الفهرس 
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Abstract
This dissertation presents the predicament of both African American and Chicana women. Both of them have suffered from marginalization and triple oppression. They both are triply marginalized because of their race, gender and class. The dissertation reveals the different reaction of both African American and Chicana women to such marginalization. It illustrates how African American women surrender to their oppressive circumstances while their Chicana counterparts revolt against their abusive surroundings and change the oppressive situation.
This dissertation is divided into a preface, three chapters and a conclusion. Chapter one, entitled “African American and Chicana Women: Marginalization and Reaction”, handles the suffering of both African American and Chicana women in the American society. It discusses the history of African Americans and Mexican Americans as minorities in the American society. It demonstrates feminism with its three waves. Chapter one also focuses on Black feminist thought and Chicana feminism, which emerged as a reaction to the ill-representation of these minorities in feminism. This serves as the theoretical framework of the dissertation.
Chapter two, entitled ”Passivity as a Reaction to Marginalization in Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel and Fabulation, or, the Re-Education of Undine”, accentuates African American women’s passive reaction towards marginalization and triple oppression. Esther, in Intimate Apparel, totally surrenders to marginalization. She does not even react against her husband’s treachery. She is passive in her reaction. Undine, in Fabulation, or, the Re-Education of Undine, is an example of a submissive African American woman. She is completely subservient to her oppressive circumstances and does not resist such oppression.
Chapter three entitled, ”Rebellion as a Reaction to Marginalization in Josefina Lopez’s Real Women Have Curves and Simply Maria, or, the American Dream”, scrutinizes the Chicana women’s rebellious response towards marginalization. In Real Women Have Curves, Ana and Estela are representatives of revolutionary Chicana women who rebel against their oppressive surroundings. They never surrender to double marginalization. They also change their abusive situation and they achieve their goals. In Simply Maria, Maria, the female protagonist, proves to be a rebellious Chicana woman who also succeeds in resisting marginalization and oppression. Maria reaches a compromise in which she is able to combine both worlds, the Mexican and the American. Carmen also leaves her husband and does not accept treachery in the end.
The conclusion sums up the findings of the dissertation. It answers the research questions raised in the preface. It shows the different nature of both African American and Chicana women in responding to marginalization and oppression in the American society. It concentrates on African American women’s passive reaction and Chicana women’s rebellious one towards marginalization.