Latinas Through Generations

By Toni Rocha Rico

November 21, 2014

When I reflect on the women in my family and remember their stories I can’t help but think about how much times have changed in regards to the Latinas. I am not referring to Latinas in education, in the military or even in the business industry…at least not directly anyway.  What I am referring to is the family dynamic specifically in regards to Latinas and the relationships they hold as mothers and daughters.  I recall stories my grandmother would tell me about the family unit of the 1940s. From what I gather she and her sisters and brothers all lived in the same block. The family unit was so close that they were all a part of each other’s daily lives.

In the 1960’s family’s moved to different parts of town. Also groups of family members moved to different regions of the country for the purpose of better work opportunities.  But still the mother lived with one of her daughters or sometimes sons and the interaction with the immediately family was for the most part still intact.  From day to day mother and adult daughter still cooked together and performed daily chores together.  Through all of this change as generations continue to evolve the woman’s role was still to marry and have children.  There was not much room for dreams of doing anything else.  Grandmother shared with me that during World War II she wanted to join the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP).  She would have fit in perfectly in the military.  Of course that dream did go far as I am sure her parents were against it.  Mom on the other hand did dream of falling in love, marrying and keeping a nice home.

A generation later with me in the backdrop of the 80’s I too wanted to join the military as my grandmother once did.  I recall a Navy recruiter coming to visit our home but again I did not leave the home until I married.  My parents did not like the idea of me going too far from home. I am thankful for the love and protection of the family but I can’t help but wonder what might have been had we had the support to do something different.

Now I am the mother of a daughter. I have done my best to raise her with good values.  As a child she participated in various sports, technology projects with her school and volunteer events. Attempting to address the physical, intellectual and spiritual I stressed the importance of fitness, innovation and citizenship.  With each generation there is more flexibility to allow our young women to “be all that they can be” if you will.  It is an exciting time for our Latina’s as they go off to college, join the military or simply find their own way.  But I can’t help but think that everything comes at a cost.  I certainly do not see my daughter every day.  These days I see her more on Facebook than face to face.

Tomorrow she takes off to the next chapter in her life as she goes to technical training school with the Air Force.  Letting go may be difficult but oh how beautiful it is to see our Latina’s fly.