Essay Questions

What is the female presence in this book?

In Rigoberto's memoir, we see the presence of many different female characters. In his thirties, Rigoberto loses his mother, which impacts him significantly. He also has a close relationship with other family members, including his grandmother, aunties, and cousins. He often finds comfort and acceptance in a female presence, and females often inspire his work. Later, the significance of LGBTQ+ women in academia is illuminated. Rigoberto's novel is a mixture of personal essays and critical literature, and we see the presence of females throughout.

How does this text illuminate the marginalized experience?

In this text, Rigoberto defines the marginal experience, as an LGBTQ+ man brought up in Mexico in a Catholic household. The marginal experience is a key motif in this text and is something Rigoberto experiences from childhood to adulthood. This is part of the reason Rigoberto decided to publish his memoirs, as he could offer a unique and marginal perspective. In the introduction, he states that he had been inspired by Anne Frank, who herself had a significant marginal perspective.