Impact
In The Community
The persistent exclusion of these voices is a glaring symptom of white feminism—the version of feminism that prioritizes white women’s experiences and assumes that progress for them means progress for all.
White Feminism and Its Impact
White feminism operates under the assumption that gender inequality is the primary issue facing all women, ignoring the intersecting oppressions of race, class, and other identities. Historically, this has been evident in major feminist movements. The suffragette movement, for example, was largely led by and for white women, with little concern for the fact that women of color, particularly Black women, were still barred from voting long after the 19th Amendment was ratified. More tellingly, the contributions of Black women to the suffragette movement were often excluded from mainstream narratives.
Sojourner Truth, known for her powerful speech "Ain't I a Woman?", highlighted the intersectional oppression faced by Black women, challenging both gender and racial biases. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper emphasized the need for racial equality alongside gender equality, pointing out the white suffragists' failure to prioritize racial justice. Ida B. Wells, a journalist and anti-lynching activist, founded the Alpha Suffrage Club in Chicago and participated in the 1913 suffrage parade in Washington, D.C., despite facing segregation attempts. Even so, Black women were frequently excluded from leadership roles and organizing committees within the movement. The 1913 suffrage parade, led by Alice Paul, exemplified this exclusion, as Black women were initially asked to march at the back of the procession.
Contributions made by Latinas have also been excluded from mainstream narratives. For instance, Mexican American Maria Guadalupe Evangelina de Lopez was a key figure in California’s suffrage movement. She worked to bridge the language barrier by translating speeches and pamphlets into Spanish, allowing Hispanic women to engage in the movement. Her efforts were instrumental in the passage of California Proposition 4 in 1911, granting women the right to vote in the state.
Adelina Otero-Warren was a leader in New Mexico’s suffrage movement and she pushed for suffrage literature to be published in both English and Spanish, ensuring broader accessibility. As the first female superintendent of Santa Fe schools, she played a vital role in securing the ratification of the 19th Amendment in New Mexico and continued advocating for women’s rights, education, and child welfare.
Even in modern activism, white feminism continues to dominate. The #MeToo movement is a prime example—originally founded by Tarana Burke, a Black woman, in 2006, the movement only gained widespread attention when white Hollywood actresses began to speak out in 2017. The message was clear: white women's voices are amplified, while the contributions of women of color are often sidelined, if not erased entirely.
The Illusion of Intersectionality
Intersectionality—a term coined by legal scholar and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw, a Black woman—acknowledges that women of color experience gender inequality differently due to their race, class, and other social factors. But despite the term’s mainstream adoption, many feminist spaces treat intersectionality as a theoretical concept rather than an actionable framework. Too often, it’s used as a buzzword to suggest inclusivity without any real effort to center marginalized voices.
Many women of color report feeling dismissed in feminist circles, their concerns deemed “too niche” to be prioritized. Discussions about pay inequality, for example, often focus on the gender pay gap between white women and white men, ignoring the even wider gap for Latina, Black, and Indigenous women. This exclusion reinforces a hierarchy where white women’s struggles are treated as universal, while the struggles of other women are seen as secondary.
The Data Doesn’t Lie
Research has shown that feminist organizations often take an additive approach to intersectionality—simply including a few women of color without fundamentally changing their structures. A study examining equality organizations in England and Scotland found that this approach actually maintains white supremacy rather than challenge it.
In the U.S., women of color are still underrepresented in leadership roles within mainstream feminist organizations, despite their significant contributions to activism and advocacy. According to a Candid report, Black and Latino CEOs/EDs are significantly underrepresented at the executive level in nonprofits, making up only 15% and 6% of CEOs/EDs, respectively. They are more likely to lead smaller organizations than larger ones.
The mainstreaming of intersectionality has also failed to shift the focus away from white women’s experiences. Instead, it has often been used as a means of performative allyship, where organizations claim to be inclusive while continuing to uphold the same exclusionary structures.
Women’s History Month Should Be for All Women
Women’s History Month has the potential to be a celebration of all women, but as long as white feminism continues to dictate the narrative, it will remain incomplete. A more equitable feminist movement would actively center the voices of Black, Indigenous, Latina, Asian, and other women of color—not as an afterthought, but as essential to the fight for gender justice.
The "Mother Seeds in Resistance" Project: A Stand Against GMO Contamination
Photo by Eric Prouzet on UnsplashAt the forefront of this battle is the "Mother Seeds in Resistance" initiative, led by the Zapatistas in Chiapas. This grassroots project, in collaboration with Schools for Chiapas, seeks to safeguard the genetic purity of native corn by distributing GMO-free Zapatista maize across Mexico and beyond. By creating a living seed library, they’re preserving the legacy of ancestral maize varieties and ensuring their survival for future generations.
Mexico is home to over 59 unique corn varieties, making it the world’s most genetically diverse repository of maize. However, the introduction of genetically modified (GM) corn has put this biodiversity at risk. Cross-pollination between GM crops and native maize can irreversibly alter traditional strains, leading to potential losses in genetic adaptability, taste, and nutritional value. Indigenous farmers perceive this not just as an agricultural issue, but also as an existential threat to their way of life.
Mexico: Defending Corn from Corporate Interests
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In a landmark ruling made in 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court upheld a ban on GM corn, reinforcing the country’s stance against transgenic contamination. This decision was a major victory for food sovereignty activists and Indigenous communities because it protects traditional farming methods from corporate agricultural dominance.
The ruling also affirmed the government’s precautionary measure to restrict permits for GMO corn, a measure first introduced in 2013 and challenged by agribusiness giants like Bayer-Monsanto and Syngenta. This legal triumph represented a broader defense of Indigenous knowledge and autonomy. Farmers who have cultivated maize for generations argue that their ancestral seeds are better suited to local climates and that corporate control over agriculture threatens their right to self-determination.
More recently in 2025, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional reform aimed at banning the cultivation of genetically modified (GMO) corn in Mexico in February. This initiative, sponsored by President Claudia Sheinbaum, was officially approved by the Mexican Senate on March 6, 2025, with a vote of 97 in favor and 16 opposing. Now, the reform must be ratified by state legislatures and implemented effectively to achieve its goals of protecting Mexico's biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada took a significant step towards preserving the city's agricultural heritage by issuing a decree that prohibits the production of GM corn within the city limits. During a ceremony in the Tlalpan municipality, Brugada emphasized her administration's commitment to aligning with the federal government's stance, stating, "We stand in solidarity with our President in rejecting the cultivation of genetically modified corn in Mexico City."U.S.-Mexico Trade Dispute: The Battle Over Corn Imports
Photo by Lynn Danielson on UnsplashMexico’s efforts to phase out GM corn imports from the U.S. have ignited a fierce trade dispute. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has become a battleground, with American agribusinesses arguing that Mexico’s ban lacks scientific backing. The U.S., which exports billions of dollars in corn annually—nearly 30% of its corn exports go to Mexico—has formally challenged the decision, citing economic losses and trade violations.
However, Mexico insists that protecting native corn isn’t just about economics but also about preserving culture, biodiversity, and public health. Government officials argue that modified crops and the widespread use of pesticides like glyphosate pose health risks that haven’t been adequately studied and they plan to ban it.
Cultural Significance: Why Corn Matters to Mexico
Aleteia Image Department, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The phrase “Sin maíz, no hay país” (Without corn, there is no country) encapsulates the deep cultural significance of maize in Mexico and it’s the name of a national campaign fighting for native corn since 2007. Beyond its dietary staple status (it’s essential for traditional dishes like tortillas, tamales, and atole), corn is embedded in Mesoamerican mythology, Indigenous traditions, and communal farming systems like the milpa, an ancient agricultural method that integrates corn with beans and squash for sustainable cultivation. The growing cycle of corn even influences the timing of festivals, which connects events like the Corn Fair in Jala, Nayarit, and National Corn Day celebrated on September 29th, exemplifying that deeper cultural bond.
Unlike industrialized farming in the U.S., where a few genetically uniform corn varieties dominate the market, Mexico’s traditional farming methods preserve genetic diversity. These diverse maize strains hold invaluable genetic traits—such as drought resistance and pest tolerance—that are crucial in the face of climate change.
Indigenous Resistance: A Model for Food Sovereignty
Favianna Rodriguez via Instagram
The efforts of the Zapatistas and other Indigenous groups serve as an example of what can be accomplished in the movement for food sovereignty, which advocates for the rights of communities to control their own food systems. The "Mother Seeds in Resistance" project is about resisting corporate control of food production, empowering local farmers, and reinforcing traditional knowledge systems that have sustained Indigenous peoples for centuries. By rejecting corporate patents on seeds and prioritizing native crops, these activists are demonstrating that food sovereignty is a crucial pillar of cultural preservation and environmental sustainability.
The Future of Native Corn
Photo by Brian Wegman 🎃 on UnsplashAs debates over GMOs, trade policies, and food sovereignty continue, the fate of native Mexican corn remains uncertain. While legal victories and grassroots movements provide hope, the pressure from agribusiness giants and international trade agreements poses ongoing challenges.
For advocates of Indigenous food traditions, the solution lies in continued resistance, education, and international solidarity. For these people, protecting native maize is about farming as much as it is about preserving a way of life, a history, and an identity that stretches back millennia. The question remains: Will the fight for corn’s survival also ensure the survival of cultural heritage?
Despite being a festival hosted in a state where 40% of its population is Latino, which is also one of the largest Latino populations in the country, Latino creators have historically faced challenges in securing visibility within SXSW’s official programming. The inclusion of Latin music and Latino filmmakers has been inconsistent, often sidelined in favor of more mainstream movies and events. In response to these gaps, independent Latino-led events have stepped up, often organized by Latinas, carving out spaces where Latino talent can thrive.
As SXSW 2025 nears its end, the landscape of Latino representation tells a complex story—one of both progress and continued struggle. This year’s lineup includes a stronger presence of Latino films and quite a few events showcasing Latino voices. Yet, these gains underscore the broader question of why Latinos still face an uphill battle in breaking into SXSW’s main stages and headliner events.
A Look at the Past: The Evolution of Latino Representation at SXSW
In its early years, SXSW primarily catered to mainstream English-language artists and filmmakers, leaving Latino creators with little space to showcase their work. While Austin has always been home to a rich Latino community, the festival didn’t initially reflect this reality in its programming. Latino musicians, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs often found themselves struggling for recognition in an industry that frequently overlooked their contributions, and still does.
Over time, SXSW has made minor strides toward inclusion by increasing Latino representation, primarily in its music shows and film festival movie selections. More Latino artists have been included in the music festival, and more Latino-led films and films featuring Latino talent have been selected for the festival lineup in recent years, showcasing a broader range of stories and perspectives. These projects are submitted by creators, requiring a $95 fee, and undergo the rigorous SXSW selection process to make it to the final lineup. Artists who want to be a part of the SXSW music showcase also must apply, pay a $75 fee, and undergo a selection process of their own.
While the improvements in Latino presence at SXSW are notable in the context of music and film, exclusion persists in every other aspect of the festival which is one reason Latinos began working to create their own spaces.
Colombian-American, Deldelp Medina, Principal of Medina & Associates, has experienced the challenges firsthand. After hearing from Latino and Black professionals, mostly women, who confided in her about feeling marginalized at SXSW and related private parties, Medina had questions. Mainly: Who gets to belong in these spaces? She took her questions to fellow women tech leaders, and the idea of Hustle House came to be. This was a groundbreaking, unofficial SXSW event she co-produced in 2018 that provided a platform for 48 Black and Brown tech workers to present their ideas and innovations.
Medina and her colleagues overcame significant hurdles in bringing Hustle House to life, including a lack of official SXSW sponsorship, funding, and venue. Eventually, they secured Huston-Tillotson University as a venue and gained the backing of sponsors like Backstage Capital, Azlo, and the Annenberg Foundation. It’s structural barriers like these that keep Latino experts from having more space at SXSW. Medina later took to her Medium blog to share her experience co-producing an unofficial SXSW event to provide insights to anyone looking to do the same.
Luz Media reached out to Medina for an interview via Zoom to discuss her past experience and her thoughts about Latino representation at SXSW as someone who has not only produced events but also attended SXSW regularly since 2014. “I’ve always been one of those people, and this is only my opinion, who are like ‘I don’t need a badge to legitimize my work,’ and I don’t necessarily need to work within the system. Having said that, there are some people that have been working within the system and I think that, to make change happen, you always have to have an inside-outside game,” Medina shared.
Deldelp Medina at Hustle House event - SXSW 2018 - via Medium - Photo by Michael Meadows.Deldelp Media via Medium - Photo by Michael Meadows.
“By the time I helped to co-produce the Hustle House, that had been the third event that I had done at SXSW, and the thing that I learned over time is that other people doing that sort of thing outside the system itself has now become the norm,” she continued. She recalled SXSW management being very clear with the team about their ability to organize an event, but it couldn’t be identified as part of the official programming; that would require buying a license and the cost would’ve made the event impossible. “That event happened, as many other events that are alternative or Latino-focused, because Latinos were willing to put in the work to do it themselves,” Medina stated.
Medina also shared that the only times she has been a part of official SXSW programs was because another Latina had the internal connections to make it happen. “Any time that I’ve proposed a panel on my own, or done anything on my own, I’ve not gotten anywhere, which is fine. [...] It’s a privately owned company, they get to choose what they want on their stages, period. But I get to choose to have a response to that and create my own stage.”
When asked if she has seen any substantial improvement in Latino representation at SXSW through the years, Medina responded: “Not really, because we [Latinos] are always seen as a new wave. [...] As a population, we’re not seen as being here for more than one generation and/or as part of the cultural fabric of this country. We move culture, but we’re not seen as a group of people you have to engage with.” In her opinion, part of the problem Latinos have as a community is that people constantly talk about Latinos as power consumers, “But we never talk about how much do we own in this country; there’s no sense of what does ownership in this country look like for Latinos,” Medina stated.
She believes that having that conversation, changing from a consumerist role to an investing one, and Latinos investing in each other, is an essential part of making a change. “I wouldn’t be here without my community, without people who’ve been willing to put money into the projects that I’ve wanted to make happen. [...] And I have been supportive of other people and invested in other people too. That’s the other part of the coin: how do we make sure we’re also seeing ourselves as investors? [...] How do I make sure I’m also investing and not just consuming? What are the spaces and places that I have the opportunity to also be a part of the change?”
Medina’s core message is: “We need to ask for more money, we need to be bolder about the work that we’re doing. We come from cultures where it’s like ‘calladita te ves más bonita’ and that’s very ingrained in us, but no, no me veo bonita callada. I look cute when I’m loud, when I’m bragging. And that’s okay! It doesn’t divorce you from being in community.”
Minimal Latino Presence at SXSW and SXSW EDU 2025
Before the main festival kicks off, SXSW EDU, a component of SXSW, serves as a space for discussions on education, policy, and innovation. This year’s event, which ran from March 3-6 at the Austin Convention Center, featured over 300 sessions across 12 thematic tracks, including equity, technology integration, and the future of learning.
The Latino perspective had a space at “The Future of Journalism Innovation is Community Media,” featuring award-winning journalist Maritza Félix, founder of Conecta Arizona, Hanaa' Tameez, staff writer at Nieman Lab, Nico Rios, Chief Product Officer at Documented, and Amy Pyle, Editor in Chief of Civil Beat.
The panel focused on discussing the innovative practices required to adapt to a shifting social media landscape, the way people consume information, and the impact of AI. The panelists discussed how they’re building new technology platforms to create a better future for journalism. For example, Maritza Félix’s work, which includes Spanish-language reporting via WhatsApp, has been recognized for bridging gaps in traditional media coverage, making her insights invaluable.
These discussions are crucial in a time when Latinos remain severely underrepresented in media, education leadership, and technology sectors. By highlighting the economic and social impact of Latino communities, SXSW EDU provides a platform for advocacy and progress—though, like the main festival, there is still room for growth in fully integrating Latino perspectives.
At SXSW 2025, of the 62 sessions listed in its agenda, a search revealed 9 that had “Latino” central to the panel’s theme. In SXSW’s 2024 agenda, a search revealed that of 79 sessions held, only 5 had a Latino theme. The 2025 panel “Why Latine Stories & Characters Will Be Going Mainstream” focused on highlighting why increasing representation of Latine stories and culture, both on and off the screen, can add billions of dollars to the industry, and how this untapped market can be addressed.
The panel was inspired by a 2024 McKinsey study that found that Hollywood loses an estimated $12 billion to $18 billion annually by failing to cater to Latino audiences—a statistic that reflects broader industry trends where Latino stories are often underfunded, underpromoted, or simply overlooked.
The conversation was led by Adriana Martínez Barrón, head of Film and TV at Sage Works Productions, Doménica Castro, filmmaker and co-founder of 271 Films, Mexican Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, screenwriter of “Blue Beetle,” and Nonny de la Peña, director of Narrative and Emerging Media at ASU.
The Power of Independent Latino Events at SXSW
As it happens every year, independent Latino-led events popped up at SXSW 2025 as vital platforms for showcasing Latino talent—providing artists, entrepreneurs, and filmmakers with the visibility they might not get otherwise.
One highly visible independent event was House of Chingonas, a two-day celebration organized by The Latina Foundation, founded and led by Bessy Martinez, and the foundation’s local chapter, Austin Latinas Unidas. Hosted at the Mira Mira Venue, the event featured Latina-led brand activations, networking opportunities, and powerful discussions centered on Latina entrepreneurship and culture. The event, which kicked off during International Women’s Day weekend, highlighted the growing demand for spaces that elevate Latina voices.
Bessy Martinez at the House of Chingonas event, 2025.Bessy Martinez
Luz Media reached out to Bessy Martinez via email to discuss the birth of House of Chingonas. “In 2023, I had the opportunity to attend SXSW with a sponsored badge from another organization. It was an incredible experience—I learned so much, made great connections, and soaked in the energy of the festival. But something stood out to me. There weren’t many spaces dedicated to Latinas,” Martinez shared.
“Most of the events that truly reflected Latino history, culture, and impact were happening off the official programming, and even then, they weren’t widely known. I found myself asking, Where are we in these conversations? And as I’ve always done in my community-building journey, I leaned into my philosophy: ‘If you can’t find it, you create it.’ That’s how House of Chingonas was born,” she stated.
In 2025, Martinez reports some of the same accessibility issues Medina dealt with in 2018. “[...] While the value of SXSW is undeniable, the reality is that the price point makes it inaccessible for many in our community. We know that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to access, visibility, or opportunity, which is why we root our programming in being free or low-cost and accessible to the community. As we say in our motto, we meet our Latina community where they are—and that includes meeting them where they are financially.”
When Luz Media asked about the importance of events like House of Chingonas, Martinez stated: “Visibility matters. Representation is power, and when we don’t see ourselves in spaces like SXSW, it sends a message that our contributions aren’t valued—which couldn’t be further from the truth. Events like House of Chingonas give us the opportunity to rewrite that narrative. They create a platform where Latinas are centered, celebrated, and empowered to show up fully as themselves. Whether it’s through panels, networking, or cultural showcases, these spaces remind us that we belong in every industry, every conversation, and every room. And most importantly, they remind the world of that too.”
Martinez believes that inclusion at events like SXSW isn’t just about having Latinos at a few panels, but rather about “intentional investment in Latino voices and businesses.” In her opinion, improving Latino representation at SXSW would require more funded opportunities, partnerships with Latino organizations, better representation across industries, not just entertainment, and a commitment to long-term change.
“This [House of Chingonas] wasn’t just an event. It was a statement. Latinas are not waiting for an invitation. We are not asking for permission. We are creating our own spaces, telling our own stories, and making sure we are part of the conversations shaping tech, media, entrepreneurship, and culture. And we’re just getting started,” Martinez concluded.
Why Independent Events Like These Matter
The significance of these Latino-led independent SXSW events ensures that a broader spectrum of Latino talent has spaces to showcase their work on their own terms, not just in film, TV, and music. They also create vital networking opportunities, helping Latino creatives connect with industry professionals and audiences who are eager to engage with their stories and what they have to offer, all while fostering a sense of community.
For Latinos attending SXSW, these spaces are cultural touchpoints where they can see themselves reflected in meaningful ways, and have a valuable experience. The success of Latino-led events and the increasing presence of Latino talent in the festival lineup shows that there is both an audience and a demand. However, real progress requires not only inclusion, but also promotion, and a fundamental, broader shift in how Latinos are valued and perceived. It remains to be seen if SXSW leadership will finally embrace this in the face of unprecedented Latino growth.
