Presenting Chicanas as they are written and spoken of by certain people from within their culture, this paper aimed (1) to acquaint Chicanos and non-Chicanos with a history of struggles for equality and recognition for women within the Mexican/Chicano communities and where those struggles are manifested in today's Chicanas; (2) to direct those who have responsible roles in this nation's schooling systems to "informed sources of knowledge and interpretation" about the Chicana; and (3) to suggest, explicitly and implicitly, areas for further research on the subject of la Chicana. The paper presented a broad survey of historical and sociological factors central to many Chicanas active in the struggle for equal rights. Material for the survey was derived from both the Mexican/Chicano culture's literature on the woman and from interviews conducted with five selected women who identify themselves as Chicanas. The interviews were conducted with five urban Chicanas, ranging in age between early 20's and early 40's: a married, high school graduate, office manager; a single college student; a divorced, high school graduate, employment interviewer; a single teacher with an M.A. degree; and a single, PhD candidate, counselor. The Chicanas were asked about their use and definition of the term Chicana, the tie-in between the Chicano movement and Chicanas, institutions they felt socialized the Chicana into traditional roles, the connection between the overall Women's Movement and the Chicana Movement, and their relationships with Chicanos. (NQ)