Refusing the favor : the Spanish-Mexican women of Santa Fe, 1820-1880 /

Refusing the Favor deals with the experiences of Hispanic women in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from the 1820s to 1880. Gonzalez makes evident the severe economic, social, and legal deprivations suffered by these women in the aftermath of the conquest of New Mexico by the US in 1848. She asserts that despite the hardships they endured, these "hardy frontiers women" should not be viewed as passive victims. Their cultural traditions were strong enough to provide them with the fortitude and strategies necessary for survival. Nor should they be viewed as an amorphous whole. Rather, they were individuals who reflected a complex mix of social class and economic stratification, including a few who married men from the invading US. The author's conclusions are based on an examination of the lives of several 19th-century Hispanic women, research into additional primary sources, and her own cultural background and experiences in New Mexico. This book is an engaging study that furthers knowledge of western history and women's lives in the West. Explanatory notes and a "Notes on Terminology" section complement the text. Recommended for undergraduates and general readers. L. B. Gimelli; emeritus, Eastern Michigan University