I think Aja Y. Martinez’s use of storytelling as a kind of resistance was an extremely powerful tool, and there are so many moments within the allegory that resonated with me as a reader. What is impactful about utilizing storytelling in this way, and through the use of fictional characters, is you can capture so many tropes and examples within one concise story. My absolute favorite and arguably the most impactful moment to me as a reader was at the beginning when Dr. Rosette Benitez was attempting to assimilate with students who would at times make disparaging comments about Mexican Americans in her presence.
“And although she felt a twinge of discomfort when her peers made derogatory statements about Mexicans, Rosette felt slightly heartened when they’d follow up such remarks with an obligatory smile and “Of course you’re nothing like them Rosette” (Casas, 2005, p. 39). Rosette felt better being embraced by her peers as an exception to the rule rather than not being accepted at all.” (Martinez, p. 4).
The reason why this moment was so impactful to me, and likely many other readers, is because many of us have been in this exact situation. For me, it instantly brought up memories of high school when groups of my friends, or even my family, would make disparaging comments about “stereotypically flamboyant” gay men. They would say things like “I am so glad you don’t act like them”. This is such a painful thing to here because it makes you feel like those around you merely tolerate you despite your difference, as opposed to accepting you. Reading this part of the passage made me angry that this is something that occurs so commonly and made me feel inclined to object the next time I hear something to this affect, as opposed to sheepishly smiling and trying to accept it as a compliment as I have done my whole life. The fact that this passage inspired me to feel this way is a testament to how powerful Martinez’s story telling as resistance is, and within itself proves its own effectiveness.
This passage as a whole also reminded me of something I witnessed in pop culture today. Controversial conservative Kaitlin Bennet, who first garnered national attention when her senior photos at Kent State depicted her carrying firearms around campus to illustrate her support of the second amendment, tweeted something wildly controversial today. She wrote: “Honestly, letting women vote in this country wasn’t one of the best ideas. Females vote with emotion and overwhelmingly support Democratic feel-good policies that take away our ACTUAL rights. I’d rather lose my ‘right’ to vote than lose my right to defend myself with a firearm!”. To me, this is an extreme version of doing something similar to what got Dr. Benitez into some hot water in the reading. In my opinion, Kaitlin Bennet realizes that her supporters are primarily straight white men who are radically conservative. I think this tweet was an attempt to show that group of people the she is “not like most women” and would rather lose a woman’s right to vote than the right to bear arms. However, much like Dr. Benitez at the end of the allegory, she would quickly realize that the men who she is attempting to cozy up to, regardless of how much anti-feminist propaganda she spews, will never accept her as an equal or take her best interests to heart. It is a very dangerous game to play and I think that Aja Y. Martinez’s storytelling illustrates a very important point that, evidently, many people in today’s society still need to hear.
Works Cited
Martinez, Aja Y. (2013, August 7). Critical race theory counterstory as allegory: A rhetorical trope to raise awareness about Arizona’s ban on ethnic studies. Across the Disciplines, 10(3). Retrieved from https://wac.colostate.edu/docs/atd/race/martinez.cfm
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