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08/07/2012 By Leave a Comment

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I do not enjoy speculating on stereotypes.  I am particularly peeved when the stereotype involves gender.  Yet, what factors may account for the recent data that signals that in addition to attending college in larger numbers, Latinas are also likely to plan more ambitiously for their near future than are Latino men.  The referenced report cites two areas in which Latinas seem more apt to plan.

The first area, education, was discussed last week.  Applying to college as either a new or returning student, requires some preparation.  In the 18-24 year age range, Latinas are more likely to start planning for entering college in greater numbers than their male counterparts:  22% as compared to only 16% of men who start planning to take up a career in higher education.  In addition, 22% of the same age group of Latinas is more likely than Latinos (only 15%) to plan to find a better job.
Could this search for increasing stability and opportunity be a reflection of Latinas’ impetus to prepare themselves a “nest” ?  After all, the two areas, education and job attainment, are clearly advancement mechanisms within the larger US society.  Yet, if the data were attributable to the search on the part of Latinas to ensure their stability, the question remains:  why do more Latinas not do this?  Twenty-two percent is roughly only a quarter of the age cohort.  A greater percentage of our young women should be more interested in securing their financial security either by advancing their education or finding a better job.  This, in and of itself, should be a rallying point for our community, parents and educators.
Forward thinking, planning for the future, are important for long term success and stability.  Consider, for example, the act of planning for retirement.  The process of amassing enough wealth to retire comfortably is one that takes decades.  The financial plan is especially important to women since currently they tend to live longer than men.  In addition, given the fact that many Latinas depend on social security for their retirement income, and that 25% of Latinas over the age of 65 live in poverty, it is clear that there is a need to impart to our young women the importance of saving for their años de oro.
So why is it that even a smaller percentage of our young men are positioning themselves for short term life improvements that may lead to life benefits?  Is it that men are more risk averse due to the belief that they must fulfill a provider role?  Could it be that seeking not to jeopardize their status and presently perceived position as providers, Latino men seek not to risk their own self image and self identified stability by planning for a change?  Regardless of the motivation, the dangerously low numbers of young Latinos who plan for such life changes is, once again, another reason to start a conversation with all our young people, the future of Latinos in the U.S.
Far from being a sociological study, this article seeks only to spark dialogue.  The wellbeing of our children and grandchildren depends on it.
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About Maitri Pamo

Matri was born in Guatemala City and emigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was a toddler. Her childhood years were spent in Washington D.C. She was fortunate to have been aided and encouraged to apply to a great school in Virginia by a teacher who saw a spark in her when she taught her in the DC public school system. Maitri was disadvantaged in that she then became the only Latina in her class for many years. When it came time to go to college, she left for New York City, the place of her childhood dreams, to attend Barnard College, Columbia University. She graduated with a degree in Foreign Area Studies, with a concentration in Latin America. When she finally realized what she wanted to do professionally, she enrolled in three extra years of undergraduate coursework in order to fulfill the requirements for application to veterinary medical school. She graduated from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to her professional life, a life she finds not only rewarding but constantly challenging, Maitri is a wife and a mother of three young children. She is an activist, interested in furthering knowledge, participating and directly involving herself in the areas of human and non human animal rights and environmentalism. She tries to engage in the world around her to influence it as much as she can to help secure a healthy, peaceful living environment for her children and all other living beings on the planet. She is a benevolent misanthrope, a polyglot, a lover of travel. She has wild plans of obtaining a law degree when her children are older. She is currently practicing emergency medicine and volunteers her services wherever they are needed.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.

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