Guest post by Jennifer Gil
Women’s Center student staff member
As we celebrate women’s history month, I decided it would be fitting to center my student-led project around Latinx women and Latinx queer women. As someone who shares those intersecting identities, I always have felt it important to represent my community. This is a way to contribute significantly not only to the representation of Latinx women but also to touch on an under-discussed topic, their mental health outcomes. This month, I have been engaging a social media campaign to provide Latinx women with resources and information to better care for their mental health.
The intersecting identities of Latinx women and Latinx queer women are often oppressed by cultural structures and norms both specific to and external to the community. Latinx women are socialized to uphold values rooted in machismo. Their role in a cultural context is to provide for their families as primary caregivers. Therefore, women in the culture are often most valued when they self-silence and self-regulate at the expense of their own authenticity. These cultural expectations can come with a huge mental health burden. Not only do Latinx women have to navigate a culturally oppressive society, but also a society dominated by patriarchal and heteronormative expectations. It is difficult to live in such a repressive climate that offers little to no representation. I have included some Instagram accounts below for Latinx women and queer women to follow so that they may feel represented and in turn empowered.
For eating disorder awareness and body positivity: @nalgonapositivitypride
Justice, Liberation and Queer representation: @brownbadassbonita
Now let’s explore the general stigmatization of mental health in Latinx communities. This stigmatization is largely due to the attribution of mental health signs as personality characteristics. For example, when someone’s mental health is not being managed, they might withdraw from family activities. As a result of familismo (a core value in Latinx culture), withdrawing from family can be interpreted as the person not being outgoing or family-oriented. This is a simple example, but it is important to note that these interpretations are rooted in cultural values. Although family members have good intentions at heart, they have been culturally and systematically socialized to respond in this way.
The question that arises is how do we work through this stigmatization of mental health so that we can better care for ourselves and our familia? The first step is learning self-validation. Many of us growing up were taught the phrase “échale ganas” which roughly translates to “make a good effort”. Although this phrase is symbolic of the resilience of those in our culture, it further invalidates the struggles that we experience as marginalized people. We don’t always have the ability or the resources to overcome difficulties on our own. It is important however, to practice self-validation so you can better understand when to reach out to your support system. Self–validation involves accepting your own internal experience, your thoughts, and your feelings. This can be difficult for those who did not grow up in an environment that encouraged self-validation. That is why it can be beneficial for a professional to provide validation for us. This is where therapy comes into play.
As a result of misconceptions around therapeutic resources, seeking therapy is often a last resort for Latinx individuals. In Latinx culture, seeking therapy is often interpreted as not being competent enough to deal with our own struggles. In addition, a lack of exposure to therapy and psychological concepts creates confusion around what steps to take when reaching out for help. A general and the most common question I hear from people in my community is, “How do I know if I need therapy?”
According to the American Psychological Association there are two general guidelines to consider. First, is the problem distressing? Second, is it interfering with some aspect of life? Answering yes to either of these questions suggests that the problem is worth exploring in therapy.
Finding a therapist to begin with can be a very daunting task. It is important to learn more about a therapist’s credentials, and specializations before having a consultation. It is equally important to note that therapists will not always be a perfect match, they know this, and you should, too! For more tips about how to find a therapist watch this informative video from LatinxTherapy.
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