Review of Themes from 2009 (Part I)

Over the course of 2009, I wanted to give us all some focus around the lessons we were learning and the women we spoke with, as well as the ideas we would focus on to discuss and consider.  Additionally, the contributors to the site centered their contributions around the themes, as well.

I would encourage you to go back and review the book recommendations in Marcela’s Book Picks, as well as Sister Outsider Entertainment’s Flick Picks to see how they dovetail with the themes!  Also, you might want to click through a review of the women interviewed in 2009, in case some stories catch your interest.  Click here to see the list of prior Powerful Latina interviewees.

So that you can look at all the themes in one place, here they are in order:

In January, the theme was La Niña (the child).  We discussed innocence, curiosity, openness and wonder.  It was a time for us to reflect on how we bring the child-like qualities into our everyday lives, or how our wounded child might be causing us to (re)act in fear or other limiting ways.  We had Powerful Latina interviewees that work with youth, and those that were fearless young women themselves!

In February, the theme was La Coqueta/La Seductora (the flirt/seductress).  We discussed the stereotypical images of Latinas as “hot and fiery women” and then played with ideas of sensuality and sexuality and how Latinas are taught to approach these ideas, and what we can do to change these ideas, if we want to.  We talked with a Latina sex educator, a Latina who owns a “sexy shop,” and a Latina who writes erotica, among others.

In March, the theme was La Exploradora (the explorer), and I interviewed five Latinas in the sciences.  We talked about exploration and moving beyond our comfort zones.  It was fun to learn about different careers in the sciences, as well as talk about science in our everyday lives, and how we learn and talk about the sciences.

In April, the theme was La Chismosa (the gossip), and we talked about how our stories of others can hurt them, and ourselves.  We also discussed that sometimes the stories we tell about others can be supportive and uplifting (if done with the right intentions and energy).  We also talked about how we share information about others (with or without their permission) and what this means in our communities of women.  I interviewed some very interesting Latinas in the media this month.

In May, the theme was La Guerrillera (the warrior).  We interviewed women who had had struggles in their lives and were true women warriors.  In addition, we discussed how we have to do “battle” in our own lives, and how we choose our battles.  Do we fight only when necessary or are we too quick to draw our swords?

In June, the theme was La Madre (the mother).  In Latino cultures, the mother is venerated, honored and respected.  We talked about how a mother can be of such importance, but how sometimes the label of a “bad mother” can be the worst of all!  How do we view, interact with and BE mothers?

You may want to take time now to reflect a bit about your own answers to the questions we posed, and what you lessons you’ve learned over the past year.