Catching glimpses: appropriating the female gaze in Esmeralda Santiago′s autobiographical writing

This article examines Esmeralda Santiago′s autobiographical writing. It also analyzes the appropriation of the conventional male gaze in order to reexamine various experiences focusing on the construction of the self. Santiago′s writing is a counter-stance against established patriarchal norms, based not only on expected female behaviors but also on behaviors related to the act of writing. By attempting to reconstruct her past, she undertakes a revolutionary act, creating an agency that formulates a feminine narrative, deconstructing at the same time the traditional views and theories of male-dominated autobiographical writing.