While many people are familiar
with the traditional view of the Virgin of Guadalupe, many Chicana feminists
like to portray the Virgin Mary in other ways, some of which may be offensive
to the general population. Many Chicana feminist artists have painted the
Virgin in unique and unconventional ways that have elicited a negative response
from some of the Mexican traditionalist population, while being praised by
queers and feminists.
One such artist is Alma
Lopez. Alma Lopez depicted the Virgin in a bikini made of roses, brown, bare
body exposed, with her other clothing either behind her or folded neatly away (Calvo,
205). Her cloak is designed with images of the rebellious Aztec goddess Coyolxauhqui,
she is standing on a naked and pierced angel, her hands are on her hips, and
her gaze is cast outwards (Calvo, 205). This is extremely different from the
modest, fully clothed, downcast Virgin of the traditional image. In this sense,
it is understandable that many people would be highly unhappy with this over
sexualized image of their country’s mother, for many people would not want
their role model to be viewed as a loose prostitute or associated with any of
the other connotations that comes with the image of a half clothed woman. Lopez
and her supporters’ argument is that if people continue to portray the Virgin
as submissive and passive, then society is regressing, and is not promoting
women’s rights (Calvo, 207).
As a queer woman, Lopez
believes that women’s rights are extremely important and that she is not
intentionally putting a negative spin on the Virgin of Guadalupe. She is simply
challenging patriarchal society both in Christian tradition and in present day.
Lopez argues that she has freedom of expression and freedom of speech in
America and therefore is allowed to put sexuality and desire into her images to
get her point across.
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