Chicana identity in the works of Ana Castillo

Ana Castillo has emerged as a prominent Chicana writer. Through Massacre of the Dreamers, the product of her doctoral dissertation, she examines the history and subjugation of women of color, specifically brown-skinned women, Chicanas, by a patriarchal society. Coining the term Xicanisma , a synonym for Chicana feminism, Castillo aims to include more women into the struggle faced by Chicana feminists. Her literary works force Chicanas to challenge the dominant society. She examines the issues of identity, sexuality, and duality that Chicanas face in their lives and shows the female characters in her novels dealing with these issues in constructive ways.