In The Community
Frida Kahlo
Photo by Guillermo Kahlo - Sotheby's on Wikimedia Commons
It’s impossible to discuss Latina artists and not start with Frida Kahlo. This Mexican painter has been recognized all over the world for her surreal and symbolic paintings. Rooted in her own life and complex inner world, Frida’s art tackles important themes like race, identity, gender, and postcolonialism. Latinos and people from all over the world, especially women, can find something to relate to within Frida’s paintings because they’re vulnerable, honest, and raw. “The Two Fridas” is only one example of that, and it resonates with Latinos living in the United States who experience duality in their identity.
Amelia Peláez
Courtesy of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba
Amelia Peláez was born in Cuba, where she graduated from the “Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes de San Alejandro” in 1924. She went on to study art in New York and Paris as well, and she’s known as one of the most outstanding painters to come out of Cuba. Her tropical and colonial aesthetics stand out in her work, and she had a wonderful way of working with geometric shapes. Her paintings are defined by bold outlines and stained-glass aesthetics. “Fishes” is one of the best examples of that and the bright colors really jump out of the frame.
Carmen Herrera
Photo by Victor Laredo on WikiArt
Here we have another amazing Cuban painter born in Havana! Carmen Herrera is a minimalist artist who's been painting for over seven decades, but she only gained significant recognition when she was in her 90s. With her striking geometric paintings, she proved that simplicity can carry profound meanings. Her work, like the celebrated "Blanco y Verde" series, beautifully mirrors the balanced integration of her Cuban roots with her life in New York.
Beatriz González
Photo by Galeria Nouvelle on Wikimedia Commons
Beatriz González is a versatile artist from Colombia and she’s very well-known for her pop art style. She’s a painter, sculptor, illustrator, curator, historian, and art critic, and her work is exhibited in museums around the world, including Mexico, New York, Houston, and more. Her art is known for its bright colors, roughness, and awkward forms, and for exploring middle-class notions of ethnicity, gender, class, and taste. One of her most well-known pieces is “The Sisga Suicides” I, II, and III, inspired by a heartbreaking story the artist read about in the press.
Clara Ledesma
Courtesy of www.claraledesma.net
Clara Ledesma became a part of history as one of the first women to attend the National School of Fine Arts in Santo Domingo. She went on to become one of the most well-known Dominican painters and throughout her career, she played with a variety of styles. Including surrealism, abstraction, and expressionism. One thing about her paintings is that they’re brightly colored and fantastical, bursting with mysticism and magic. That’s why they can transport people into other realms. A great example of that is her popular painting, “Modernist figures with a peacock and other birds.”
Ana Mendieta
Photo by Ana Mendieta
Ana Mendieta, a Cuban-American performance artist, sculptor, and painter, used her body as a canvas to express themes of feminism, life, death, and spiritualism. Her "Silueta Series," where she molded her silhouette into outdoor landscapes, created a deeply visceral and moving connection between the body and the earth. This groundbreaking approach to art has left an indelible mark on the art world.
Leonora Carrington
Photo by © Lee Miller Archives
Photo by © Lee Miller Archives
Leonora Carrington was born in the United Kingdom, but she’s of Mexican descent and spent most of her adult years in Mexico City. She was a painter and novelist, known for her surrealist style. Her work is featured in museums all over the world and it stands out due to her grotesque imagery and dark humor. She’s also known for challenging repression within the surrealist movement and embracing nonhuman elements to blur the lines between human, animal, and machine in her paintings. One of her many well-known works is “The Giantess (The Guardian of the Egg),” which perfectly represents her style.
Doris Salcedo
Photo by David Heald - Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on Wikimedia Commons
Born and raised in Colombia, Doris Salcedo is known for her large-scale installations and sculptures that communicate powerful messages about the socio-political landscape. Salcedo’s work, such as her installation "Shibboleth," a large crack in the floor of the Tate Modern in London, addresses the themes of racism and colonialism. Her art, both provocative and impactful, continues to echo loudly in modern society.
Margarita Azurdia
Courtesy of awarewomenartists.com
Margarita Azurdia was a Guatemalan artist known for her abstract paintings and sculptures. She was also a poet and performance artist. Margarita was a master at blending geometric abstraction with native Guatemalan indigenous textile designs, which is how she paid homage to her country and cultural roots. She used bright, vibrant colors, and one of her most famous abstract paintings is “Pintura 1 (Painting 1).”
Tarsila do Amaral
Hailing from Brazil, Tarsila do Amaral is a significant figure in the Latin American modernist movement. Her work, like the iconic painting "Abaporu," combines elements of Cubism and Surrealism with a distinct Brazilian sensibility. She drew inspiration from indigenous art, creating pieces that were filled with local color, presenting Brazil's vibrant culture to the world.
Each of these phenomenal Latina artists revolutionized the art world in her own unique way. They serve as role models for us, demonstrating that our cultural heritage and personal experiences can be a source of strength and inspiration.
Sylvia Mendez
Photo by Los Angeles District USACE on Flickr
Sylvia Mendez, of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, is often overshadowed by other civil rights icons, but she played an important role in the fight for school desegregation. Her family's lawsuit against a California school district paved the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, leading to the desegregation of schools across the U.S. To this day, Mendez is an advocate for educational equality and social justice, so her work continues to bring positive change to the world.
Dolores Huerta
Photo by Tom Hilton on Wikimedia Commons
While Cesar Chávez is widely recognized for his work in the labor movement, Dolores Huerta's contributions are often overlooked. As a co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, now the United Farm Workers, Huerta fought tirelessly for the rights of farmworkers. She advocated for fair wages and better working conditions by organizing collective actions like boycotts, banding the community together, and creating social justice initiatives. She’s also a champion of women’s rights and immigrants’ rights, so Huerta is the ultimate fighter for underrepresented groups.
Carmen Yulín Cruz
Carmen Yulín Cruz is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the mayor of San Juan, the capital, from 2013 to 2020. During the devastating Hurricane Maria, she gained international attention due to her fierce advocacy on behalf of her people and her vocal criticism of the Puerto Rican government’s response. Cruz is known for her fierce leadership and has inspired many with her boldness.
Julissa Reynoso
Julissa Reynoso is a Dominican-American with a thriving diplomatic career that has taken her from the United Nations to her current role as the U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. She’s been a tireless advocate for human rights, women's empowerment, diversity, and economic development. Reynoso is known for exemplifying the importance of diplomacy in response to global issues and challenges.
Sandra Cisneros
Photo by Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
Sandra Cisneros, of Mexican descent, is a renowned writer who has made important contributions to literature with her portrayals of the Latina experience. Her most well-known novel “The House on Mango Street,” was groundbreaking, and it’s become a classic in contemporary American literature. The book was also subsequently added to banned book lists throughout the country as right-wing extremists continued on their quest to make diverse perspectives and history illegal. Cisneros has a bold voice and presents a unique perspective, which resonates not only with readers of all backgrounds but also with aspiring writers who are heavily inspired by her.
Isabel Allende
Photo by Jroses on Wikimedia Commons
Isabel Allende is a Chilean-American author known for her work in magical realism. Her novels are often based on her own experiences, mixed with historical events and elements like myth and realism. Allende is a world-renowned author known for overcoming challenges and breaking barriers in the industry. Moreover, her work champions strong female characters and often explores themes like social justice and political oppression, inspiring millions of people to speak up for what they believe in.
Zoe Saldaña
Photo by Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
Zoe Saldaña is an Afro-Latino actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. She’s become a role model for Latina women due to her successful career in Hollywood and how proudly vocal she is about her Latinidad. Saldana is mostly known for her role as Gamora in the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” and Neytiri Sully in the “Avatar” movies, though she has been acting since 1999. She has starred in 4 of the highest-grossing films of all time, which is an impressive feat, especially for an Afro-Latina because Afro-Latinos are notoriously pushed aside in Hollywood.
Rita Moreno
Photo by John Mathew Smith on Wikimedia Commons
Rita Moreno is a well-known Puerto Rican actress, singer, and dancer. She’s the only Latina who has obtained EGOT status, which consists of winning the 4 major entertainment awards in the U.S.; the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Despite facing racism in her Hollywood career and being held back by it, Moreno has found great success and continues to work to this day, proving that one’s passion and perseverance can defy the odds.
Sylvia Acevedo
Photo by Avery Jensen on Wikimedia Commons
Mexican-American Sylvia Acevedo was one of the first Latinas to earn a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford University and one of the few female astronautical engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She’s an entrepreneur, businesswoman, investor, and rocket scientist known for championing STEM education for girls, and encouraging them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Her efforts have inspired countless young women, especially Latinas, to dream beyond the stereotypes and limited cultural expectations and pursue their passions.
Ana Maria Archila
Ana Maria Archila is a Colombian advocate for women’s rights, worker justice, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. She gained a lot of attention for confronting Senator Jeff Flake during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after being accused of sexual assault by several women. Archila is the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy and a passionate advocate for immigrant rights, economic justice, and political reform. Her courage and activism have inspired civic engagement as a way to shape society.
These 10 Latinas represent just a fraction of the countless women making a difference in their communities and beyond. Latinas deserve to see role models who look like them and understand their culture, and these role models deserve public recognition just as much as their white colleagues and counterparts.
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Image by March of Dimes
For Latina mothers, one of the main factors contributing to maternal mortality is a lack of insurance and access to health care. According to a 2019 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Latina mothers were less likely to receive prenatal care compared to white mothers.
Moreover, racial disparities and systemic racism are major factors contributing to maternal mortality among women of color. According to a recent study, the actions of healthcare providers and their interactions with patients reveal an implicit bias for white women and discrimination against women of color.
Not only are women of color often dismissed regarding symptoms and concerns during pregnancy, but they’re also mistreated. A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 30% of Black women, 29% of Latina women, and 27% of multiracial women experienced mistreatment during pregnancy or birth, compared to 19% of white women.
Within this context, doulas are providing much-needed support to Latina mothers and empowering them through dedicated services.
The Reality of Latina Mothers
In an interview for BBC, Surey Rodriguez-Cortes, a certified doula, shed light on how Latino doulas are changing the field, which “has been composed predominantly of middle-class white women for decades.” Rodriguez-Cortes shared that she has seen a rise in the number of people of color entering doula work every year. Diversity in this field is essential because culture informs the way women approach birth and the decisions they make regarding things like pain management.
For Latina mothers, for example, labor pain is regarded as a motherly obligation, leading them to decline pain medication often. The fact is that traditions and beliefs affect the experience of giving birth, but healthcare providers often don’t consider them because of their biases and stereotypical beliefs about women of color.
There’s proof of consistent stigma and bias in maternity care for Latina women and women of color overall. That manifests through mistreatment like ignoring requests for help, dismissing symptoms of concerns, shouting or scolding, being forced to accept unwanted treatment, and more. For Latina women who don’t speak English, this mistreatment is even more likely.
Giving birth in the U.S., especially for women of color, can be a traumatic experience where mothers feel like they don’t have a voice. Latino doulas seek to change this reality for Latina mothers by providing an empowered birth and postpartum experience. Having a doula makes a big difference, especially if they can incorporate cultural practices, help eliminate language barriers, and provide guidance in navigating the challenges and disparities in the healthcare system.
The Impact of Culturally Competent Doulas
Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional and physical support before, during, and after birth. The term “doulas” and “midwives” is often used interchangeably, but their roles are different. The main difference is that midwives provide medical care while doulas don’t.
The main role of the doula is to make the birthing experience as comfortable as possible through various methods, such as massages, position suggestions, advocacy, and more. In other words, a doula is a protector and a champion for mothers in the delivery room (or at home if mothers decide to have a home birth) and beyond.
What makes Latine doulas different is that they have the cultural background other doulas lack. This allows them to understand Latine mothers, their challenges, and their beliefs a lot better, so they can provide support with the necessary cultural considerations to get them the kind of birth they deserve.
Moreover, Latine doulas eliminate language barriers for mothers who don’t speak English and advocate for them, helping them navigate the healthcare system more effectively. Latine doulas ensure mothers don’t lose their voice at any step of the way, and they listen to their wishes to effectively communicate them to healthcare providers, acting as advocates for mothers.
Latine mothers who have worked with Latine doulas report a more positive birthing experience where they feel heard, protected, and comfortable. Given that they are greatly affected by maternal mortality, having a doula by their side can reduce many of the risks by ensuring that they’re listened to instead of dismissed and tended to instead of mistreated during one of the most consequential moments of their lives.
