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Cover Art—“ Corona de Rosas Espinosas”
(University of Oregon, 2019) Amezcua, Isabelle
This piece is a stance against Machismo Culture, another name for Toxic Masculinity, that is prevalent in Latin America (as toxic culture is a part of all cultures). As a biracial Latina woman who grew up in the border town of Chula Vista, California, and later Portland, Oregon, I saw a lot of toxic behaviors from both Latino and White men. Simply existing as a female meant that catcalls were very common, whether while walking at night or being out in general. Thus, I had to grow to be hyper-aware of my surroundings. This piece lets me reclaim some of my own space, and the horns and the flower crown are reminders that people can be feminine, strong, and tough. We don’t need to be told to smile, we don’t need to be soft and approachable, we can be tough, neutral-faced, and spiky. We can wear jewelry, we can wear makeup, and we don’t owe strangers our time or conversation.