ABSTRACT
Analyzing the experience of Chicanas, or women of Mexican descent in the United States, is a difficult and often cumbersome task. This chapter seeks to join a feminist analysis of gender to labor sociology within the context of the distinct labor market experiences of Chicanas in the United States. It shows that Chicanas suffer from the “triple oppression” of race, gender and class that is unique to them as women of color. The chapter focuses on the labor market to illustrate one outcome of the tripartite stratification of Chicanas. It undertakes a four way comparison between white males and females and Mexican (and Spanish origin) men and women. The chapter examines the process of stratification itself within the tradition of labor market segmentation theory. It discusses future directions for research on Chicana labor in our society.
