The Amazonas of Yaxunah are no ordinary softball team. They proudly begin every game with a heart-stopping Maya battle cry, concluding with the potent roar of “¡mujeres fuertes!” - a proclamation of strong women. And indeed, strong they are.
In 2018, the Amazonas came together, a joyful gathering of women from Yucatán seeking nothing more than a playful outlet. Yet, their distinctive barefoot playing style and traditional Mestizo huipil attire soon elevated them from a mere community pastime to the center of public fascination.
Facebook of Calin Saenz, Director General at Instituto del Deporte del Estado de YucatánFacebook of Calin Saenz, Director General at Instituto del Deporte del Estado de Yucatán
Their talent, passion, and vibrant culture opened doors to play exhibition games in packed Mexican stadiums. Yet, the crowning achievement, a dream many of them might not have even dared to dream, materialized recently: playing in an MLB stadium.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S., the Amazonas took to the diamond at Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Facing off against the Falcons of the University of Phoenix Valley, they delivered a stunning victory, defeating their opponents 22-3. And to top off their historic visit to the U.S., they were also honored with the opportunity to pitch the inaugural throw in the subsequent MLB game.
Facebook of Calin Saenz, Director General at Instituto del Deporte del Estado de YucatánFacebook of Calin Saenz, Director General at Instituto del Deporte del Estado de Yucatán
Such an incredible feat can't be attributed to luck. It was the stellar pitching of Patricia Tec and Juanita Moo that kept Arizona's offense in check. Meanwhile, the superb batting skills of Lili Chan, Citlali Dzib, and Berenice Ay cemented the team's dominant position.
The Amazonas, despite their newfound fame, remain rooted in their traditions.
Playing barefoot and donning the Mestizo huipil, they've demonstrated that while they play primarily for enjoyment, their athletic prowess is undeniable. Many of these women hail from different rural communities across the Yucatán, spanning ages from teenagers to late 50s, and many balancing household responsibilities or crafting as their primary vocations.
With this victory, the Amazonas have not only made Yaxunah proud but have also planted a flag for women everywhere, proving that with passion, commitment, and a dash of tradition, anything is possible.
***CORRECTION: The exhibition game was reported by "The Yucatan Times" as being with the "Falcons of the University of Phoenix Valley." Luz previously incorrectly reported "Arizona State University."
Mother’s Day is a day meant to honor and celebrate the special bond we share with our mothers or mother figures. The holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday of May in the U.S. and in some Latin American countries, like Cuba, Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Honduras, and Venezuela. However, some Latina mothers celebrate the holiday twice, depending on where they’re from. For example, mothers of Mexican, Guatemalan, or Salvadoran descent will also observe Mother’s Day on May 10, so it’s a double celebration for them. Argentina, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Panama have their own dates as well.
Usually, Mother’s Day is all about connecting with our mothers and pampering them throughout the day. For many Latina daughters, though, it’s not a happy occasion. Mother’s Day can be very complicated when your relationship with your mother is not a healthy one and you’ve made the decision to break or diminish ties with her. That’s the reality for many Latinas who have prioritized their own mental health and well-being by creating solid boundaries.
Marianismo often plays a role in difficult mother-daughter relationships. Rooted in Christianity, or rather the Roman Catholic beliefs the Spanish indoctrinated their newly conquered native subjects with during colonialism, marianismo is the other side of machismo. It defines gender-based expectations for Latin American women and it’s deeply ingrained in Latino culture. It’s because of marianismo that Latina women are taught from a young age that they have to be submissive, self-sacrificing, and pure. In other words, they have to be quiet instead of loud, weak instead of strong and are consistently discouraged from being independent, sexual, opinionated, and a host of other empowered traits.
The idea behind marianismo is to be more like the Virgin Mary, a figure that’s considered to be the epitome of purity and goodness. Whether the messaging is subtle or explicit, marianismo in the Latino household imposes a narrow concept of what it means to be a woman and it reinforces powerlessness. It’s important to note that marianismo is not a burden every Latina carries, but many of them do.
In Latin American countries, society helps reinforce marianismo. In the U.S., things are slightly different, which is why first-generation immigrants break away from it more effectively. But this sometimes also means breaking away from their mothers, who often refuse to confront their harmful marianismo beliefs.
There’s no denying that the mother-daughter bond is one of the most important in a woman’s life. For Latinas in particular, mothers are highly influential figures in our lives. But what if your relationship with your mother is toxic and complicated? In Latino culture, it’s taboo to say anything negative about our mothers. Being critical of them means you’re “ungrateful,” but the truth is that some mothers fail their daughters. Especially in helping them foster an independent sense of self. Some mothers want their daughters to be a certain way instead of allowing them to be their own person, which is why they’re often critical and overly demanding.
and that’s on being salty bc I’m daring to experiment, heal, and get to know myself at the age she was already raising 3 kids w a man she never loved 😗#toxic #toxicmom #healing #latina #firstgen #mentalhealth
Many Latinas have grown up with mothers who are too comfortable pointing out their flaws or dictating how they should be or act. This leads to constant opposition and a constant struggle to just be yourself. It makes many Latina daughters feel that who they are at their core is not good enough and fosters self-doubt at a level that affects everything else in their lives. Even as adults, we want our mothers to approve of us and love us for who we are, but there comes a time when enough is enough. There’s only so much toxic criticism one can take.
This is what leads many Latina daughters to cut ties with their mothers, however painful that may be. Needless to say, estrangement is frowned upon in the Latino community because we place a lot of value on family. “It doesn’t matter what we do to each other, at the end of the day, we’re family.” That’s the kind of mindset most Latinos have, but it’s neither healthy nor realistic. The way we treat each other matters and being related doesn’t mean we can get away with harmful behavior.
In general, estrangement is seen as extreme and as a problem in itself. However, for many, estrangement is the solution and the relief they’ve been searching for. Make no mistake, the dilemma Latina daughters are often faced with is unsolvable. Choosing between having a relationship with your mother and doing what’s best for your own life isn’t as easy as it seems. However, it’s often the only thing left to do after you’ve tried everything else to have a better relationship with your mother.
There comes a point where you’re better off without them in your life. That’s a harsh truth to face because, even if estrangement is what’s best for you, you both lose something. But for many Latinas, that loss is a new beginning. It’s a weight lifted off their shoulders and a deep sigh of relief. It’s sad and tragic that it has to end that way, but it’s better than the alternative of maintaining that toxic mother-daughter relationship.
Normalicemos alejarnos de nuestras familias, renunciar a ellos esta bien por nuestra salud mental, ahora estoy sanando ❤️🩹#greenscreen #saludmental #familiastoxicas #madretoxica #parati #fyp
On a larger scale, estrangement can help the Latino culture heal in the long term. Setting boundaries with our families, which isn’t something we’re encouraged to do in the Latino community, means we’re no longer letting abuse slide. The romanticization of family bonds and self-sacrifice doesn’t have the same hold. Rejecting that romanticization and rejecting marianismo is a way to help break the cycle.
Intergenerational emotional and psychological abuse has to be confronted and, sometimes, extreme measures are the only way to help the older generation face their harmful beliefs and values, and reframe what needs to be reframed. Setting boundaries is a shock to the system; a shock that lets our mothers and everyone else in our families know what kind of behavior isn’t acceptable anymore and never should’ve been in the first place. After that, the ball is in their court. They can either adapt or lose the privilege of being a part of your life.
While, for some, Mother’s Day is a celebration of the bonds they share with their mothers, for others, it’s a reminder of the breaking of those bonds. Whatever side you’re on, remember that love and respect is a two-way street.
One thing about adult women is that most, if not all, can report having had terrible dates, and are trying to avoid them whenever possible. More importantly, in their quest for companionship, women are simply trying to stay safe out there. Statistically speaking, men’s violence against women is the biggest threat to their safety and well-being. Looking at domestic violence stats alone, 1 in 4 women have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 3 Latinas will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
On an expanded global scale, an estimated 47,000 women and girls were killed by intimate partners or family members in 2020 alone. That means one woman or girl is killed somewhere in the world every 11 minutes. In 2021, the Bureau of Justice Statistics showed that the percentage of women murdered by an intimate partner was 5 times higher than for males. Men are also victims of domestic abuse and violence but at a significantly lower rate than women.
The recent viral conversation of Man vs. Bear is an indicator of how universal the fear of men is among women. The hypothetical question posed by the pop culture account Screenshot HQ has been liked 2.2 million times and has 72 thousand comments.
When men were asked if they would rather their daughters be stuck in the woods with a man or a bear, many chose the bear as well. Why? Commentators have noted that men are unpredictable and are more likely to be a bigger threat than wild animals. Women are choosing the bears not because they think they would actually survive a bear attack but because men attack women unprovoked and for reasons that are often associated with the mere fact of just being a woman and nothing else.
Thats crazy that other men feel like way.. #manorbear #husband #married #fyp
The Dating Hellscape
Dating is an emotional risk for both men and women; that’s clear. For women, however, the safety risk is undeniably greater than for men. In a world where dating has largely shifted into virtual spaces where all you have to go on is a few phrases and some photos, there’s no real way to determine if a man “looks” violent at worst or is a lying manipulator at best.
When Paola Sanchez launched the group “Are We Dating the Same Guy?”, women in the millions flocked to the groups. To date, there are over 200 Facebook groups with over 4 million members worldwide. Sanchez describes the groups as “Red Flag Awareness groups around the world where women can empower each other and keep each other safe from dangerous or toxic men.”
It’s a simple premise that has resulted in significant controversy, especially as stories of leaked posts that led to harassment and even violence from the men who found out about them emerge. There are also emotional and legal issues that some women have had to contend with as a result of their posts.
While the title of the group implies that the focus is on avoiding dating the same guy who is cheating with multiple women, the focus of most conversations is actually on discussing dating experiences. Women use these spaces to share red flags, post men’s dating profiles showing the first name only and photos (doxing is prohibited), and share their stories in hopes of saving other women from bad dating experiences, falling for catfishing and lies, cheating, catching sexually transmitted diseases, or encountering potentially dangerous men. Many women have, indeed, been saved from all of these things, which is why the groups are so popular.
Ever since the AWDTSG groups entered the scene, many men have actively opposed the groups, claiming they’re toxic spaces where gossip thrives. Some of the claims have led to consequences for men in real life, such as losing relationships, being questioned by employers, and more. They have also led to consequences for women, who have been confronted by men they’ve discussed in the groups. Some have even been sued.
On one hand, critics of the groups have argued that it’s very difficult to verify what every person posts on the AWDTSG groups and that some women may have reasons to fabricate stories. Also, mental health practitioners have noted that a Facebook group likely isn’t the best space to discuss traumatic dating or relationship experiences. On the other hand, there are thousands of testimonials from members of the groups that have said the information they found saved them from unsavory experiences in the dating scene. Women have also reported cutting off men whom they were social friends with after they found out about instances of alleged abuse or misbehavior.
The Legal Battles and Outcomes
One of the men affected by the AWDTSG groups decided to sue. Stewart Lucas Murrey sued over 50 women in California for defamation, alleging sex-based discrimination and civil conspiracy. However, a judge recently dismissed the lawsuit against one of the women, Vanessa Valdez, who filed an anti-SLAPP motion arguing against censorship. Despite Murrey’s claims, the judge found no evidence of conspiracy and ruled in favor of free speech, emphasizing the importance of protecting women's security against harassment. Murrey vowed to continue his legal battle, but legal experts note the difficulty of defamation lawsuits, especially in cases involving online speech.
'Are We Dating The Same Guy' lawsuit press conferencewww.youtube.com
This isn’t the first defamation lawsuit made against women from an AWDTSG group. In Chicago, Nikko D'Ambrosio filed a lawsuit against 27 women over an allegedly defamatory post stating he sent harassing messages to women and was otherwise just a really low-quality and selfish person to date. D'Ambrosio's attorneys argued his reputation was damaged and sought intervention from Facebook and Meta. This lawsuit was eventually dismissed.
But as reported by “Tech Dirt,” “apparently D’Ambrosio is the kind of guy who won’t take no for an answer… Even from judges. He’s apparently the kind of guy that when his number gets blocked or his case gets thrown out, he’ll just text from a different number or file a brand new case.” D’Ambrosio refiled his case to attempt to relitigate whether his status as a serial ghoster is in fact warranted.
When an overwhelming amount of women are choosing bear over men in hypothetical woods, and groups like “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” aren’t only racking up the legal wins but also racking up their number of members, it’s a good indication that AWDTSG isn’t going anywhere. If anything, women will likely continue to band together in search of safe spaces, despite the potential risk of leaks, lawsuits, and being confronted by the men they expose.
In a world where women’s claims of harassment or abuse by men are consistently ignored, dismissed, or simply not believed, women are protecting each other, attempting to fulfill the lack of societal protections, and carrying the feminist legacy of consciousness-raising groups.
We've all been there. The workplace can be a minefield of social cues, under-the-radar biases, and those sneaky "small" remarks that aren't so small after all - they're microaggressions. These little zingers can sting, especially when they're aimed at our identity, including our race or ethnicity. This time, we're pulling back the curtain on microaggressions faced by Latino people at work. We'll break it down with real-life examples, explore why these seemingly insignificant slights matter, and give you some tools to tackle this head-on.
Examples of Microaggressions
Here are some common microaggressions that Latino folks might encounter at the workplace:
Ethnic Stereotyping: "I bet you're a good dancer." “You don't look Latina." Colleagues or superiors may make comments or jokes that perpetuate stereotypes about Latino people. Examples include assuming all Latinos are good at dancing, suggesting that a Latino colleague must be "fiery" or "passionate," or associating Latinos only with manual labor positions.
Language Assumptions: "Your English is very good." "Say something in Spanish for me." There is often an assumption that all Latinos speak Spanish or have a 'Latin accent'. Conversely, Latinos who don't speak Spanish might be seen as 'less authentic'.
Assumptions about Legal Status: "So, where are you really from?" "Do you have a green card?" It's surprising how often Latino people get asked about their immigration status or where they're 'really' from. As if their nationality somehow needs further validation.
Exoticizing or Diminishing Cultural Heritage: “Your accent is so exotic.” "You must be really passionate." Comments that exoticize or minimize the diversity and complexity of Latino cultures, such as lumping all Latino cultures together or calling someone's food or accent "exotic," are common forms of microaggressions.
Why We Should Care
You might be thinking, "So what? These are just tiny slights. Why the fuss?" Microaggressions, although seemingly subtle or minor, can have a considerable impact on the recipients. These impacts can include:
Psychological Effects: Chronic exposure to microaggressions can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. It can also lead to lower self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Performance and Job Satisfaction: Ever tried to focus on work when you're stressed or upset? Not so easy, right? The stress and discomfort resulting from microaggressions can lead to decreased job satisfaction, lower performance, and higher turnover rates among Latino employees.
Organizational Culture: No one wants to work in a toxic environment, and a company's reputation can take a serious hit if it's known for microaggressions. A high prevalence of microaggressions can negatively impact the organization's culture, making it less inclusive and causing damage to its reputation.
Reduced Diversity: If unchecked, microaggressions can deter talented individuals from diverse backgrounds from joining or staying in an organization, reducing the diversity that drives innovation and growth.
How to Deal With Microaggressions
The good news? There are ways to address this issue. As an organization or employer, here are some of the steps you can take:
Awareness and Education: The first step towards addressing microaggressions is recognizing their existence and understanding their impacts. Workshops, seminars, or diversity training sessions can help with this.
Encourage Open Conversations: Provide safe spaces for employees to discuss incidents of microaggressions, how they feel, and how they would like the situations to be handled.
Establish and Enforce Policies: Organizations need clear, strict policies against all forms of microaggressions. These policies should include reporting mechanisms and fair consequences for those who violate the policies.
Support Affected Employees: Provide resources and support to employees who experience microaggressions. This could include counseling services, mediation, or reassurances of their value and belonging within the organization.
Promote Inclusive Leadership: Encourage leaders to set the tone for inclusive behavior. They should model respect for all individuals and cultures, demonstrate understanding and empathy, and take action when they witness microaggressions.
Dealing with microaggressions as an individual can be tricky. It requires a combination of self-care, assertive communication, and strategies to create change. Here are some tips:
Recognize and Validate Your Feelings: Understand that it's okay to be upset by microaggressions. They can be hurtful and demeaning. Don't dismiss your feelings or let others trivialize your experiences.
Assertive Communication: If you feel safe and comfortable doing so, address the microaggression directly with the person who committed it. They may not even be aware that their comment or action was offensive.
Educate Others: Use instances of microaggressions as teaching moments, if you feel up to it. Inform the person about what a microaggression is and why their comment or behavior is inappropriate. Remember, you're not obligated to educate others, but it can sometimes be a powerful tool for change.
Report the Incidents: If the microaggressions persist, consider reporting them to a supervisor, HR, or another appropriate entity within your organization. Be prepared to provide specific examples and express your concerns clearly.
Advocate for Change: Push for workplace policies that address microaggressions and support diversity, inclusion, and respect. This could mean advocating for diversity and sensitivity training, creating safe spaces for discussions about microaggressions, or contributing to the development of fair reporting and resolution procedures.
Microaggressions might seem like small stuff, but they're a big deal. By learning to recognize and address them, we can create a more respectful and inclusive work environment for everyone. Remember, it's not just about avoiding the paper cuts - it's about fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. And that, my friends, is a win-win for all.
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