7 reasons why Hillary Clinton is NOT like my “Abuela”

It is not a surprise that during this time of campaigning for the United States Presidential election, the campaigning usually comes down to identifying with certain groups of ethnicities to guarantee their vote. The United States is one of the most culturally diverse places in the world in regards to our ethnic back rounds, social classes and so on. This Country is a prime example of where intersectionality is predominately felt by many ethnically diverse groups in this case Latino Women. Like any other campaign year I’m used to seeing this propagandist type advertisement on Television and web cites, but this one really stuck in my mind, and really made me cringe and the false identity that Hillary Clinton was trying to portray in order to gain the YOUNG Latino Votes, specifically the young Latino Women vote. Hillary Clintons campaign team developed a post up on her website called “ The Seven Things Hillary Clinton has in common with your Abuela” Abuela (Spanish word for grandmother). Though her team at the time thought that she would gain support with their efforts to appeal to the young Latino Spanish speaking voters they couldn’t have been SO wrong in this case. The Latino community responded with extreme backlash with trending twitter posts such as this one written by Lupita Gonzalez and Marisol Ramos

Hillary Clinton campaign has left many people in the Hispanic community accusing her Hispandering, which is a mash up of Hispanic and pandering. Yes I can personally attest that Latinos are a very family orientated group of people, we love our Grandmothers, and we have this relationship with them that is honestly filled with (1) respect or respeto (a word which Clinton used repeatedly) form the discrimination and obstacles they have had to endure in order live in this country and (2) loving memories that stress the importance of family values and togetherness, but I took Hillary’s accusations of Hispandering not only to falsely identify with the Latino Community but with specifically women in the Latino Community. Historically the bond of a young Latino women with her “abuela” is something that is very strong and noticeable within our communities, they are a constant reminder of why we as young Latino Women should never forget our culture and heritage in this American society that often tries to strip us of it. Hillary Clinton Attempts to give her self an identity of being an Abuela or in this case my Abuela but it is something she possibly cannot do, and to try is insulting and exploiting of an entire community of people who (by the way) have a pretty large demographic here in the United States and could ultimately decide her fate in this presidential election.

Kimberly Crenshaw discusses how the many politicians such as Clinton and activist often fail to attempt with different groups of ethnicity in her article Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality Identity Politics and Violence Against Women of Color.

“Many women of color, for example are burdened by poverty, child care responsibilities, and lack of job skills, These burdens are largely the consequence of gender and class oppression, are then compounded by the racially discriminatory employment and housing practices of women of color often face.”

These Burdens discussed by Crenshaw, are just a couple reason why elite white upper class women such as Clinton will often fail to identify with other ethnic groups. Many politicians and policy makers have a “one fit all” type of mentality when it comes to issues surround “women”. What is often lacking in these discussions about policies in this case Latino women is the notion that intersectionality exist and does not fit their “one fit all” agenda. Also this “one fit all” type of mentality is often made with one kind of women in mind, and lets just say she does not look anything like my Abuela or me. For example in the case for domestic violence and immigration Krenshaw explains a that many of policies that have been put into effect to help victims are completely hindered toward non-minority women, often leaving them with no where to turn. Policies under the Marriage Fraud Provisions Act, a person who marries a United State Citizen must remain “properly” married for two years before even attempting to apply for permanent status. This environment often leaves the immigrant women of color with a higher risk of domestic violence due to the reluctant fear of being deported.

“ These uniform standards of needs ignore the fact that different needs often demand different priorities in terms of resources and allocation, and consequently, these standards hinder the ability of counselors to address the needs of non white and poor women”

Until more policies are made in order to hinder towards women of not just of Latino decent but all any non-white ethnicities arise. Hillary Clinton and other Politicians like her who try to identify with these communities will never be positively received, and will result in backlash.

In memory of this women, one of the strongest and bravest women i knew who came to this country to seeking a better future for her fourteen children, and sixty three grandchildren, My Abuela.