cholalifestyle-blog

[cholalifestyle-blog]

So as you now finish reading this paper, the cholas hold secret meetings in a mansion in Foxbury, and then walk to the park and take pictures, or cruise in their lowriders, chasing boys off their territory

(Mendoza, 62)

[cholalifestyle-blog]

These girls were not holding out for Princes

(Bettie, 12).

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WOW! What a perfect song to describe what being in love with a Chola girl would be like.

She would be stubborn: Tough exterior, extravogent makeup, beautiful and strong-willed. 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Much like any other colony of the U.S., the current governmental programs that come closest to providing assistance to a barrio resident income assistance (welfare), social services, housing, manpower development—has a chief goal, the implicit intention of preventing the larger segment of Chicano population from interfering with the well-being as well as to quiet the conscience of dominant society

(Matta 7). 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Their rap, their story

I think there is something to be said about the fact that barriers (which yeild struggle for Mexican Americans) are often times established by the American government. 

These women are rapping about things that are all too real to them. 

Thier story is in some way or another shaped by the decisions of legislators and those in power. The barrio is strucken with oppressed and systematically subdued minority races. 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Cypher #2 Rap Femenino --- Arte en Calle

Cypher #2 Rap Femenino --- Arte en Calle

English translation of the video Title: Female Rap --- Street Art

If all Chola’s could rap, I imagine this is what they would sound like.

They would rap about their hood, family, money, womens rights, and their struggle.

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Here is my take on this cultural appropiation dilemma…

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Let’s talk about appropiation!

Who can wear Chola makeup?: Chola’s

Who is a Chola again??: A young woman of Mexican descent living primarily on the West Coast

Who should not wear Chola makeup?: Everyone else 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Different methods of applying eyeliner look completely different, and are easily visible at distances of several feet... Eyeliner is an effective method of identification since it can be worn by itseld and without any of the other symbolic markers, making the girl easily distinguishable to each other but inscrutable (and indeed, frightening) to anyone else

(Mendoza, 55)

[cholalifestyle-blog]

What does Chola makeup TRULY mean?

I’m sure most of us, there is a general idea of how Chola makeup looks. For example: thinly plucked brows, black lip liner, red lipstick, chains, teased pompadour hairdo, baggy polo shirts, bandana, and lowrider culture. 

“Cholas generally wear heavy makeup with thick eyeliner, penciled-on eye-brows, and brown or dark red lip liner. Their hair is permed and shaped straight or arched on the top with gel. Some cholas/os belong to urban gangs but some do not” (Tatum, 50).

For the most part, this is true. But....

Chola makeup sprung forth from young Mexican American women who began to rebel against the systemic oppression and discrimination that Latino’s faced as a result of white Americans while redefining gender roles specifically given to women by society, families, partners, etc. 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

If Babygirl were to make a Chola makeup tutorial... this is exactly how I would picture it would go... 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

I just have something to say...

Women of color in the United States have had their bodies over sexualized, disregarded, overlooked, critisized, and marginalized forever. American culture helps to perpetuate the hypersexualization of minorities by making beauty standards a “one size fits all” proposition. 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

The relative absence of analyses of ethnicity in body image research has often been matched with the assumption that what is true for White women is also true for Women of Color. Whiteness is often considered to mean neutral, “normal,” and standard

(Frankenberg 1993; Mullings, 1994; Ortiz, 1994). 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

What seperates Chola beauty ideals from mainstream (white American) beauty ideals?

Latina social and cultural circles value the bold uniqueness of Chola makeup (culture) because it rebels against the systematic oppresion and discrimination that Latina’s faced as a result of white Americans-- especially in comparison to American women. 

“Hairstyles, clothes, shoes, and lip liner, lip stick and nail polish were key markers used to express group membership as the body became a resource and a site on which diffference was inscribed” (Bettie, 14). 

Cholas valued appearing different from the norm. Their aesthetic alone rebelled against appearing like the majority (white American women). The narrative was that women during their time were to be submissive, subservient, and seen not heard. 

Well! We can all agree that it is pretty hard NOT to see a Chola when she walks into a room. Her presence is difficult to ignore. She demands attention, respect, and a chance to be seen as equal to EVERYONE else. 

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Lip Liner [ ✓ ]

Eyebrows [ ✓ ]

Eyeliner [ ✓ ]

Tough Exterior [ ✓ ]

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Chola Makeup

What would a Chola makeup tutorial look like?:

Foundation: The darker, the better

“Always wear brown because thats the color of your skin. You have to use darker cover-up. You can’t wear cover-up lighter than your skin cause they tell you that you want to be white. You gotta do it darker than your skin or the same color as your skin”   (Mendoza, 57)

Lipstick: What lipstick?

“lipstick is actually brown eyeliner in many cases”  (Mendoza, 60)

Eyeliner: May the wings of your eyeliner reach heaven girl!

“Don’t forget to tell them that eyeliner is really important. When I turn on the eyeliner, when I really put it on, you know long and shit, it makes me feel like another person, it makes me feel tough. Just wearing the eyeliner even without the clothes makes me feel brave” (Mendoza, 56)

“If you wanna know who’s a Chola just look for the eyeliner” (Mendoza,55)

Chola makeup is used to establish its women as strong, beautiful, tough, and proud. Earlier we dug into barrio culture and background-- such influences are what truly shape Chola culture. Chola style in many ways is also reflective of “hood culture” aka barrio culture which resists many normative assumptions of women, beauty, and gender.

[cholalifestyle-blog]

Las gafas atras significa que mi barrio me repalda