{"product_id":"behind-the-mask-gender-hybridity-in-a-zapotec-community-9780816539550","title":"Behind the Mask: Gender Hybridity in a Zapotec Community","description":"The image of biologically male people dancing while dressed in the traditional, colorful attire of Zapotec, Juchiteca, females stands in sharp contrast to the prevailing view of Mexico as the land of charros, machismo, and unbridled ranchero masculinity. These indigenous people are called los muxes, and they are neither man nor woman, but rather a hybrid third gender. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e After seeing a video of a muxe vela, or festival, sociologist Alfredo Mirand  was intrigued by the contradiction between Mexico's patriarchal reputation and its warm acceptance of los muxes. Seeking to get past traditional Mexican masculinity, he presents us with \u003ci\u003eBehind the Mask\u003c\/i\u003e, which combines historical analysis, ethnographic field research, and interviews conducted with los muxes of Juchit n over a period of seven years. Mirand  observed community events, attended muxe velas, and interviewed both muxes and other Juchit n residents. Prefaced by an overview of the study methods and sample, the book challenges the ideology of a male-dominated Mexican society driven by the cult of machismo, featuring photos alongside four appendixes. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Delving into many aspects of their lives and culture, the author discusses how the muxes are perceived by others, how the muxes perceive themselves, and the acceptance of a third gender status among various North American indigenous groups. Mirand  compares traditional Mexicano\/Latino conceptions of gender and sexuality to modern or Western object choice configurations. He concludes by proposing a new hybrid model for rethinking these seemingly contradictory and conflicting gender systems.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eA native of Mexico City, \u003cb\u003eAlfredo Mirandé\u003c\/b\u003e is distinguished professor of sociology and ethnic studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of many articles in academic journals and nine books, including \u003ci\u003eLa Chicana: The Mexican-American Woman\u003c\/i\u003e (co-authored with Evangelina Enríquez), \u003ci\u003eJalos, USA: Transnational Community and Identity\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRascuache Lawyer: Toward a Theory of Ordinary Litigation, \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHombres y Machos: Masculinity and Latino Culture\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"University of Arizona Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50328873926930,"sku":"9780816539550","price":33.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1eca9311-4128-40e1-9679-811085f73696.jpg?v=1727753599","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/behind-the-mask-gender-hybridity-in-a-zapotec-community-9780816539550","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}