Mujeres Latinas, Executive Summary: A Portrait
Mujeres Latinas en Acción, October 1996
The Latino Institute

This report highlights the socioeconomic status of Latinas in Chicago. It articulates the challenges, opportunities and resiliency of the Latina community. It also defines their needs and the inequalities that exist between Latinas and the larger society. These inequalities have been and continue to be defined by race and ethnicity in our society.

What is clear from this analysis is that the challenges that confront all women-- childcare, access to jobs, obtaining a better education, obtaining economic self-sufficiency-- are also challenges for Latinas. The disparity between Latinas and the larger society on virtually all of these socioeconomic indicators, however, is particularly wide. At the same time, Latinas have fewer resources available to them. Language, poverty, and isolation create barriers to many existing opportunities. The challenge articulated in this report is to recognize the contribution and potential of the Latina community while working to reduce social and economic disparity.

More than one quarter of a million Latinas live in Chicago. The sheer strength of this number points to the ever increasing roles they will play in the life and future viability of the city. However, census and focus group data presented in this report clearly show that Latinas are disproportionately represented in low-paying jobs and that they "feel invisible," as the pressures they face at home, in the workplace and in this society continue to multiply.

At 57.2 percent, Latina labor force participation is slightly more than that of all women (56.6) percent). But Latinas are three times more likely to work as operators, fabricators and laborers (28 percent) than all other women (10 percent), and are the group least likely to hold professional or managerial positions (14 percent compared to 28.1 percent of all women). At work, these women state that they confront "ignorance and stereotypes" about Latinas, who are thought to be passive and incompetent. They also perceive a lack of support for their dual roles as homemakers and workers who need to further their education on the road to economic improvement. Many Latinas who do not work outside the home feel that their role is not sufficiently valued.

Findings: These findings are offered in the spirit of eliciting dialogue which will lead to narrowing the gap that exists between Latinas and larger society. They are purposely broad in order to provide a framework by which various publics may craft specific strategies which target the challenges of the Latina community.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

One in every 4 Latinas (25.76%) lives in poverty.

At 10.3 percent, Latina use of public assistance is slightly less than that of all women, 11.2 percent.

Puerto Rican women have an income of 33 cents for every dollar of income in White female-headed families.

At 57.2 percent, Latina labor force participation is slightly more than that of all women (56.6%).

Latinas are three times more likely to work as operators, fabricators and laborers (28.5%) than all women (9.8%), and Latinas are more likely to work in the manufacturing sector, 31.1% percent, than any other racial/ethnic group analyzed.

Latinas are the group least likely to hold professional or managerial positions, 13.8 percent, compared to 28.1 percent for all women.

When asked, "Are Latina voices and/or needs heard in society?" focus group participants responded with a resounding "NO! We are invisible in society!" However, Latinas also stated that, "We must empower ourselves."

Confronting "ignorance in the workplace" and stereotypes about Latinas as passive and incompetent were cited as concerns to focus group participants.

Only 4 out of 10 (41.1%) Latina adults have completed high school. In contrast, 66.3 percent of all women have completed high school.

Only 7 out 100 (6.9%) Latina adults have completed college, compared to 1 in every 5 (18.1%) of all women.

Almost 3 out of 10 Latinas indicated that they do not speak English well.

Almost half (46.9%) of Latinas have children. In contrast, 29.2 percent of all women have children.

More than 1 out of every 10 (11.1%) Latinas aged 15-19 have at least one child. This is more than double that of White teenagers (5.2%).

Lack of access to health insurance, or partial health insurance coverage was cited as a key concern to focus group participants.

The incidence of cervical cancer was 23.5 per 100,000 Latinas in 1992, while it was 9.0 per 100,000 women.

MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME OF FEMALE-HEADED FAMILIES BY RACE/ETHNICITY, Chicago: 1990

Universe: Families with a female head, no husband present.
Source: U.S. Census: 1990, 5% PUMS
Latino Institute Research, 1996

Latina female-headed families (FHF) have the lowest median family income ($13,175) of all racial and ethnic groups analyzed.

Latina female-headed families have an income of 48 cents for every $1.00 of income in White FHF analyzed.

Puerto Rican FHF are the poorest of the poor among groups analyzed.

At $8,964 Puerto Rican FHF have an income of 33 cents for every $1.00 of income in White FHF.

Among Latinas, Central American female-headed families have the highest median income of $17,101.

PERCENT OF WOMEN WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS OR BORN IN PUERTO RICO BY RACE/ETHNICITY, Chicago: 1990

Universe: All females.
Source: U.S. Census: 1990, 5% PUMS
Latino Institute Research, 1996

Half (50.4%) of all Latinas are immigrants or were born in Puerto Rico.

The proportion of Latinas who are immigrants or born in Puerto Rico is more than that of all other groups analyzed except Asians (75.9%).

About 3 out of every 4 Central American and Cuban women were born abroad.

Note: Census data, utilized as the primary source of information for this report, provide virtually no information related to health care. Consequently, other health sources were utilized to provide information on the health status of the Latino community.