2009 September 07 | VivirLatino

Latino Labor Day : Women’s Upward Mobility built on the back of Immigrant Work

8:56 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration|Labor|Women · 2 Comments

7 Sep 2009

56957448 Continuing thinking about labor on labor day, I would like to turn your attention to the struggles of mujeres, primarily immigrants, who work inside the homes of other women.

Immigrant women workers today form a pillar of the middle-class family. As nannies, housekeepers and other domestic workers, their status is defined by the strangely intimate nature of their work combined with structural discrimination. A new study presents at their hidden plight in a new light: as a driver of the advancement of the mothers they serve.

There is much talk still in mainstream feminist circles on the work at home vs stay at home mommy divide. Within these discussions however there is little if any analysis of how some women get to make this very decision and who takes the role of housekeeper and child care provider. It certainly isn’t the men of the household, assuming there is even a man in the picture. Rather it is immigrant women who often have never had the luxury of making a choice to stay home or to work outside the home.

Lunes Labor Day Musica : Victor Jara Te Recuerdo Amanda

7:40 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Chile|Labor|Music · Comments Off

7 Sep 2009

I woke up this morning thinking about the history of Labor Day in the United States. How is it that in the U.S. we don’t celebrate May Day and instead have taken this weekend in September and made it about bbq’s and last trips to the beach? Don’t get me wrong, I love some grilled carne and playa, but it seems like this U.S. holiday was rushed into existence in an effort to distract from real issues for the working/laboring class and purposely separated from May Day which reminds workers of the violence often unleashed upon them when they stand up with one voice.

Already the mainstream news media is turning the end of summer, the start of fall into a holiday of fear, recalling the horrors of 9-11-01 while denying other, earlier September horrors that are related thanks to the the politics of imperialism. Maybe that’s why when I woke up this morning I was thinking of Victor Jara and his musical legacy, how his art composed with the labor struggles of workers in Chile led to his murder. I am thinking of Amanda and Manuel in the song Te Recuerdo Amanda recognizing the Amandas and Manuels I see everyday in my family, on my block, in my community.

Ana L. Flores: I was very excited when you decided to join us. I really wanted your voice there as it would add dep [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hola Juliana and thanks for commenting. There is a dearth in activist/critical thinking Latino blogg [...]

Julio Ricardo Varela: Good for you for asking. I got goose bumps just reading this and yes, yes, yes, to it all. Thank you [...]

julianabritto: The sense that I get is that you might feel a little frustrated at the dearth in activist bloggers? [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hola Ray and thank you for commenting. You are spot on when you say that both parties will exploit u [...]

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Archive for September 7th, 2009

Latino Labor Day : Women’s Upward Mobility built on the back of Immigrant Work

Lunes Labor Day Musica : Victor Jara Te Recuerdo Amanda

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