Born Latina In The U.S. -- Under Trump

Born Latina In The U.S. -- Under Trump
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Elisa, my first grandaughter, was born almost a month ago in California. And I’m more than concerned. My daughter and her husband work and study in the U.S., but all our family is in Chile. A few years ago, it was impossible to think that for a child, being born in the U.S. could be worse than in a country from Latin America. Our continent and culture, was always looked as worse, with lesser options and opportunities for kids. But now, seems to me to be the contrary.

I’ve been here in California for three weeks with my granddaughter, and this country is much more hostile than ever towards latinos and women.

To begin with, continual disqualification during Trump’s campaign had turned into “Latino panic” all over the country. Not only of being deported, or not allowed to return back --as happened last week with an Argentinean artist -- but also of passport controls being held randomly on the streets, that we have begun to hear about. And these threats include latino communities as a whole: from immigrants coming here looking for better jobs, to Ph.D. students in Ivy League universities. The threat of the wall, with all the symbolism it represents, is a way of saying to all of us: go back where you belong.

Being a woman under Trump’s mandate means resistance. That was the spirit last IWD, to be together against his misogyny and his lack of respect for women s rights.

Actually, one of the few signals of optimism that I’ve perceived here come from Women’s Movements. Diverse as they are, they are finding ways to face united the common challenges of this political situation. And that’s the key of success. There are several types os feminism, but the important goal, more than ever, is to achieve equal rights fo women. That begins with respect, equal pay, reproductive rights, breaking glass ceilings, shared parenting, and also issues that are less explored, like having fair media representation, for example.

I hope that my dear Elisa finds in her strong heritage the strength to grow up in a hostile environment with pride for being a Latina.

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