Throughout this semester our writers have battled various personal struggles from one
another. Throughout the readings and discussions with fellow classmates, I have been able to
dive in and really learn about Latin culture. Through the novels assigned, I have learned about
the personal struggles and tribulations that have appeared in Latina literature. Many of these
themes of struggle are not too different from the struggles faced by other cultural groups. Many
of these themes are still current in today’s climate. The struggles seen in the writers throughout
the semester are things individuals from all backgrounds face today and different age groups.
Many of the writers share common threads with one another, family issues, monetary struggles,
and personal struggles.
One of these struggles that stood out to me is the internal struggle that our writers faced.
Personally identifying with their own culture and how difficult some of the writers struggled to
find their own cultural identity. This seemed very prevalent throughout the readings and
discussions. Our writers battled internal ideas and struggles trying to find themselves through
their own lives and stories. Regardless of money, family, and other external influences, these
writers struggled with the common theme of cultural indifference. Many of these writers grew up
in situations where cultures clashed, where society pushed different ideas upon them.
The writers struggled with their own Latin culture behind it all. Feeling pulled in a certain
due to the standards their families had set and the standards their culture has set for them. But yet
evolving world and the evolving of cultures mixing in together drove these writers to take a step
back and to think and question what truly they identify with. A lot of these feelings can be traced
to the idea of culture in America, a country built on many different cultures living side by side
daily. I coming from an immigrant Italian family and culture can relate to sort of the struggles
Latina writers. Yes as a man things might have been different which is a shame that gender can
have that effect in this country. But within the learnings of this course I have been able to think
and reflect on my own experiences in life. Taking life lessons from these writers and thinking to
myself, the feeling of growing up in multicultural and diverse world and the questions that
remain between heritage and culture and where the future and defining culture has in store.
All of these pieces of literature contribute to US Latina literature as whole. Throughout
every novel it paints a picture of the landscape of US Latina literature. In this course I have been
able to connect with the authors and truly understand the picture that they are trying to paint.
These novels intertwine with one another creating a narrative within US Latina literature. These
narratives created tell the story of US Latina literature, throughout the readings we see the
changes and the complexities Latinas face in today’s culture and past. Many of these stories are
