Chicanas in Charge Texas Women in the Public Arena

No state has a greater density of Chicano community leaders and politicians than Texas does. This study examines the lives and politics of a distinguished group of Chicana women who have risen to positions of power. The authors profile women who serve in various public capacities-federal judges, candidates for Lieutenant Governor, a statewide chair of a political party, and members of school boards and city and county governments. The diverse careers of these women offer rare glimpses of the kinds of struggles they face, both as women and as members of the Chicano community. Chicanas in Charge will be of great value to those interested in gender studies, political science, local government, public policy, oral history, biography, and Chicano studies. Book jacket.

Jose Angel Gutierrez is professor of political science and founder of the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington Michelle Melendez is community services director at St. Joseph Community Health in Albuquerque, New Mexico Sonia Adriana Noyola is an AP/dual-credit government teacher at Moody High School in Corpus Christi, Texas