The Politics of Invisibility

Abstract

Approximately one-fourth of Latino families in the United States live in poverty. Women in the Latino community have carried a great burden associated with such pervasive poverty and inequality, a burden that has placed them in economic margins compared to their other female counterparts. Yet, the lives and economic marginality of Latinas are generally unknown and unfamiliar to the populace and to legislators. This Article challenges the politics of invisibility grown from a lack of information and intentional distribution of misinformation. It sets forth goals of progressive policy and legislation with an anti-violence agenda, challenging policy makers to focus on women as autonomous human beings, respond to and reflect upon the experiences of Latinas and other women of color, address abuse by law enforcement officers, reevaluate our conceptualization of the domestic violence shelter system, and carefully craft legislative language to ensure that funds for legislative and policy initiatives reach the Latina community.

Keywords: Latina, Hispanic, Domestic Violence, Women, Poverty