Racializing Illegality: An Intersectional Approach to Studying Mexican-origin Women's Racialization Experiences

• In Event: 301 - Section on Latino/a Sociology Paper Session. Theorizing New Directions in Latina/o Sociology

Abstract

By shedding light on how Mexicans are racialized scholars have debunked the notion that Mexicans are “unassimilable,” “criminal,” and “illegal.” However, less is known about how “illegality” further complicates how Mexican-origin women are racialized today, especially in an anti-immigrant climate. Drawing on 60 interviews with Mexican-origin women in Houston, Texas, I explore how “illegality,” further complicates documented and Mexican American women’s racialization experiences. Findings suggests a new form of discrimination that is highly imbued with “illegality.” It also shows the gravity of “illegality” as it extends across legal status, nativity, and generation status. This paper contributes to the race and migration literature by suggesting the need for an intersectional approach to studying “illegality,” race, and migration.

Author

• San Juanita García, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill