The House on Mango Street

The Personal is Political

A concept that emphasizes individual experiences and identity are shaped by political contexts.

Bicultural

Living or operating in two different cultures or languages.

Defamiliarization

A technique used to make the familiar strange, in order to enhance perception of the ordinary.

Metaphor or Calque

A form of translation where a phrase is translated word-for-word into another language.

Alienated labor

Work that is disconnected from the worker’s identity and self, often resulting in a lack of fulfillment.

Women of Color Feminism

A feminist approach that addresses the intersecting oppressions faced by women of color.

Narrative Form

The structured way in which a story is told, including the movement from personal to social.

Site of Identity

A community space or context where individual and collective identities are formed and shaped.

Failed Expectations

The notion of unfulfilled hopes or anticipations from personal or community experiences.

Social Conflicts

Disputes arising from differences in social status, identity, or roles, often leading to community tensions.

Creativity in Storytelling

The use of unique and often devalued forms of expression, such as children's rhymes and fairy tales.

Sexuality as Power

The understanding of sexuality as a potential source of empowerment as well as danger.

Loss of Innocence

The process of losing the naivety of childhood, often through exposure to harsh realities.

Imagination as Creation

The ability to envision and create new possibilities, often linked to self-awareness and identity.

Family Bond

The connections and relationships among family members, often influencing identity and place.

Community Failure

The insufficiency of a community to fulfill its role in supporting its members.

Sense of Containment

Feeling restricted or limited, particularly in the context of personal growth or self-identification.

Dizzying Upside Down World

A chaotic or confusing environment that challenges expectations and understanding.

Culmination of Expectation

The realization or fulfillment of an anticipated outcome or goal.

Reclaiming Self

The process of rediscovering and asserting one's identity after experiences of oppression or alienation.

New Vision of Return

A transformed perspective on returning to one's origins with a sense of purpose or insight.

Dislocation of Self from Work

A sense of disconnect from one’s occupational role, leading to disempowerment and lack of identity.