Ethnicity and Clothing Styles

On the most basic level, the mere presence or absence of traditional Mayan clothing communicates the wearer's ethnicity. Native people throughout Central America and Mexico are readily identified by their traje, or traditional styles of clothing. On the other hand, people who no longer identify with their indigenous heritage are more likely to adopt Western clothing styles. In this way, clothing serves as a racial or ethnic marker and people will react to an individual based on assumptions made because of the type of clothing he or she wears. In the past, particularly during the colonial period, laws mandated what type of clothing a person wore, as Indians were forbidden to wear or purchase European-style clothing. The difference between traditional Mayan and Western clothing styles is readily apparent. Compare these two pieces of clothing to the pants or blouse you may be wearing right now.


Pants worn by Mayan men of Totonicapan, Guatemala, for special occasions.




Women's blouse (huipil) from San Mateo Ixtatan, Guatemala
While in the past the distinction between Indian and non-Indian clothing served as a convenient marker of ethnicity, this distinction is losing some of its rigidity. Now, the choice of what to wear is not an all-or-nothing decision. Some people wear an item or two of non-traditional clothing, like plastic sandals, a sweater, or Western style shirts. Perhaps these items of clothing are more comfortable or there is no one in the household with enough time to weave for the family. Or maybe the new and different style is appealing because it is seen as beautiful, exotic, or prestigious. People may change their style of clothing for all sorts of reasons and can do so gradually. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see blended styles of clothing in which one or two items of Western style clothing are incorporated into an outfit.