Ancillary Trauma in the Novels of Toni Morrison

Shirley A. Stave

doi:10.14198/fem.2022.40.06

Autores/as

Shirley A. Stave Retired Professor, Louisiana Scholars’ College Natchitoches, Louisiana, Estados Unidos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14198/fem.2022.40.06

Palabras clave:

trauma auxiliar, violencia, personajes femeninos, masculinidad, Morrison.

Resumen

Este artículo explora el concepto de «trauma auxiliar», por medio del cual un personaje femenino que no ha sufrido violencia racial se traumatiza a partir de las acciones de un personaje masculino que ha sido dañado, psicológica o emocionalmente, como resultado de acciones racistas. Mientras que Morrison parece simpatizar con lo que soportan los personajes masculinos, los textos sugieren que, en muchos casos, esos personajes masculinos arremeten contra las mujeres de sus vidas en un intento de emular la masculinidad blanca. Estos hombres saben que no pueden actuar en contra de los hombres blancos que los oprimen; reprimen sus sentimientos de vergüenza y humillación, prefiriendo afirmar su dominación percibida sobre quienes sienten que pueden controlar a las mujeres y niños/as de sus casas. Algunas de las víctimas de trauma auxiliar continúan causando estragos en la vida de otras personas, mientras que la única defensa contra ese trauma parece ser que los padres inculquen autoestima a sus hijos/as, valorándolos/las como seres humanos completos.

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