How was the La Pachuca symbolized during the Zoot Suit Riots Research Paper

How was the La Pachuca symbolized during the Zoot Suit Riots - Research Paper Example The La Pachuca symbolized the concept of complete equality between men and women, as well as a race, while using style and statements to show a sense of identity to the time frame. Defining La Pachuca The concept of La Pachuca rose at the same time as the Zoot Suits of the Chicano movement. The main ideal was based on creating a sense of identity in which all individuals from Mexico, Spain and the Latin decent had a combined identity. The Zoot Suits were the masculine interpretation of creating a modern and new style which set apart this sense of identity. The main concept was to remain as outsiders from the rest of society because of the ethnicity and decent. However, this was combined with the modernist approach of the Zoot Suits, which mimicked the time frame and other concepts of culture. Typically, those who wore these suits were attributed with gang violence and the ethnic race. The La Pachuca mimicked this ideal with the same association of belonging to the Chicana movement wh ile intertwining contemporary style with ethnicity from the feminine style of the time (Ramos, 562). The main approach which the women used in the Zoot Suit movement was based on creating a male like mimic and counterpart to the men of the movement. The women wore baggy pants with a high waste, followed by a t-shirt or blouse. The hair was pulled back with a â€Å"puff† on the top or a short cut of the hair (see Appendix A). This particular style was followed with the more feminine approach. This included a pencil skirt which went to the knees and also which had a high waste. This was accessorized with fishnet stockings, platform heels or sandals. The women would wear this with suspenders and a v-neck sweater or blouse over the top. If the hair was placed down, then it would be curled but would keep the same high top as the other styles used for the time. The women were also known for wearing darker lipstick and were often dressed with the same tattoos as men. The ideology wh ich was created, while moving into a slightly feminist approach, always mimicked the male Zoot Suiters and the style which was taken to distinguish them as Latin American and a part of the rebellion and movement of the time (Ramirez, 1). La Pachuca as a Symbol of Equality The first way in which the representation of the La Pachuca became a symbol was through the definition of equality which was exhibited. The subculture of the Zoot Suits was based on creating a sense of equality in American society for Chicanos that had immigrated to America and were interested in working with the same opportunity as other ethnicities in the country. The inability to have the same equality led many to gang activities and to outbreaks to try to point out the need to have this equality. The Zoot Suit Riots were a symbol of this desire and gathered attention in the national community to begin changing the consciousness of those in society toward culture in general. The Pachuca dressed similar to the me n and was known to have the same identity while taking place in the riots of the time. The representation of this showed that both the men and women of the Chicano / a ethnicity were looking for the same equality in society and deserved to be shown equal merit in terms of national identity (Ramirez, 9). The similarity of the zoot suit and the dress of the La Pachuca were furthered with the overall symbolism that