Chicanos/as, Gringos/as, Frijoleros (Beaners) each of these terms are examples of labeling one's nationality. However, it is much more than just a label, it is also a border that differentiates one person from another. When one thinks about the term “borders” usually the first thing to come to mind is geographical borders like a state line or country border. For example, one border that we in Clemson can relate to is the border that separates North Carolina/Georgia from South Carolina. To me, “borders” means many things, specifically, I feel it means characterizing in order to separate into groups whether it is a person, place, or thing. Over the past few weeks, I have encountered many readings and a film that truly help clarify what borders are and how each type is unique by focusing on the borders themes of Language Use, …show more content…
The U.S./Mexico border is clearly distinctive with the desert of Mexico and the run-down city of Juárez overlooking the modern City of El Paso, Texas in the United States. This shows many living in Mexico how close they are to opportunity but also how difficult it is to get it by crossing the border. The theme of gender identities and the U.S./Mexico border is also made clear in The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea. We follow the story of the Yuma-14 crossing the Mexico/U.S. border into Arizona through extremely dangerous conditions. Gender identities are seen by the coyotes because they try to show off their machismo with their tattoos, big payments for each walker they get across the border, and higher up status compared to other village people. The story of the Yuma-14 suffer days in the desert heat causing them drastic physical problems such as becoming delusional and becoming dehydrated which for many leads to death. To cross the border for opportunity many will the