California provides funding to foster the growth of Latina women

An important investigation will expand the topics of Latinas in California in terms of their contributions as well as their well-being and needs. This is thanks to $15 million included in California's 2022-2023 budget to support policy research, leadership programs, and civic engagement through Latina Futures, the 2050 Lab of the Latino Policy and Policy Institute (LLPI). from UCLA.

The goal is to address the continuing and growing inequality that Latinas experience in the economy, career opportunities, leadership, and education. The issue is already known through the California Latino Legislative Caucus's Unseen Latinas Initiative, created by the Legislature, but they say much more is needed.

Senator María Elena Durazo, who is president of the Latino Legislative Caucus, said that when they created the initiative it was with the objective of raising awareness about the inequalities that Latinas face, due to the lack of representation in the judicial court, corporate boards and in the Health System.

“Latinas have been continually ignored despite their contributions to our everyday lives,” Durazo said. “ LPPI's research will continue to allow us to raise these issues and help shape policymaking decisions to ensure Latinas are included in policy discussions.”

It is estimated that by 2050, Latinas will represent 13% of the US population, 11% of the workforce, and will be on average 11 years younger than non-Hispanic white women.

Lab 2050 will accelerate research and deliver critical data and insights to decision makers.

Paul Barragán-Monge, director of mobilization for LLPI UCLA, said that in California and across the country, we have baby boomers retiring in record numbers. This means that the future of California's prosperity is tied to the well-being of a young and growing Latino workforce that has supported and will continue to support the state's economic growth.

But at the same time, Latinas are being disproportionately affected, for example, by Covid-19, compared to women of other racial groups and even Latinos.

“And that nuances that focus on the Latino experience in access to health, education and employment that is going to be critical, and up to this point, we haven't had the ability or the capacity in California to really have research data that focus on the Latino experience on different issues and experiences that are of concern here,” said Barragán-Monge.

He added that it is important to segregate this group because when it is not done, important trends are lost, avoiding seeing specific problems. Not knowing they exist cannot be resolved.

“For example, Latinas, more than any other gender or racial group during the pandemic, experienced the highest rate of job loss related to the pandemic and the most difficult time re-entering the workforce,” Barragán said. -Monk.

He explained that there are several reasons why this occurred and this is the important reason why proper investigations must be done in order to name them with sources.

“This way we can help advocate for policy solutions that will support and impact not just Latinas but all working women, all women of color and communities of color,” Barragán-Monge stressed. “ So if Latinos are thriving, California is thriving.”

Sonja Diaz, founding director of the UCLA LPPI, said the pandemic has made it clear that Latinas have borne the brunt of the economic fallout and remain invisible, disposable and even inconsequential at decision-making tables.

“By leveraging research from the University of California, we can ensure that Latinas are part of American history and seen as important in the nation's law and policy debates,” Diaz said. “ We thank the Governor and the Legislature for recognizing that Latinas are inextricably linked to the future of California and this nation.”

Lab 2050 will work in collaboration with Verónica Terriquez, director of the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. It will invest in academic interventions that promote a Latino perspective to shape policymaking that addresses gender inequity with visibility and inclusion.

Barragán-Monge explained that this research project is intended to prepare not only the state but the entire country for a new future where Latinas will be prominent not only in the workforce, but in all sectors.

“We want to see Latina judges in court, we want to see Latina professors in academia, we want to see Latina doctors who can treat the diseases of our communities,” explained Barragán-Monge.

“We are very excited about this research effort because it will help our legislators and our politics catch up with this reality that Latinos will be our future leadership and teaching workforce.