Once a betrayal happens, whether it is a perceived action taken AGAINST you or BY you, what is the outcome? Last time we talked about the definition of betrayal (according to Wikipedia), so what happens when there is a breaking or violation of a “social contract,” trust, or confidence that produces conflict within a relationship? …
Wikipedia says, “Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive social contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group, or it is a complete break from previously decided upon or …
When and how do we feel betrayed as Latinas? Who is doing the betraying and why would they commit such an act? And moreover, when are we the betrayer of others, or, even worse, of ourselves? This month we’ll be examining these questions and more around the theme of La Vendida. Many of our interviewee’s …
B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras (Grand Central Publishing)
Beauty Maria Zavala’s evil boss Bonnie refuses to promote her because of her weight, inspiring Beauty to try a new path to success: blackmail.
When we think of the ideal of a “good mother” we attribute phrases such as nurturing, kind, tender, supportive, warm, caring and unconditional love. We have sayings about a mothers’ love, mother’s milk, and a mother’s hands. All of these phrases and sayings idealize mothers as the epitome of caring and tender-heartedness. These are the …
Golondrina, Why Did You Leave Me?: A Novel by Bárbara Renaud González (University of Texas Press). A young Mexican woman makes a heart-wrenching decision to leave her young daughter behind in Mexico as she escapes to el Norte.
This past week’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the position of U.S. Supreme Court justice has given me chills. It is so exciting to think of a LATINA in such a position. And while I know that so many people have had a part in making this opportunity possible for a Latina – there have …
There are times when we believe a battle exists, when in fact we’ve created it in our minds. I know what I’m talking about because I’ve done it to myself numerous times. Fortunately, I’m better at recognizing it now than I used to be, but I still find myself, more often than I’d like to …
The woman warrior – this vision can be powerful and inspiring, such as the rebel, the activist, the revolutionary, and even the quiet subversive.
We have icons in our pop culture, such as Xena, the Warrior Princess, and even Wonder Woman. (She was my favorite! Did you know Linda Carter, the actress who played Wonder Woman, was Latina?)
These roles give us models of strong women who are capable, active, and even a little sexy. These women can take care of themselves – and they get to wear cool outfits! (Ok, back to Wonder Woman – I always wanted a lasso of truth, bracelets that could deflect bullets and a tiara that could double as a boomerang. Well, what little girl doesn’t want a tiara?!? Just kidding, I know not all of us did!)
In this month of May, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that to many is mistaken as Mexican Independence Day. Of course, most of you know that Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day (that date is September 16), but do you know WHY we celebrate this holiday?
I have to say that for myself, although I knew the basics, each year I learn more and more and I thought I would share some of these insights with you. I believe they are important especially because, as Jovita Juarez, this week’s interviewee, reminded us, our Latino holidays often get “co-opted” by the companies who want to do Hispanic Marketing, and in particular, alcohol companies who want to make our holidays all about drinking.