Mobilizing Latinas for Lasting Change through The Buck, The Ballot & The Body

Latina Equal Pay Day serves as a glaring reminder that the systems in place are not designed for us. The pay gap we experience is not just a "Latina issue"; it’s an economic issue that affects the prosperity of entire families, communities, and ultimately the U.S. economy. Awareness campaigns have shed light on the disparities, but the real question is: how do we mobilize to force tangible change? It’s time for Latinas to unite around three critical pillars: the buck (economics), the ballot (voting), and the body (solidarity).

The Buck: Owning Our Economic Power

Latinas are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. labor force, yet we are consistently underpaid. According to the Economic Policy Institute, Latinas earn just 57 cents for every dollar earned by white men . This disparity is not only unjust, but it also has long-term implications for our ability to thrive as a comunnity. Economic empowerment is key to changing this narrative.

Actionable steps:

• Entrepreneurship: More Latinas are turning to entrepreneurship to reclaim financial agency. As of 2020, Latina-owned businesses grew more than 87% over the past five years, making us a powerful economic force . We must continue to support and uplift Latina-owned businesses by creating opportunities for access to capital and mentoring the next generation of business leaders. Everyone has a part: Spend your money with Latina entrepreneurs who represent your values!
• Financial Literacy & Advocacy: We must ensure financial literacy programs are embedded in our community efforts. This includes understanding personal finance, investing, and leveraging collective bargaining power. Latinas must also become more active in advocating for economic policy changes, such as raising the minimum wage and fighting wage theft. I highly recommend reading "Cultura and Cash" by Giovanna González, CIPM or Financially Lit by Jannese T. ,

Mobilizing our economic power—the buck—is about owning our worth and demanding equal pay for equal work. But that’s not all. We also need to activate our political power.

The Ballot: Harnessing Our Political Clout

Our economic potential cannot be fully realized without political action. Latinas make up a significant voting bloc, but we are often underrepresented in policy-making positions. If we’re going to address the systemic barriers that hold us back, we need to actively engage in the political process.

Actionable steps:

• Voter Registration & Education: While voting is a powerful tool, we need to do more than just cast ballots. We must ensure that all eligible Latinas are registered to vote and understand the stakes of local and national elections. Issues like healthcare, education, immigration, and labor rights disproportionately affect us. When we vote, we’re not just voting for ourselves but for our families and communities.
• Running for Office: It’s not enough to be voters; we need to be policymakers. More Latinas must run for office at all levels—from school boards to city councils to Congress. Representation matters, and when Latinas are in positions of power, policies that benefit our communities are more likely to be prioritized.

Our ballot is our voice in shaping policies that support equitable pay, reproductive justice, and access to education. Voting is a right, but it’s also a responsibility to shape a more just and inclusive society.

The Body: Uniting as One

Finally, we must unite in solidarity. Mobilization will not happen if we are fragmented. Too often, we are pitted against each other, competing for the same limited resources or opportunities. But as a collective, we are stronger. Mobilization is about more than just showing up at protests or events; it’s about creating sustained, organized movements that focus on long-term change.

Actionable steps:

• Coalition Building: Latinas must build coalitions across racial, gender, and economic lines. We need alliances not just within the Latinx community, but with other marginalized groups to tackle systemic oppression. When we unite with other communities of color, immigrants, and working-class families, our collective strength becomes undeniable.
• Physical and Mental Well-being: Our bodies carry the weight of our struggles, and we cannot sustain a movement if we do not take care of ourselves. Mental and physical well-being must be prioritized as part of our activism. Wellness is a form of resistance, as Audre Lorde famously said. When we care for ourselves, we are better equipped to care for our communities.

The body is our vessel for change. Whether we’re advocating in boardrooms or marching in the streets, we need to remember that change will only come when we move as one, with the strength of our collective identity.

Mobilizing for a Better Future

Latina Equal Pay Day will not shift with simple awareness campaigns or waiting for the systems to change. Systems that were not designed for us will not magically work in our favor, no matter how much work we do on ourselves. We need to mobilize, combining our economic, political, and physical power to create lasting change.

By focusing on the buck, the ballot, and the body, we force the country to recognize that Latinas are not just workers, voters, or activists—we are the backbone of the U.S. economy. Investing in us is not just a moral imperative but a national one. Our future success will elevate our families, our communities, and our country as a whole.

As always, I invite you to join in on the discussion. I would love to hear your thoughts, concerns, and ideas to drive collective change.

?Hasta Pronto!

Ruby