I was once told I had the world in my hands by my vice principal. The reason for his statement was because I was a Hispanic young woman with above average grades, and my involvement in extracurricular activities. Why was being a Hispanic young woman so much more special? This is where the harsh reality set in; Hispanic women have the tendency to not achieve their goals. Unfortunately, when you evaluate Hispanic women most likely they did not go to college, or even graduate high school. There may be many factors that determine their circumstance. For instance, they get pregnant and drop out. There may be a lack of motivation to go to school. They might get married at an early age. Even the nature of the culture may play a role, like making it seem it is okay not to go to college or finish high school. Or sometimes they may not have a role model to encourage them to do better. All these factors may be the cause of this circumstance, but it doesn’t have to always be the excuse. As a high school senior, I have noticed more and more pregnant girls; most of them Hispanic. Many of thes...
In Bettie’s analysis of Mexican-American and white girls, she finds that race, gender and class are extremely crucial in the outcomes and futures of these girls. The unmentioned and hidden effects of class, race, and gender provide the explanation for much of the inequality seen between the white middle-class girls and Mexican-American working-class girls. Much of this inequality is itself perpetuated within the school system, both by the faculty and students.
Tara Yosso’s is a motivational, informational book that gives us an insight and awareness of how the Chicana/o students struggles throughout their education in the American society. Critical Race Counterstories Along the Chicana/Chicano Educational Pipeline, portrays how Latino students have been marginalized in the educational system. Yosso addresses the problems that might be hindering students of color to drop out of school to continue to higher education. She does this research by analyzing various situations that still happen in the K-12 educational system, as in high school, and higher education. Yosso also addresses counterstories to better understand the experiences and struggles Chicanas/os go through in their schooling. Counterstories are important to be able to know what Chicanas/os struggles go through. Also tells about the outcomes that Chicanas/os have overcome when they are in a situation were they ate being underrepresented and how they have been dealing with these unequal educational opportunities. Her book addresses, awareness of how the Chicana/o culture is being underrepresented in the American educational system. It gives an understanding of why the Chicana/o students are leaking out of the educational pipeline. It also shows the obstacles this Latino students have to face to be able to make it through the educational pipeline. Chicana/o students want to continue to higher education they have to transform the educational system and acknowledge this culture to be successful instead of setting them to failure. Furthermore, this critique will analyze the strengths and the weaknesses of Tara Y...
When Mexicans and Puerto Ricans moved to Chicago in the late 1900s, they encountered many issues without any help. Cases of domestic violence and lack of education and jobs emerged in the Latino community. Latino immigrants populated the Pilsen neighborhood and didn't have many services or resources available for them when they needed assistance. After no signs of improvement were apparent, 15 women stood up and decided to make a change of their own. Mujeres Latinas En Accion formed to help Latina women and their families by providing services, fighting for the better of Latinas and giving help to those who need it.
Cofer states that “It is a one-dimensional view that the media have found easy to promote. In their special vocabulary, advertisers have designated “sizzling” and “smoldering” as the adjectives of choice for describing not only the foods but also the women of Latin America”(110.) This helps explain that part of the blame for the reason why people associate certain things with Latinas is the media. You will often find that the hispanic roles in movies or television shows portray a stereotypical character of a Latina for the entertainment of their audience. “Another facet of the myth of the Latin woman in the United States is the menial, the domestic-Maria the housemaid or counter girl...the funny maid, mispronouncing words and cooking up a spicy storm in a shiny California kitchen-has been perpetuated by the media”(Cofer 112.) This is also creating the misinterpretation that all Latinas are uneducated. Most Latinas, like myself are attempting to get a higher education and by society assuming they aren't trying to get a higher education is belittling all of their efforts. “Since I do not wear my diplomas around my neck for all to see, I have on occasion been sent to that “kitchen” where some think I obviously belong”(Cofer 112.) Cofer also helps explaing that if Latinas do not prove that they are educated everyone will automatically assume that they are not. To have this type of mentality is very ignorant, because a race
My readings suggest the Hispanic culture gender roles are very common and strict. Starting early in life children are taught to follow the strict guidelines of their gender (American Home Resources, 2010). There exists three common gender specific scripts in Hispanic culture; females can either be “Marianismo” or “Hembrismo”, and, males are classified as “Machismo”. The two female roles differ greatly; “Marianismo” defines behaviors of women as being obedient, dependent and caring for their children. The “Hembrismo” role stresses a female’s strength to persist through life’s difficulties; however, this role is not accepted widely in their culture. The “Machismo” role describes behaviors of men as being dominant and independent. This role views the man as being in charge of the family. (Peñalosa,
The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria, an essay written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, discusses the racial stereotypes Cofer struggles with as a Latin woman who travels across America. Throughout her life, Cofer discusses her interactions with people who falsely misjudge her as a Latin woman. Additionally, Cofer mentions other Hispanic women she has met in her life, who also suffer with racial assumptions. Although several people would disagree with Cofer and claim that she is taking racial remarks too seriously, racial stereotyping is a significant issue that should not be overlooked in our society. People should not base someone’s worth by their outward appearance or their ethnic background.
The idea that a woman’s job is to be a wife and mother is old-fashioned, but not completely out of style. Though these roles require a great deal of talent, resilience, patience, love, and strength, to name a few, they are often underestimated or depicted as simple. Especially in modern times, many women in the United States who stay home to raise a family are viewed as anti-feminists, whereas women in Latin America are not criticized for similar actions. In recent decades, more Latin American women have started to break the mold, daring to be both sexy, and successful in the workforce, while remaining pillars of domestic life.
Education is the key to individual opportunity, the strength of our economy, and the vitality of our democracy. In the 21st century, this nation cannot afford to leave anyone behind. While the academic achievement and educational attainment of Hispanic Americans has been moving in the right direction, untenable gaps still exist between Hispanic students and their counterparts in the areas of early childhood education, learning English, academic achievement, and high school and college completion.
myself did not know before I came to college. The two words are overlapped and used out of context frequently in people’s daily lives. The United States is what people call an immigrant country, there are many different ethnic and racial groups that not even the census can keep up with. All this diversity is what makes our country so different yet amazing. We are willing to embrace the many different cultures that each person has to bring. My family and I have been confused for many different ethnic groups and it is always very interesting to hear people say why they thought we were of a different ethnic group other than Mexican American. Ethnic confusion is a big deal, especially in America because of all the different identities people claim.
Before any explanation, let’s talk about what cause teen pregnancy in Latino/ Hispanic group. In fact, a majority of undocumented immigrants (57%) come from Mexico and 24% are from Latino America. Between them, 35% are young women and 15% are children because children born in the United States are granted citizenship by the 14thAmendment of the US constitution (PewHispanic.com). So, because of this Amendment we understand clearly why many children living in families headed by undocumented Hispanic and Latino....
Latina women are suppressed through Hispanic culture with the ideology that a woman’s domain is within the walls of her own home. However, there has been a greater turnover rates in high school graduates amongst Latinas they are still falling behind due to lack of resources and the restricted patterns of opportunity perpetuated through transformative assets.
During The Great Depression and World War II, large numbers of Mexican women and men joined the workforce, unions, and other organizations (Page 212). The workplace allowed Mexican women to socialize with one another and they finally for the first time experience what it is like to be independent without relying on any man. “By 1930, some 25 percent of Mexican (and Mexican American) women were in some kind of industrial employment” (Acuna 215). However, Mexican Americans were paid less than a white American, especially Mexican women. In order to for Mexican and Mexican Americans to fight for their rights to be paid and be treated like a white American, Mexican women formed labor unions that would you united them and protest against the owners
Women had a major stake in the Mexican Revolution, which began roughly in 1910 under the reign of Porfirio Diaz, considered a dictator by many historians, who ran Mexico with an iron first for around 26 years. Under his fierce dictatorship, women of all classes did not fare well.
Today, the Hispanic population has grown tremendously over the years. We have watched the Hispanics community growth rate grow faster than any other racial and ethnic group in the nation. The Hispanic culture and community has populated all around the United States, introducing new traditions and customs. I was traveling to different to city in the States, I notice the wide spread growth of Hispanic communities, For Instance in Miami the Cuban and El Salvadoran culture is heavy populate in the area. In New York the Puerto Rican culture is dominating through out the several boroughs. I have come around town and Hispanics are known for their good food, which tends to have more diverse people try new cultural customs. Hispanic or Latino Americans are a group of people made up of distinct characteristics. Hispanics or Latinos are defined as a people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish speaking cultures.
The health in Hispanic communities is considered poor this is not due to factors that are prevalent in other minorities but due to the lack of access to health care and health care coverage. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health explains “It is significant to note that Hispanics have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group within the United States.” With this issue leads lower health rates. Living conditions are also low within the Hispanic community this is due to the lack of funds available to the community. It leads back to not having enough income. Therefore housing is not adequate and often overpopulated to save cost. This has bad implications because it ties back to health and safety. Education for Hispanics can be difficult; often because of the language barrier and the inadequate amount of assistance available to those who need it to further their education. The unemployment rate is not as low as other minorities but as DOL report elaborates “One factor that may explain why Latino labor force outcomes lag behind those of their white counterparts is educational attainment. As is true for all racial and ethnic groups, the link between greater educational attainment and improved employment outcomes remains strong”. Which means if the education within the Hispanic community was higher