Understanding chicana feminism: The feminist elements in Sandra Cisneros's the house on Mango street

This thesis aims to examine Sandra Cisneros's (1954) The House on Mango Street in the light of Chicana Feminism. Chicana Feminist thought has emerged as a consequence of male dominated structure of Chicano Movement, which is a product of Civil Rights Movement in 1960s. Chicana feminists, who are against the sexism in Chicano Movement, also carry the spirit of nationalistic discourses. Chicana feminists, who are the product of Brown society, cannot find a place for themselves with the White feminists, so they stand against racist sexism as well. In this thesis the issues of race, class and gender will be examined in terms of Chicana Feminism in Sandra Cisneros's, who is the first Chicana writer entered the American mainstream, The House on Mango Street. This novel, which deals with the issues of female and male roles in a male dominated society, race, class and gender in a Chicago barrio, is an effective sample of Chicana Feminism. Key Words: Chicana Feminism, Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, race, class, gender, sexism.