Maury Reads Article, Soapbox Ensues

              Women’s bodies have always been the battleground for political debate and rhetoric. Whether it be because of our temptress ways or simply our (presumed) ability to incubate a fetus, women are policed because of what our bodies can do. This policing helps shape political, social, and economic trends. Jonathan Inda’s article Biopower, Reproduction, and the Migrant Woman’s Body introduces the concept of biopower/politics where the government has now taken on the task of “managing life” (100) through “regulatory pow er whose highest function is to thoroughly invest in life in order to produce a healthy and vigorous population.” (99) Government has decided that it is their duty to “protect” the nation by maintaining a healthy population, but who do they see as belonging? Chavez, in Latino Threat, goes to great lengths to dissect the idea of biopower revolving around Latina women’s reproductive practices and rights.

                Chavez writes, “We still see that the biological reproduction of Latinas combines with their social reproduction in the popular imagination to produce fears about Latino population growth as a threat to the nation…” (75) Why would Latinas be a threat to the nation, particularly their reproduction? Chavez makes clear that the nation, as portrayed and reinforced by popular media, is a White nation. Latina reproduction is a threat to White America- the only America that matters to politicians. Chavez also notes that Latina reproduction is a threat because, “Latino babies transgress the border between immigrants and citizens.” (75) If Latinas reproduce here they would “create families, and soon communities of Latinos who would remain linguistically and socially separate would be clamoring for a reconquest of the United States.” (87)

                The Latina reproduction threat is based off of stereotypes about Latina sexuality, submissiveness, and rates of reproduction. It is a threat to the nation that Inda makes clear believes is their right to direct. Who is positioned as director are White, mostly male, politicians and their supporters. Let me take a moment of personal interest and point to the fact that most of the hateful, racist rhetoric surrounding this issue is most likely supported by those who align themselves with inflammatory pro-life campaigns (not all pro-lifers are haters*) and probably watch 19 kids and counting and think it’s totally okay. Personal moment over.

                There is no greater, or more disturbing, example of what biopower can and has done to Latina women in this country, than in Undocumented Women Forced to Give Birth While Shackled and in Police Custody. The article describes the- what I assume to be a more common then we know about- practice of handcuffing Latina women to their hospital beds as they give birth, all while a police officer stands guard and they are deprived of their partner’s and family’s presence. The fact that a woman, accused of a non-criminal or dangerous breaking of the law is shackled, justifiably according to many officers apparently, is ludicrous. Here we have the embodiment of what Chavez notes as the fight against “browning America”. Time magazine is quoted by Chavez- “The ‘browning of America’ will alter everything in society, from politics and education to industry, values culture …. The deeper significance of America becoming a majority nonwhite society is what it means to the national psyche, to individuals’ sense of themselves and the nation…” (87)

If these are the values and the state of our national psyche, then I want no part in it. Perhaps a browner America would be a better America.