Year: 2012
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Curanderismo as Decolonization Therapy: The Acceptance of Mestizaje as a Remedio" explores Chicana/o identity and its many manifestations that reflect cultural patterns of indigenismo and mestizaje based on historical, literary, anthropological and political interpretations.The ideology and use of mestizaje or the biological mixture of races is an evolving process as historical and contemporary theoreticians and researchers grapple with whether mestizaje has been a process of "national homogenization and of hiding a reality of racist exclusion behind a mask of inclusiveness" (Wade, 2005) or, with a redefinition and reconceptualization, if it has value and utility in a changing world.The dichotomies imbedded in mestizaje regarding other/otherness, sameness/difference and inclusion/exclusion have yet to be reconciled.Authors define decolonization therapy as "a healing process, a space where wounded spirits and souls from disenfranchised racial groups recover from historical trauma, racism, and other collective social ills caused by the long term negative effects of colonization."Authors argue that curanderismo can be one method used to decolonize our minds, bodies and spirits.Curanderismo can be a spiritual cleansing process, an acceptance of self, a recognition and deconstruction of the multiple historical identities that are often used by the dominating culture as pseudo-schizophrenic states and split/dual personalities, causing consternation and self-hate.Authors argue that whether one defines herself/himself as a mestiza/o or identifies with his/her indigenous roots, one has to be driven to love oneself.As much as one might struggle with erasing the negative experiences of being mestiza/o, for some, it is a reality.To simply deny it; is to deny oneself.It is to erase oneself from humanity.Authors propose that healing through psychological acceptance of one's identity may be one of the pathways to ameliorating this conflict.Finding this third space, or what Gloria Anzaldúa terms "nepantla" has been challenging.Authors argue that curanderismo can be a remedio when entering that third space.
Authors: Ramón del Castillo, Adriann Wycoff, Steven Cantu
Language: English
Subfield: Cultural Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2426376110