What Does it Means to be a Latina?

Filed in archive Latina Musings on November 3, 2006

I'm proud of being Latina.

Latinas are warm, passionate, seductive; we are loving, caring, protective women. Latinas are mothers, always; either of their own children, or of their friends and loved ones. We nurture the world, with ancient knowledge, inherited traditions and profound intuition.

We take pride on our culture; we teach our kids español, castellano and our dialectos, every day, so our language stays alive. We fight discrimination and persecution; we're brave women.

We love and support our men, walking side by side with them; we're wives, but also partners. We truly understand men and women are different; we want equal rights, but we don't want to be men. We express our feminity with joy and exuberance, telling the world: Soy mujer, soy Latina!

We dance, and sing, and cook with many spices; we tell stories and cuentos, we believe in magical things. We have big hearts, wild spirits and pure souls; we're built with strong thighs, wide hips, wavy hair, starry eyes. We come in many shapes, sizes and ages; our soft skin has delicious and scented colors: chocolate brown, ebony black, milky white, hazelnut gold...

We are all so different, and yet so alike.

What does to be a Latina means to you? Let me hear what you think, leave a comment!

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Rating: 9.00 out of 6 vote(s) cast.

Response from: lisabeth (03/30/07 2:29am)

im blonde headed ,green starry eyed ,wide hipped,wavy hair,,,,,,my dad is latin and italian,and my mom is indian and latin,,im wondering if im latina,,am i? if im not full blooded am i still part?

Response from: lisabeth (03/30/07 2:29am)

im blonde headed ,green starry eyed ,wide hipped,wavy hair,,,,,,my dad is irish, latin and italian,and my mom is indian and latin,,im wondering if im latina,,am i? if im not full blooded am i still part?

Response from: Mar�a Lozano (11/26/09 1:44pm)

Hello, even if my english is not very good I'll try to explain mayself jaja. I am argentinian, and I must say that as a latin-american I am surprised of all the indentity problems there are in American idiosincracia (you speak spanish, don't you?). I have some friends from other "pa�ses hermanos", as we like to call them (Mexico, Colombia, Chile..) and we've talked about this term americans use: "latin". I know about the "melting pot" and all these ideas americans have, but I have to say it's sad in some way. Where is the american identity, can you tell me? How can population live so separated, with a colision of different cultures from other countries but never really autoctono? And as sons and daughters of latin-americans, I understand your situation and the identity problems you can find when you grow up. It's not to make you feel bad, but the great majority of latin-americans don't consider you -born and raised in USA- latin-americans too. Seriously, a lot of americans have stereotypes about "latin" people and it's normal that you follow them. But it's sad that you don't identify as an American, because, digamos la verdad, you are an american. You will hate me after reading this, but it's the truth y no hay peor ciego que aquel que no quiere ver. You are an american to us, not "latin". Un beso corazon, accept yourself as you are sweet heart!

Response from: Silvia (12/22/09 3:30pm)

I think being Latina is in your heart. I was born in El Salvador, lived in Mexico for 5 years and then moved to Canada when I was 9. Our parents moved us back to El Salvador when I was 15 and I wasn't very happy about that at the time but now I thank my parents that we did. I always felt that I didn't fit it though, I was too "Canadian" to be Salvadore�a but when I was in Canada I was too Latina to be considered Canadian... despite all of that confusion I now embrace my "latinidad" I am happy that I can speak fluent English AND Spanish, I love to eat perogies AND pupusas, I love to dance the foxtrot AND salsa. I feel in my heart that I'm latina and I think that's the most important thing. Yes, being Latina is really being from Latin America but you can embrace your roots no matter who or where you are. (I dare say that some of those people who are Irish American have never been to Ireland, but their traditions and culture come from their parents or abuelos). I think you shouldn't doubt yourself. I consider my self a Salvadore�a-Canadiense my heart will always be in El Salvador but I can't imagine not living in Canada. I am no longer confused about who I am, I am Latina and proud of it!

Response from: Flor (02/19/10 2:05pm)

I'm from Peru, but now I'm living in the UK. After meeting so many ppl from different backgrounds n races, what surprises is the responses I get after exchanging "where r u from?", some guy I recently met said I looked Burmese.. I've been told I look Asian, Indian, Mexican (that's the most flattering jaja).. I'm brunette, latina, but how come can I look Asian??? Funny. Ever happened to you?

Response from: "Gordis21" (08/10/10 6:57pm)

I was born & raised in Honduras, I've been in the united states for 8 years. I've met so many people from different countries they all think latinas are HOT!!. I think latina is taking your culture in your heart no matter where you go.
latina= being sexy (without trying), good sense of humor, strong personality, being proud of your culture.
people know I'm latina because of my strong personality, plus i have super curly brown hair :) and im so proud of saying
IM LATINA= FROM HONDURAS BABY!!!

Response from: "CATRACHA21" (08/10/10 6:57pm)