La Malinche - How did La Malinche defy the gender norms of her time?
background
La Malinche was born to a chief of an Aztec tribe in 1505. Her father died when she was young, and her mother remarried and had a son. La Malinche's mother liked her son better, so she banished la Malinche and sold her to slave traders. La Malinche was given to a Tabascan tribe, and was later given to Cortés as one of the 20 maidens of the traditional gift. Around a month later Cortés met representatives the Aztec emperor had sent. Aguilar, Cortés' translator, did not speak the Nahuatl the representatives were speaking. La Malinche, however, grew up speaking Nahuatl, and stepped in to translate it into Mayan so Aguilar could translate into Spanish. Soon after she learned Spanish and became Cortés' main translator. She then became his most trusted advisor, as well as his mistress.
defying gender norms
La Malinche's first defied gender norm was actually defied by her mother. Although Aztec society was extremely sexist, the banishment of girls was not an accepted behavior. This is shown by la Malinche's "funeral." La Malinche's mother faked la Malinche's funeral using the body of one of the servants recently deceased daughter's body.
After this la Malinche's next gender norm was becoming a translator and advisor to Cortés, as this was not one of the few occupations open to Aztec women.
This is followed by la Malinche going into battle. There are accounts of la Malinche riding into the middle of a battle next to Cortés holding a shield, as seen in the second slide. This is an even more extreme defying of gender norms than becoming an advisor, as shown by the Nahuatl word for "man" also meaning "warrior." Women fighting simply did not happen, la Malinche being the exception.
Lastly, and possibly the biggest way la Malinche defied gender norms was by being well known. In 1500 Mexico, women were not well known, were not public figures, were not important. La Malinche is still remembered, and was so well known that she became a myth and legend, as well as being referenced in countless texts from Mexico and outside.
One interesting aspect of this is that you would expect other Mexicans to not have liked la Malinche, either because she was on Cortés' side, or because she was not following the gender norms. This doesn't seem to be the case, as the Aztec and Mayan name for her is Malintzin, with the -tzin suffix of honor.
background
La Malinche was born to a chief of an Aztec tribe in 1505. Her father died when she was young, and her mother remarried and had a son. La Malinche's mother liked her son better, so she banished la Malinche and sold her to slave traders. La Malinche was given to a Tabascan tribe, and was later given to Cortés as one of the 20 maidens of the traditional gift. Around a month later Cortés met representatives the Aztec emperor had sent. Aguilar, Cortés' translator, did not speak the Nahuatl the representatives were speaking. La Malinche, however, grew up speaking Nahuatl, and stepped in to translate it into Mayan so Aguilar could translate into Spanish. Soon after she learned Spanish and became Cortés' main translator. She then became his most trusted advisor, as well as his mistress.
defying gender norms
La Malinche's first defied gender norm was actually defied by her mother. Although Aztec society was extremely sexist, the banishment of girls was not an accepted behavior. This is shown by la Malinche's "funeral." La Malinche's mother faked la Malinche's funeral using the body of one of the servants recently deceased daughter's body.
After this la Malinche's next gender norm was becoming a translator and advisor to Cortés, as this was not one of the few occupations open to Aztec women.
This is followed by la Malinche going into battle. There are accounts of la Malinche riding into the middle of a battle next to Cortés holding a shield, as seen in the second slide. This is an even more extreme defying of gender norms than becoming an advisor, as shown by the Nahuatl word for "man" also meaning "warrior." Women fighting simply did not happen, la Malinche being the exception.
Lastly, and possibly the biggest way la Malinche defied gender norms was by being well known. In 1500 Mexico, women were not well known, were not public figures, were not important. La Malinche is still remembered, and was so well known that she became a myth and legend, as well as being referenced in countless texts from Mexico and outside.
One interesting aspect of this is that you would expect other Mexicans to not have liked la Malinche, either because she was on Cortés' side, or because she was not following the gender norms. This doesn't seem to be the case, as the Aztec and Mayan name for her is Malintzin, with the -tzin suffix of honor.
Bibliography
Candelaria, Cordelia Candelaria. "La Malinche, Feminist Prototype." Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 5.2 (1980): 1-6. JSTOR. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
Danaher Chaison, Joanne. "Mysterious Malinche: A Case of Mistaken Identity." The Americas 32.4 (1976): 514-523. JSTOR. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
"La Malinche." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 32. Detroit: Gale, 2012.Biography in Context. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
Taylor, Analisa. "Malinche and Matriarchal Utopia: Gendered Visions of Indigeneity in Mexico." Signs 31.3 (2006): 815-84. JSTOR. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
Candelaria, Cordelia Candelaria. "La Malinche, Feminist Prototype." Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 5.2 (1980): 1-6. JSTOR. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
Danaher Chaison, Joanne. "Mysterious Malinche: A Case of Mistaken Identity." The Americas 32.4 (1976): 514-523. JSTOR. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
"La Malinche." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 32. Detroit: Gale, 2012.Biography in Context. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
Taylor, Analisa. "Malinche and Matriarchal Utopia: Gendered Visions of Indigeneity in Mexico." Signs 31.3 (2006): 815-84. JSTOR. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.