In The Community
It happens to so many of us. We dream big, work hard to achieve what we want, scale every imaginable mountain in our way, and when we finally arrive, the self-doubt barrels in with an unstoppable vengeance. The thoughts and feelings of not being good enough, not learning fast enough, or not feeling as capable as those around you are often attributed to what we know as imposter syndrome. And if you’ve ever felt this struggle, you’re most certainly not alone.
As Latinas, we face many challenges in the workplace that we can directly attribute to our membership in two marginalized groups: women and people of color. We’re not here to tell you to get over it; trust yourself, you’re good enough, and otherwise, attempt to gloss over the very real feelings that we all experience. Yes, the truth is that we are powerful and capable, but it’s also the truth that these feelings arise from external conditions that create this doubt in the first place, and that needs to be acknowledged.
What exactly is imposter syndrome?
Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes coined the term after studying the behaviors of high-achieving women who, despite their accomplishments, believed that they were not actually bright and had just fooled everyone into believing they were. It’s also been attributed to believing success happened solely because of luck or chance and not through hard work or innate talent.
Being the only Latina in the room
White, land-owning men built American society, which means that Latinas experience systemic racism in the workplace at all levels of the continuum. From silent discrimination like lower wages for equal work to loud and proud racism in the form of harassment and verbal assault, trying to succeed in a system not built for you is exhausting and breeds constant doubt.
A highly accomplished woman often knows that she is highly accomplished and talented, but what happens if her peers don’t recognize her as such? For many Latinas, the problem stems from being “the only Latina in the room” and therefore doubting if they actually belong there. Why don’t men suffer from imposter syndrome as much as women do? It’s simple; society teaches men that positions of power are where they’re meant to be.
Therefore part of overcoming imposter syndrome is understanding this reality. Getting mansplained isn’t because you don’t understand; it’s because culture and bias towards your race and gender have overinflated many white men’s egos.
Of course, the degradation Latinas experience at work and in many facets of life isn’t just limited to white men. The entire hierarchy of color means that race and gender play a critical role in creating environments where imposter syndrome runs rampant, and more so amongst women of color.
How do we defeat imposter syndrome?
An internet search will produce thousands of results and suggest many self-help books, and sure, there are things women can do to overcome these baseless beliefs, but the problem is deeper than that. Authors Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey wrote, “Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome,” an interesting take on how imposter syndrome has to be eliminated through systemic changes and not through internal work by the individual. They write, “Imposter syndrome is especially prevalent in biased, toxic cultures that value individualism and overwork. Yet the “fix women’s imposter syndrome” narrative has persisted, decade after decade.”
So while there is always value in personal development, we must also understand that a major part of this problem doesn’t have to do with women at all and everything to do with the sexist and racist systems we are stuck in. The solutions then, seem to lie in the dismantling and rebuilding of these systems so that better, more equitable systems can foster talent rather than privilege.
The COVID-19 pandemic rocked our worlds in many different ways; some stayed at home, but many others were deemed essential and had to keep working as if the world wasn’t experiencing an unprecedented global event. Doctors, nurses, CNAs, paramedics, and other healthcare workers deserve waves of accolades and praise for their heroic work, but today we also acknowledge those who are overlooked, have also struggled, and deserve the same amount of praise for doing their essential work as well. Luz Collective created a list of the top 5 most thankless but most valuable jobs so we can acknowledge their sheer and utter awesomeness.
Housekeepers and Cleaning Staff
They wipe, sweep, and dust all corners of their employers’ homes, offices, and hospitals. This work became even more challenging as they were constantly exposed to environments infected with COVID-19, and were over-impacted by the deadly virus. The profession is over-represented with Latinas and they also suffered from work instability when everything closed down, with employers choosing to stop paying their help.
Cleaning includes everything from making beds to wiping bodily fluids off surfaces. It can’t be easy to clean up areas where a COVID-19 remains, but they do the work that so many simply won’t. They often do it selflessly for the benefit of our communities, often out of economic necessity, and oftentimes, because of both reasons. Be kind to cleaning staff next time you interact with them. They deserve it.
Childcare Workers
They are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of children. They were presented with a big decision to make when this pandemic started. Their services were also deemed essential when other essential workers needed their children taken care of. But going to work at a place where the risk of transmission was very high because of how easily germs spread amongst children; was a challenge that they all took on as the heroes that they are. As talked about by Elisabeth Tobia; a CEO at two early learning centers in Michigan, she highlights the struggles of childcare workers, pointing out how despite being so important for the functioning of our society, they are some of the lowest-paid workers in the U.S, many making only little more than fast-food workers. If you value your children, you should value the people who take care of them.
Farm Workers
One of the backbones of our society. They’ve maintained food readily available for us to consume by working everyday and thus being constantly exposed to COVID-19 and a plethora of other horrific work conditions. As reported by Rosa Tuiran and Nick Roberts, agricultural worker Osmar Orellana explained how afraid he felt having to go to work every day, and how he did so regardless.
They go on to explain that farmworkers have been amongst those with the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the conditions in which they work, where social distancing is impossible and supplies, such as water and toilets are shared amongst many.
Despite all of this, they never stopped working and suffered the brunt of the worst of this pandemic while Americans found food on their store shelves without interruption. The MVP award goes to the people who are the reason America has food on their plates.
Food Workers
While most restaurants shut down during the pandemic, many were deemed essential including fast food establishments that remained open throughout the health crisis. They are some of the most undervalued workers and are often mistreated by customers.
A casual poke around social media will easily lead you to viral videos of food workers being yelled at, mistreated, or assaulted, and the mistreatment became even more common the further the pandemic progressed. Limited amounts of people were allowed into establishments at a time which meant they had to work twice as hard and twice as fast to get through the long lines that formed outside. Reporting on how difficult it’s been for these workers is common, with most of the reporting describing the mistreatment they endure, and the difficulty they face in navigating the pandemic. As with all service workers, be kind when ordering your next meal.
Caregivers and Home Healthcare Workers
Caregivers ensure that the most vulnerable are taken care of, at all times. The people they take care of are at the highest risk of contracting COVID-19, turning their already difficult job into more of a struggle. They aren’t even remotely close to getting the recognition they deserve and yet, the demand for their services has increased significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. Caregivers and home healthcare workers were oftentimes the only people that the most vulnerable had any access to; otherwise, they would be without a single soul and unable to care for themselves. It’s no secret that such a commitment can bring along challenges to their emotional wellbeing. UNICEF put together this guide called “Caring for Caregivers during the Covid-19 Crisis” which is not only an amazing resource but also a great reminder of everything they do for us and how we have to look out for them as well. Thank them and recognize their hard work next time you see one.
Pinole is an ancient food that goes back to the times of the Aztecs and has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s a type of toasted powdered corn which is a staple food of many Mexican Indian tribes. Both filling and nutritious, pinole is considered an energy food.
The Pinole Project, a family business inspired by the founder’s grandparents, Adela and Arsenio Jacquez. Ever since Maya Jazquez and her siblings were children, they would visit their grandparents’ humble ranch in Mexico every summer. Their abuela Adela’s pinole chia oatmeal recipe inspired The Pinole Project. She loved adding Pinole to her recipes for extra protein & fiber and years later, we all get to continue the tradition.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and flow.
What motivates you?
The love we have for our Mexican heritage and our grandparents. Our respect for them motivates us to spread their story and recipe to the world.
What do you like the most about running your own business?
The opportunity to spread my family legacy in a creative way. We love connecting with new people who try the product and are inspired by our heritage.
What is some advice you can offer aspiring entrepreneurs?
It’s a tough journey requiring grit, patience, and commitment. You must be truly passionate about the work because the process to grow a brand takes time.
What are some challenges you faced that you didn’t expect as an entrepreneur?
Finding the right partners to help carry out the mission (manufacturers, distribution) was more challenging than anticipated.
What are some challenges you did expect?
That the food industry is very competitive and it’s very important to clearly share your message with the world so people can easily see the value you bring.
What resources do you recommend for someone looking to start their own business?
Seek out mentorship from other entrepreneurs who are in the space you’re looking to enter. Learn from those who know more than you.
Tell us more about your products and where you source your materials/ingredients from.
We offer 3 flavors of Pinole: Chia Oatmeal Original, Banana Cinnamon, and Peanut Butter & Cacao. Our Pinole is made with high protein & fiber chia seeds and non-GMO heirloom corn, grown on the independent sustainable farms of Oaxaca, Mexico! We’re very proud of this corn! It’s healthy and helps Mexico’s economy. We add gluten-free oats, cinnamon, and other gluten-free and vegan ingredients to our Pinole, and Pinole Chia Oatmeal is the ideal pre & post-workout meal or breakfast for the busy day ahead!
Where can we follow you and your business adventures?
The Pinole Project is on Instagram, Tiktok, & Youtube! You can also find us at https://thepinoleproject.com and amazon.com/thepinoleproject