Social rights, equality and economic demands for women moved to the forefront during the 1970's. The feminist movement raged with fury in the United States, and women finally rallied together to react against regulation, degradation and oppression. While driving toward common goals, the movement began to feel the inherent differences of its multicultural participants. As mainstream feminism handled "white women's issues," they purposefully avoided racism and the unique concerns that women of color observed; which lead to the emergence of individual movements. For Latinas, that movement became known as Chicana feminism.

Chicana feminism, also known as Xicanisma, examines the historical, societal, political and economic situations of Latinas in the United States and Latin America. This movement was also drafted to update men on the value and ability of women. Chicana feministas would express that women - from prostitutes on street corners to professionals on Wall Street - contribute and deserve respect. Chicana feminists made it known that they did not want to be pigeonholed into stereotypical roles such as child-bearers, homemakers and caregivers. Nor, did they want to continue to suffer mistreatment at the hands of domineering fathers, brothers or husbands. The struggles of Latinas were, and continue to be, different than those of other women in the United States.

"The oppression suffered by Chicanas is different from that suffered by most women in this country. Because Chicanas are part of an oppressed nationality, they are subjected to the racism practiced against La Raza (the race/people)," said Mirta Vidal, a noted Chicana writer in 1971. "Since the overwhelming majority of Chicanos are workers, Chicanas are also victims of the exploitation of the working class. But in addition, Chicanas, along with the rest of women, are relegated to an inferior position because of their sex. Thus, Raza women suffer a triple form of oppression: as members of an oppressed nationality, as workers, and as women."

The oppression that Vidal spoke of also bleeds into current issues such as immigration reform, political voice, job placement, healthcare and Hispanophobia,

Chicana feminism is about a desire to enhance the Latino community, and improving the position of women, and improve access to employment, opportunity and education. As Denise A. Segura and Beatriz M. Pesquera said in "The Chicana Movement and Chicana Feminist Discourse," feminism "draws on a tradition of radical thought...and engages in a critique that calls for the radical restructuring of society."