. Women in these contemporary works become subjects of consciousness through self- knowledge, understanding of relationships, use of or interrogation of the uses of language, and the investigation of different forms of freedom.

5. Search for Self-Knowledge In terms of awareness of sexuality and the joys and problems surrounding it. In terms of awareness of sexuality and the joys and problems surrounding it. In terms of an understanding of death and its manifold repercussions. In terms of an understanding of death and its manifold repercussions. In terms of an understanding of love and the fulfillment as well as the fetters it brings. In terms of an understanding of love and the fulfillment as well as the fetters it brings. How do these “fit” Estrella’s story? How do these “fit” Estrella’s story?

6. Relationships With older women (mother, abuelitas). With older women (mother, abuelitas). With mythical figures (la Malinche, Tonantzin, La Llorona, the Virgin). With mythical figures (la Malinche, Tonantzin, La Llorona, the Virgin). With the “other” – oppressor, white, wealthy, educated... With the “other” – oppressor, white, wealthy, educated... With the “other” – patriarch, male, patriarchy. With the “other” – patriarch, male, patriarchy.

7. Language How to overcome or break out of the silence imposed on you by a culture that can’t hear you and can’t see you. How to overcome or break out of the silence imposed on you by a culture that can’t hear you and can’t see you. How to escape domination by the oppressor’s “tongue,” which can include cultural/social expectations different from your own, or oppression from within your own culture. How to escape domination by the oppressor’s “tongue,” which can include cultural/social expectations different from your own, or oppression from within your own culture. How to live in the borderland between languages How to live in the borderland between languages

8. Freedom To travel To travel To leave home To leave home To have meaningful work To have meaningful work To use her intelligence To use her intelligence To accept/embrace her sexuality To accept/embrace her sexuality

9. Alma Luz Villanueva “I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid” and I vowed to never grow up to be a woman and be helpless like my mother

10. but then I didn’t realize the kind of guts it often took for her to just keep standing where she was.

11. I grew like a thin, stubborn weed watering myself whatever way I could believing in my own myth transforming my reality and creating a legendary self