US Latinas Are Feeling The Pressure With Gender Roles

A new study says that Latinas born in the United States continue to experience social expectations related to gender roles similar to those of previous generations. In fact, 76 percent of U.S.-born respondents said they feel pressured to do household chores such as cooking and cleaning. The research also showed that 57 percent of Hispanic men surveyed agreed that household tasks fall to women, creating more pressure on women than on their male counterparts.

The study, published in May by the Pew Research Center, also found that more than half of U.S.-born Latinas face pressures related to beauty stereotypes. Being Latina is often associated with always being beautiful and well-groomed. The phrase "Antes muerta que sencilla" is no coincidence. This way of thinking dates back to the early 20th century, according to Bobe D’león. In northern Mexico, women who were about to die would say, "I’m going to die, but don’t make me look ugly. I want to go looking good in the coffin."

Similarly, the pressure to marry and start a family remains prevalent in the community. Sixty-six percent of U.S.-born Latinas surveyed said they face a lot or some pressure to get married and have children.

"Our U.S.-born Latinas are more likely to say that Hispanic women in general in the U.S. face pressures to get married, to cook and clean at home, to be beautiful," said Sahana Mukherjee, associate director for the Race and Ethnicity Research Team at the Pew Research Center and one of the report's authors.

These data show that cultural values related to marianismo continue to be passed down from generation to generation. It's important to remember that marianismo defines distinct social and cultural roles for Latinas based on gender.

"For men, authority and esteem are vested in virility. For women, power derives primarily from marriage or motherhood," according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States.

Although times have changed and Latinas now have more opportunities to complete undergraduate and graduate studies, Latin American values remain deeply rooted in family structures, and women are expected to fulfill certain expectations. In fact, 63 percent of Latinas say they often feel these kinds of family or work pressures.

"Calladita Te Ves Más Bonita"

Have you heard this before? The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors brought with them the sword and the cross. Evangelization was a fundamental process in colonization, and with it came an idealized version of femininity based on the figure of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin not only represented the mother of God but also an ideal model of feminine perfection: immaculate, sacrificial, and completely devoted to her family and God.

Marianismo, named in honor of the Virgin Mary, proposes a set of values and behaviors expected of women. From a young age, girls are taught the importance of being virtuous, self-sacrificing, submissive, and maintaining an image of immaculate purity. These teachings are deeply ingrained in family and religious education and continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

Content creator Leslie Olvera explores in an episode of her podcast, “Your Latina Hermana,” why she felt guilty for straying from her family's traditional values and expectations of being a good daughter. In this episode, she discusses the traditional gender roles specifically linked to Latino culture: marianismo.

Through the microphone in her home office in New Jersey, Olvera shared that, according to her family's standards, being a good daughter means being the caregiver for her siblings and helping manage the household by cooking and cleaning.

“If I fulfilled those duties,” she said, “it meant I was ready to take on the ultimate role that comes with being a woman.”

Olvera recalled how, by meeting these expectations, she was told, "You're ready to get married." This phrase meant being prepared for marriage, the ultimate goal for women according to her family’s perspective.

Through this podcast episode, Olvera provides a platform to discuss and challenge the traditional concept of marianismo. Her personal story resonates with many Latinas who face similar cultural pressures, and her goal is to empower them to redefine their roles and break free from restrictive expectations.

Self-Sacrifice vs. Self-Actualization: The Dilemma of Latina Women 

In episode 97 of the podcast “Chingona Revolution,” host Erika Cruz addresses a crucial topic for Latinas: the contrast between self-sacrifice and self-actualization. Cruz examines how Latino culture has idealized the woman who sacrifices everything for others, often at the expense of her own dreams and desires.

Self-sacrifice, Cruz notes, is a common expectation for women in Latinx culture. They are expected to be humble and compassionate, always prioritizing the needs of others over their own. However, this ideal of marianismo can be harmful, as women rarely have the opportunity to explore the life they truly want.

"Self-sacrifice means you never achieve what you want, you only work for what others want," Cruz says. She emphasizes that it’s not wrong to want a life of your own and have personal goals. The culture of machismo and marianismo, she adds, often discourages women from living their own lives.

In her podcast, Cruz offers three steps for Latinas to move from self-sacrifice to self-actualization:

• Recognize when you are self-sacrificing.
• Understand the importance of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
• Accept that your loved ones will probably still love you while you self-actualize.

Cruz reflects on her own experience working in her mother's dream job, not her own, to make her mother happy until she realized that this way of thinking was limiting her from reaching her true purpose and being truly happy.

The conversation in “Chingona Revolution” is a call to Latinas to give themselves permission to live their lives fully, break free from the restrictive ideals of marianismo, and find a new way to serve their community without sacrificing their own happiness.

Breaking with family traditions is not an easy task, especially for those who do not want to hurt their parents. However, more and more Latinas want to break away from these expectations and set their own rules. This shift is not just about individual empowerment; it represents a collective movement towards redefining cultural norms and creating a future where Latinas can thrive on their own terms. As Latinas continue to challenge these long-held expectations, they pave the way for future generations to experience greater freedom and self-determination. The journey is challenging, but the growing support within the community shows that change is not only possible but inevitable.