“Men underestimate women,” claims high school senior Jessica Gallardo. “Some women are mentally strong. We can overpower anyone,” she adds.

Gallardo is one of many teens that believe that women are capable of doing anything they set their mind to.

It’s been almost 40 years since the Women’s Liberation Movement occurred in the 1960’s and 70’s in the U.S. It was a time when women fought for gender equality and to break the common stereotypes of a women’s role in society . The changed views such as women are in charge of cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children while men work and provide for the family.

Still many teens and young adults believe that women and men are not equal. “I think things have gotten much better since the 50′s, but women still aren’t on the same level as men,” states Ytzel McDaniel, high school senior. “There are lots of double standards. And when Hilary Clinton wanted to run for president there were many comments of her not being capable because she is a woman.”

Since the feminist movement, women have made great accomplishments. Today, there have been a number of successful women that have had careers typically reserved for men including businesswomen, lawyers, doctors, engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and much more. In 1981, the first woman was appointed to be a Supreme Court Justice. In 2008, Clinton was a serious contender to the presidential nomination. In 2009, Sonia Maria Sotomayor because the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. In various countries including Chile, Brazil and India, female presidents have been elected.

Unfortunately, we have not reach complete equality in society. Men still earn more than women for the same job. Men still hold more political positions in the U.S. and we have yet to vote for a female President. While men are still the dominant figure in this society, not all men think it should be that way.

Justin Nelson, a male high school graduate and culinary art student believes that men and women should be paid the same. “They [some men] live off of fear and they know how strong and smart people are, black, Latino, women of all colors. They are scared to let women lead. It’s a shame.”

While some teens and young adults believe that men and women should be equal, some think that they aren’t and shouldn’t be.

Freshman college student, Arlene Alvarez believes that men and women shouldn’t be equal. She explains, “If we were equal to men, we would be eligible for drafts and all the other stuff that’s best to be done by men. It’s not that women can’t do it, but we were given child bearing parts for a reason. It has its advantages and disadvantages but ultimately things are the way they are for a reason.”

Yet, Alvarez does believe that women can hold professional jobs not typical for women such as engineering and thinks that we do not necessarily belong in the kitchen or as housewives.

It seems that there is common ground in the way teens and young adults view feminism. Everyone agreed that men and women should be paid the same for equal work, but the lines become murky when equality threatens to change men and women’s role in society.

By Sonia Rangel

When this country was founded, women had no rights. They were not educated and considered property to men. They were not allowed to vote or take part in politics. If they worked, they had little control over the money they earned. Women were completely dependent on men and confined by double standards. Since then, women have taken great steps in order to gain equal rights as women. Today, women are allowed to vote and run for office, earn a college degree, take on a career and are recognized as individuals. This is mostly due to the efforts of feminists who fought and demanded equal rights and continue the struggle for women’s equality.

According to Webster dictionary, feminism is “the movement aimed at equal rights for women.” There have been several movements in the U.S. supporting women’s rights throughout history. The women’s suffrage movement, a struggle that lasted 100 years, gave women the right to vote when the Nineteenth Amendment was finally passed in 1920. The movement started in the 1820s, before the Civil War but officially began in the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha C, Wright, and Mary Ann McClintock. At the convention, women declared they should be able to pursue an education and earn a living, but most importantly they passed a resolution which stated that “it is the sacred duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise.”

Suffrage Movement – Getting the Right to Vote
The most influential women suffrage movement leaders, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, continued advocating for women’s right to vote during and after the Civil War that freed black slaves and gave all male citizens the right to vote when the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were passed. Although, the women’s suffrage movement died down during the Civil War, the campaign continued and gained strength. The National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was formed in order to seek an amendment in the U.S. Constitution and convince state legislatures to amend state constitutions. In 1910, the states in the west like Idaho and Utah began granting women the right to vote in the state and eventually on August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was passed. On Election Day, November 2, 1920, women voted for the first time in U.S. history. After the Nineteenth Amendment was passed in 1920, NAWSA turned into the present League of Women Voters. These women paved the way for women to have a political voice. In 1917, Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman elected to Congress.

The struggle continued for women after gaining the right to vote since sexual discrimination continued. Women had unequal pay at work, were excluded from powerful positions and were still restricted to double standards imposed by society. During World War II, when men took off to fight in Europe and the Pacific, women took on the jobs that the men had left behind. They began working industrial and manufacturing jobs to supply arms and weapons during the war. Rosie the Riveter, a powerful propaganda icon, represented the women that worked in factories with its written message, “We can do it!” After the war was over and the men returned, women were forced to go back to their housewife duties. Women continued to be discontent about the inequality that continued and eventually the Women’s Liberation Movement gained strength.

Feminist Movement – Women’s Liberation
The Women’s Liberation Movement, also known as the Feminist movement occurred during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1963, Betty Friedman wrote “The Feminine Mystique,” a book about women’s unhappiness with their lifestyle, and suggested that women were still unequal. The book became a bestseller and began the “second-wave” feminist movement (the women’s suffrage movement being the first.) During this period, the civil rights movement was also going strong and served as a model for the Women’s Liberation Movement as women organized in order to fight for equality. In 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded by Friedman in an effort to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) that would mean gender equality. The movement also supported welfare programs for pregnant women, infant care and birth control.

The ERA was passed by legislature and needed to be passed in 38 states within a seven year period in order for the amendment to become part of the U.S. Constitution. It was passed or ratified in 25 states during the first 9 months. The movement was strong and had many supporters as well as opponents. The opponents thought that the amendment would disadvantage women because it would threaten the traditional American family. Many of these anti-ERA supporters thought that feminists were angry, man-hating and hairy legged women which are common stereotype that still remain. The opponents also started a movement against the ERA and stopped the amendment from becoming a law. The ERA was 3 states away from becoming part of the U.S. Constitution. The feminist movement was still successful in raising awareness to gender inequality and empowering women to continue the struggle for equal rights.

Feminism Today
In 2011, the struggle for equality continues. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make 75.5 cents to every dollar a man earns. Women are not equally represented in the U.S. government since most elected officials are men. Today, women only make up 17 percent of the U.S. Congress. Our society still emphasizes certain gender roles and behavioral norms that place limits on the expectations of women. NOW still continues to convince legislation to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Following the steps of great feminists that have made great strides for women’s rights, women must continue the struggle to live in a fair and just society.

Instead of looking for the typical part-time job at retail stores, restaurants and ice-cream parlors, think about an internship. An internship is a job in which a student works, often without pay, in order to gain hands-on experience in a field they are interested in. Internships are mostly reserved for college students, but more opportunities are now available for high school students as well.

There are many internship opportunities available, especially for young Latinas. The Smithsonian Museum of Art offers internships which foster the next generation of young Latino leaders in the fields of art and culture and help students gain pride in their Latino heritage. Eighteen-year-old Angelica Medina from Madison, Wisconsin applied to the program and became a Young Latina Ambassador, interning away from home at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

“I started my senior year knowing that I wanted to travel and that I wanted to do something productive with my summer. When I found out about the amazing Smithsonian Latino Young Ambassador Program and saw the different places that I could possibly go, I knew it was the program for me,” Medina said. “I had the time of my life as a Smithsonian intern. I think I benefited a lot from the fact that it was aimed more at Latinos because I was able to focus in on what I could relate to and what I am interested in. I was also able to meet other Latino students who were like me.”

Holding an internship position such as Medina’s will help strengthen your resumé. Mercedes Domenech, Brown University’s Associate Director of Admission and admissions counselor for the border region, says internship employment is a plus on college applications.

“Looking for internships is a great way to expand the student’s horizons,” Domenech said. “The internship experience, shows that the student has a lot of personal initiative and seeks knowledge and experiences outside of the classroom. Colleges always look for students that look for intellectually stimulating experiences.”

Not only do internships beef up your resume, but they also lead you to higher paying or permanent job positions. The National Association of Colleges published a survey that said nearly 70 percent of interns receive job offers from internship employers. Part of that 70 percent was Sonia Alvarez, an 18 year-old who interned at a non-profit organization known as Community Scholars. Community Scholars is located in El Paso, Texas and offers paid leadership development internships to area high school students.

“After my second year interning at Community Scholars, I was offered a position as an administrative assistant,” Alvarez said. “I filled the position during my senior year as I worked and finished high school. It was an excellent opportunity from which I was able to gain professional experience while still attending school without paying the price of giving up my community and school activities.”

In addition to landing a permanent job, internships allow you to explore potential careers and majors for college. El Pasoan Felicia Garcia, now a senior in high school, confirmed her interest in business through her internship at Community Scholars and also discovered new and exciting interests.

“I became interested in starting and running my own non-profit,” Garcia said. “I also started to gain interest in political science. I had always wanted to do business, but now the type of business that I want to do has more philanthropic elements in it than before.”

Seventeen-year-old Thalia de Leon learned a lot about herself and what she wants to do in college through her internship at Girl Source, a non-profit organization in San Francisco, California that provides technology training jobs for high-school aged girls. De Leon advises young teens to search for opportunities around their community.

“I couldn’t be more satisfied,” De Leon said. “I love it at Girl Source. My experience has made me grow so much. I always tell girls to apply so they can experience the same things I did. Internships open doors to when you want a real job. People want someone with experience, so don’t waste your time and it’s fun.”

Often times, many communities do not offer formal internship programs such as the ones at Girl Source. However, what may seem like a lack of opportunity should not deter you from searching for an experience. Verónica Carbajal, a staff attorney at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to qualifying applicants, said young Latinas should be creative when looking for a meaningful opportunity.

“Students should ask their high school counselors, teachers and family friends for the names of reputable organizations or businesses that would consider hiring them as an employee or could use their volunteer work,” Carbajal said. “They can also look at magazines and newspapers for stories on organizations that are doing the kind of work they’re interested in. If the story does not include contact information, they should search online. The internet is also a great place for general searches. Students should identify a non-profit that is in need of volunteers and do as much as they can — even a couple of hours a week is a great start. Students just cannot get into the habit of wasting their time.”

Carbajal also mentioned that most colleges and employers understand that some students cannot afford to do an unpaid internship because they need to help their families financially. She said, if you have to work at an “unglamorous” job, you should learn as much as you can and not be embarrassed to tell your potential interviewer or employer why you worked instead of doing an unpaid internship.

Overall, an internship is an experience like no other and is a search that should continue throughout college as well. One college intern at Teen Voices, an intensive journalism mentoring and leadership development program for teen girls, agrees that internships in both high school and college are valuable experiences.

“In this day and age, a high GPA and extracurricular activities are not enough to make you stand out to potential employers,” Penn State University senior Courtney MacNealy said. “Companies also want to know that you have relating job experience. I think internships are a great way to find out not only what you do want to do, but what you don’t want to do. Look for creative ways to get involved in the community during the summer. There is an unfair stereotype of apathy and laziness that has often been assigned to teenagers. Don’t prove this stereotype right!”

All in all, summertime is a chance for all Latinitas to search for opportunities. Most deadlines for summer internships are between February and April, so start your search now and have a summer full of opportunity, fun and new experiences. Here are a few websites that can help guide you through your internship search!

Helpful Links
www.internshipprograms.com
www.internabroad.com
www.idealist.org
www.HighschoolInterns.com
www.volunteermatch.org
www.collegeboard.com
www.communityscholars.org

http://latino.si.edu

By Andrea McWilliams

Graduating from college is many people’s dream. However, Janean Esparza*, a Radio Television and Film senior at a University in Texas, will not be fulfilling her dreams. Like many undocumented immigrant youth living in the U.S., Janean has been dreaming of the passage of the “Dream Act,” a bill which would provide a pathway to citizenship to immigrant youth.

The “DREAM ACT” was rejected by Congress in December 2010, affecting many students who would be benefited by this bill. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The “DREAM Act”) is a piece of proposed federal legislation that was introduced in the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the bill would provide a pathway to legal residency for immigrant students who have grown up in the U.S. With this bill, youth would be able to reach their dreams of applying for temporary legal status, and to eventually obtain permanent status and become eligible for U.S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the U.S. military.

Janean is one of approximately one million undocumented students that would benefit from the DREAM-ACT, if this bill passes. She was in class when she found out the bill had been rejected once again. She said she didn’t understand why it didn’t pass. Although Janean is upset that the bill did not pass, she still has hope. She is not letting this shatter her dreams.

“I haven’t lost hope. As I grow older, I believe this will happen soon enough,” Janean said.

Janean is excited to graduate from college this December, but her fear after graduation is not having an opportunity to pursue a career in her field in the United States. As an undocumented immigrant, she does not have the legal right to work in the U.S. .She is a Latina that is looking for options to continue with her “American Dream.”

“When the bill was not pass, things started coming into my mind: what am I going to do now?,” Janean said. “I’m going to have to look for other options.”

After the DREAM ACT was denied once again, she had to open her mind to other options. She plans to apply for Graduate School and pursue a degree in her field, but there is little financial help that could be offered to her. As an undocumented immigrant, she is not eligible for federal financial aid and many scholarships are only open to U.S. citizens.

“I haven’t looked much into scholarships because of my status,” Janean said. “I want to see if I can find a job and pay for my Grad School.”

The search of a job is hard enough for Janean since she is not a citizen. Janean’s dream is to have an opportunity to live and work in a place she considers her home. Janean was born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico, but was brought to the United States at eight-months. Her parents wanted a better life for their daughter.

“I’m here, completely undocumented. All I have is my Mexican passport and my matricula consular,” Janean said.

Janean believes she is living part of the “American Dream,” having the opportunity to study at the University of Texas at Austin. Now that she is about to graduate in December, she has to look for other ways of becoming a professional. Although the Dream Act did not come to pass, she believes that if one door closes there are many others that will open.

“I’m not giving up my dream, there is always a next time.”

<font size=1><i>*Name has been changed to protect identity.</i></font>

By Sonia Escot

We came here from Mexico
To look for Freedom

We crossed the border with
Scratches
And scrapes
Burns
And blisters

Everyone seemed nice
Everyone was friendly
Everything was fine

The govenor changed
The law
Now we’re like prisoners
Stuck in our homes
Scared to come out

We’re like turtles
Stuck in our shells

We work hard
We do it right
We don’t know
What we did wrong

By: Kimberly Garcia-Jordan

Suppose you found the person with whom you wanted to spend the rest of your life with, now imagine your own government telling you that the two of you can’t get married or that you could but you would not be granted the same civil rights as other married couples because of your sexual orientation. What would you do?

On May 15th 2008 the California Supreme Court lifted the ban that prevented same-sex couples to get married in the state of California. The ban was then reintroduced in California in the Proposition 8 ballot, but that proposed ban was overturned in August of this year and gay weddings have resumed. This decision and its follow-up was ground breaking for those in the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer (LGBTQ) community, and although we are still a long ways away from achieving equality we are one step closer.

Currently marriage of same-sex couples is legal in seven states: California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington D.C. Although, gay couples can get married and will receive marriage licenses they are still denied the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples. When a heterosexual couple gets married they are awarded over 1,000 legal rights which include, joint health care, survivors benefits, custodial rights to children, shared property, child support, and alimony after divorce, domestic violence intervention and the list goes on.

The right to marry is not the only issue challenging the LGBTQ community; there is of course the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy of the U.S. Military which has come up for recent debate in the Obama administration. The policy prohibits anyone who “demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because it “would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.” This ridiculous policy infringes on the basic rights of Americans to serve in the army.

Then there is the conflict of adoption rights, which has improved a significant amount in the last decade. Adoption for same sex couples is legal in Guam, Andorra, Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, some parts of Australia, Canada and some parts of the United States. However, in the U.S. there is some heavy debate surrounding custodial rights to children. There is quite a bit of red tape for same sex couples to adopt in the U.S. but it’s not impossible.

The fight for gay rights has been continuing since the civil rights movement and only within the past few decades has there been a significant change. Government protection and assurance of equality under the law must extend to all people not just the selected few. Too many people have endured discrimination and segregation, the time has come for change. Although as a country we are still a long way from achieving equality every effort is important. There are various ways to get involved, such as starting a Gay-Straight Alliance Network, which is a youth-led organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Let your voice be heard and write your Congressional representative, Senator, local or national media, or even the President on meaningful issue that concerns you.

Below is a list of websites you can visit to educate yourself:

<a href=”http://www.youthresource.com/” target=”_blank”>http://www.youthresource.com/</a> – A website for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth to find resources on health, education, and advocacy.

<a href=”http://www.avp.org/” target=”_blank”>http://www.avp.org/</a> – New York City based organization that serves GLBTQ and HIV-positive victims of violence, and others affected by violence, by providing free and confidential services enabling them to regain their sense of control, identify and evaluate their options, and assert their rights.

<a href=”http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/” target=”_blank”>http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/</a> – A Web site for youth, parents, health professionals and youth-serving professionals.

<a href=”http://www.mysistahs.org/” target=”_blank”>http://www.mysistahs.org/</a> – A site by and for young women of color to provide information and offer support on sexual and reproductive health issues through education and advocacy.

By Carment Rodriguez

What does being a teen mean, usually? It means having fun, hanging out with friends, going to parties, and doing other random stuff! But, what happens when you have to care for someone 24-7 – no breaks. Someone who not only needs to be fed, cleaned, changed, but needs your undivided attention, love, support and teaching. This does not leave room for the care-free life of a teenager, does it?

Did you know that Latinas rank highest in teen pregnancy of all their peers in the United States. That is more than White, Asian, African American, Native American and any other American teen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latinas make up 61 percent of all teen pregnancies, and that number continues to rise. The National Campaign estimates that 52 percent of Latinas will become pregnant at least once by age 20 – compared to nearly 3 in 10 teen girls overall. That’s more than half your friends if you are reading this! When you hear these facts, what comes to your mind? Is it shock, surprise, or maybe it is something you already knew.

May 5, 2010 is the 9th annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and so I was compelled to talk to some of my peers dealing with this issue. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with three young Hispanics, now in their twenties, who were teen parents. For them, being a teenager was more work than fun and they missed out on a lot of “normal” teen things. Here are their stories.

Jessica got pregnant twice when she was a teen. She was 16 years old when she had her daughter and 18 when she had her son.

Q: What was it like being a teen parent?

A: It was almost like a dream, not real, one minute I would remember all the little fun things I was doing with my friends, the next I was being a mother. I completely missed out on all my youth and had to mature a lot faster which meant paying bills, getting insurance, and thinking about my future career goals.

Teen pregnancy also affects teen fathers, and Arturo shared his struggles of being a teen dad. He states that when his first child was born, he was seventeen years old, and a senior in high school.

Q: How did having a baby affect your social life?

A: Having a baby at a young age did not just affect my social life…it destroyed it! I skipped an entire stage of my life, where I went from being a seventeen year old and living like one, to living the life of someone in their late twenties. So instead of partying right now, I’m changing diapers and going to sleep early.

Susie was 17 years old when she got pregnant.

Q: What’s your message to all those teens out there?

A: Enjoy your youth!! Have fun!! There’s sooooo much more out there than having a baby so young. Travel, go on shopping sprees, buy the car of your dreams… wait until you’re financially and emotionally ready, and with a partner who you know is going to be there for you.

I have a message to all the Latinas out there. Let us take control of our own destiny and these troubling statistics. Let’s take action. Instead of watching the rise in Latina teen pregnancies, let’s take part in the rise in Latina education and the rise in Latinas bringing awareness to their communities about teen pregnancy and sex education! Let’s change the news about Latinas and put focus on the positive things happening with Latinas! Let’s be the change instead of another statistic. Let’s show ourselves and the world that Latinas have options, that we have a voice, and that we can and will be the change in a positive way.

I once heard that we need to be the change that we wish to see in the world. If we don’t make the change, who else will? Does hearing all of these statistics make you want to do something? I know it makes me want to do something! We’re teens, and that means having fun and doing random stuff, not being a teen parent.

I am a member of the Youth Leadership Team for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and as a Latina, I choose to be the change. Will you?

By Danielle De la Paz