El Rapport, In Opposition (Parte 2.4)

I enjoyed reading this section because it is difficult to criticize a section of ones own identity and that's exactly what Anzaldua does in El Rapport. Cross cultural conflict occasionally comes in the form of 'Oppression Olympics'. Oppression Olympics is essentially a fight to figure out which identity is the most oppressed. This just creates cross-cultural hostility turning the guerra into a civil war. On the other hand, there is also this need to appear as successful as possible within groups. This creates gatekeeping in which people are judged for being either too 'ethnic' or not 'ethnic' enough. This is all the result of internalized whiteness and racism.

Alzandua writes about the danger of cross cultural conflict, " The hate we once cast at our oppressors we now fling at women of our own races (pg.113)." Essentially saying that fighting with our sisters is exactly what the oppressors want because that means we are not fighting them. But still we have this "kiss up, kick down" mentality where we try and prove ourselves to dominant groups, separating ourselves, trying to become an 'us' and 'them'.