Encouraging Hispanic Girls to Grow | Michelle Navarro | TEDxMountainViewCollege

Summary

The speaker shares a personal narrative exploring the challenges faced by Hispanic girls in education, influenced by cultural traditions and stereotypes. They recount their mother's and grandmother's experiences with gender roles and the importance of education as a means of breaking generational patterns. The talk highlights the impact of the 'quinceanera' tradition, the high dropout rate among Hispanic girls, and the need for role models to encourage aspirations beyond cultural expectations. The speaker advocates for changing the narrative from 'no, this is not for us' to 'yes, we can', emphasizing the power of mentorship and support.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The speaker's mother and grandmother were from large families in San Antonio, Texas, where the middle daughter traditionally served as the 'Maid of the family', taking on household chores and caring for younger siblings.
• 👩‍🏫 A local school principal intervened to ensure the speaker's mother received an education, which was not a given in her family's culture, challenging the traditional role of women in her family.
• 📚 The speaker highlights the importance of education and children's rights, as exemplified by her mother's experience and the laws that support access to basic education.
• 🚨 The National Education Association's study revealed that Hispanic girls have the highest dropout rates in high school and college due to cultural stereotypes, family responsibilities, absenteeism, lack of involvement in school activities, and high teen pregnancy rates.
• 🎉 The tradition of 'Quinceañera' or 'Kinetta' is described as a significant coming-of-age event for Hispanic girls, which can lead to financial strain on families and may contribute to early pregnancies.
• 📉 The speaker's personal observations and research indicate that certain cultural archetypes and practices may discourage Hispanic girls from pursuing education and personal growth.
• 🌐 The concept of 'La Kinetta' is compared to debutante balls in wealthy societies, suggesting that the tradition has been adapted and amplified in immigrant communities in the U.S.
• 📚 The speaker's mother, despite being discouraged from reading, found solace in books, particularly 'Cinderella', but was physically punished for reading, which impacted her relationship with literature.
• 💔 The speaker's grandmother's life was marked by illiteracy and adherence to traditional gender roles, which influenced her treatment of the speaker's mother and her views on education.
• 🔑 The speaker's mother broke the cycle of limiting her daughter's education and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of saying 'yes' to education and personal development.
• 🗣️ The speaker calls for a change in conversation from limiting beliefs to supportive and encouraging dialogue, urging others to become role models and mentors for Hispanic girls.

Q & A

What was the sad tradition in the speaker's mother's family?

The sad tradition was that the middle daughter was designated as the maid of the family, responsible for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the younger siblings, thus acting as the second mother.

Why was the speaker's grandmother illiterate?

The speaker's grandmother was illiterate because she was the middle daughter in her family and was kept at home to perform domestic duties, preventing her from attending school.

How did the local elementary school principal change the speaker's mother's life?

The principal noticed the speaker's mother was absent from school, visited her home, and insisted that the grandmother allow her to attend school, thus giving her the opportunity for education.

What challenges do Hispanic girls face according to the National Education Association's study?

Hispanic girls face challenges such as high dropout rates, cultural stereotypes reinforcing submissive roles, responsibilities at home leading to absenteeism, lack of involvement in after-school activities, and high teen pregnancy rates.

What is the significance of the 'quinceañera' tradition in Hispanic culture?

The 'quinceañera' is a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday, symbolizing her transition from childhood to womanhood, often involving a church ceremony, a party, and the presentation of her 'Ultima Mona' doll and first pair of high heels.

Why might the 'quinceañera' contribute to high teen pregnancy rates among Hispanic girls?

The 'quinceañera' marks a girl's transition to womanhood, which may imply a new freedom and exploration of sexuality, potentially leading to early pregnancies.

What are the four Hispanic archetypes mentioned in the script and how do they impact Hispanic women's lives?

The archetypes are La Virgen de Guadalupe (the idealized mother figure), La Curandera (the medicine woman or healer), La Llorona (the ghost woman who drowned her children), and La Malinche (the betrayer). They impact Hispanic women by reinforcing mixed messages about their roles, behaviors, and self-worth.

How did the speaker's mother break the generational pattern of not valuing education?

The speaker's mother, after experiencing the lack of education herself, consciously decided to encourage her own children, especially her daughter, to pursue education and various interests, thus breaking the pattern.

What is the speaker's proposed 21st-century definition of 'Malinche'?

The speaker proposes redefining 'Malinche' as a modern woman who is highly intelligent, fiercely independent, and prioritizes education, while maintaining self-worth and not needing to rely on others.

What message does the speaker have for the audience regarding supporting Hispanic girls?

The speaker encourages the audience to become role models and mentors for Hispanic girls, to change the conversation from saying 'no' to encouraging and supporting their dreams and aspirations.