I've worked in Corporate America for over a decade and was a bartender in my 20s, so I am no stranger to sexism, misogyny, and sexual harassment. I personally, do not know what is more upsetting; how tolerated, accepted, and almost expected sexual harassment is in the service industry, or how common and frequent sexual harassment is in corporate America. I have not had one job working in corporate (and let me tell you, I have had several since I started in my industry) where I did not experience some type of sexual harassment. Anything from as brief as the inappropriate stares and facial expressions, to hearing a co-worker who did not realize they were not on mute while commenting on my outfit. These were just some of my sexual harassment-related experiences as a female. Corporate America always did a great job at reminding me that I was the "brown girl" in the room. I have held roles where I regularly interacted with and supported leadership at the VP Level, and let me tell you, that the "Good Old Boys Club", "Trust Fund Babies", "I come from old money" mentality/culture and attitude is still very prevalent. The most entertaining experience (for the sake of keeping this blog as lighthearted as you can be when discussing any type of discrimination) was discussing travel plans with my "favorite" East Coast, Executive VP, and his response when I mentioned having been to several countries in Europe. His response was, "Did you study abroad on a college grant?". Ummmmm, no. A. Why would you assume a scholarship was the only way I could afford to go abroad? And B. Why is a family vacation to Europe by MY family a shock to you? The conversation continued and he mentioned a resort in an affluent beach city in Southern California he and his family would be returning to visit in the summer. When I mentioned how much I loved it and provided some dining and activity recommendations, he could not swallow his words, "YOU'VE been to ____ before?!?!" fast enough. At this point I was annoyed at his ignorance of how racist he was being and his stereotyping of me for being a Latina. I politely and calmly leaned toward him and said... "I don't know if you know this, but not all people of color are poor, and a lot more of us than you think can afford international travel." He quickly stumbled over his words and provided a half-a$$ed apology realizing how offensive he had been, but the conversation was done. Probably not the most eloquent or effective response I could have given him, but I was so caught off guard and appalled by this man's level of ignorance it was probably the best response I could give on the spot without chancing losing my job. And how sad is that, that in a moment where I was clearly experiencing some level of ignorance and racism, I was more concerned with offending him and losing my job. These experiences prepared me for being a Latina Business Owner. In my business interactions, I have definitely not fallen short of sexism and racism. Most recently a firsthand experience of the "good ole boys club" by male event organizers who dismissed the wrongdoing of a male vendor. I, myself, tried addressing the issue by directly asking what was being done to address and correct it and my questions fell on deaf ears. It was so disheartening to see the negative impact of said vendor's actions on MULTIPLE businesses in our "community" and the complete dismissal and avoidance of any advocacy to "right the wrong" or at the least, address the very large issue. This is when I realized, it did not matter if you were in a community with ANY type of similar minority, some struggles, discriminations... negative experiences still occur. I have had vendors and account reps ask to speak to "my boss" or the "business owner", or my favorite was finalizing a business contract and being asked if I needed my husband to look at it before signing. I had so many thoughts and responses to that question; "If I was a male, would you be asking if I needed my wife's review and approval?", "I am a straight woman, but why would you assume I am married, and furthermore, why would it automatically be assumed to be to a man", "Would you question a Caucasian CEO the same way you're approaching me". There are so many rabbit holes I can go down, but the biggest question these experiences have left me with is... "If I, as a Latina businesswoman and CEO have had these experiences, my goodness, what kind of experiences and discrimination have LGBTQ Latina Business owners had?!?!?" To help gain some insight into the experiences of LGBTQ Latina business owners, I interviewed owners of Adelitas Revenge: Marina (She/Her) & Yvonne (She/Her) -left and owners of Pippi + Lola: Dynelly (She/Her) and Melbie (They/Them) - right. How relevant do you think it is to know the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of employees, professional acquaintances, vendors, etc? If so, how you do respectfully ask about sexual orientation and gender identity? "The Pippi + Lola Brand loves highlighting marginalized communities through our vendor selection and the products we carry in our store. It is part of our brand values. For us, its not important for employee hiring. Our employees are a diverse group of people and THAT is what matters to them in regard to their staff." "Agreed, sexual orientation and gender identity is not something we are concerned about with the businesses we carry at our store or our employees. It’s definitely not an interview topic, or part of our contract consideration." What Latina stereotypes have you had to break-free from as a small business owner? Ex. steal American jobs, too sassy, not a citizen, sexualized, don’t know how to control temper, not educated, intelligence is judged on your competency in English, etc. Dynelly: "During a Pride Campaign interview at Santa Monica’s Made with Pride event last summer, one tv media outlets asked, “How does it feel to be across from a Louis Vuitton?” I didn't know the intention or what the angle was supposed to be, the question felt irrelevant. My response was that “it is important that we are represented NO MATTER WHAT”; “whether we are in a bodega or we’re across from Louis Vuitton. We’re the same. We belong here, PERIOD.” Melbie: “Would they have asked this if we were a white owned jeans company?” "It’s always funny to me when people are shocked at “how well I speak English” or that I ‘don’t have an accent” "I feel that as a Latina Business, you are almost expected to be at a certain price point, and that if you are not, you are almost a “sell out” because of it. We personally have experienced customers telling us that we’re too expensive and then will reference other Latin/LGBTQ businesses with cheaper prices. << A good example of discrimination within our own minority community." "Why is craftsmanship or products made from European or Asian businesses (for example) accepted at higher price points, but dyes, paints or artwork/products made from Oaxaca not given the same value? Expected to be lower quality and cheaper prices. Why is POC craftsmanship ok to be undervalued? I do not discount, I don’t discount because for that reason. I am not going to devalue own brand; it’s part of brand integrity and that’s what we stand for.” Can you tell me about any particular problems you have faced because of discrimination based on your sexual orientation/gender identity? "It’s something that is so common in my every day life. I am almost immune to it because it happens so often. “I am queer, I am Latina, I am male presenting, so automatically, I stand out in a room”... “whether it be for housing or employment, pumping gas, there is always someone who has to say something, look me up and down, or check and make sure they are in the women’s restroom, not the men’s.” I now definitely lean into it and just keep doing me." “One of the things I still struggle with is that, knowing that any day I walk out into public, could be my last day. Because I never know the hatred that lies behind somebody.” At the gas station, they don’t like me and whatever, I’m at the gas station, they don’t like me and I’m at the wrong gas station, OC, LB, wherever. “I have had a target drawn on my door once in Long Beach and this is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the entire LA County”. “Why should we have to negotiate who feels safer pumping gas?” "For me it’s just a reality. It’s a sad reality, but I try. If I lived on the other side of it and let the fear dominate life, I would be debilitated, it would destabilize me” / “There’s always going to be a perception of what I am supposed to be or not supposed to be based on the way that I look, right, or my sexual orientation” / “I have the advantage of being light-skinned, so I’m white passing. I do acknowledge that. I do think that I have only been able to have gotten as far as I have, because I am white passing, so people think I am white. But be brown, no way. There would be a preconceived notion. So I have been able to assimilate.” The takeaway is that it is a constant, it is something that is prevalent in how they live their everyday life; constantly living in fear. “What do I have to watch out for when I am out on the street?” I, Adelita's and P+L all share the same sentiments as Latina Business owners: You have to work a little bit harder, and you always have to be two steps ahead. You are constantly working to “prove yourself” and not be viewed as ‘awwww brown female business owner, how cute’. I learned that Pippi + Lola have additional difficulties when trying to be foster parents, they started the process just two years ago... as two gay women. Two women are at the LOWEST of the totem pole to getting approved to be foster parents. In that realm it is heterosexual couples first, then two gay men, then a single woman, THEN a female gay couple to be approved as foster parents. How do you personally and professionally practice inclusivity? "We interview ALL applicants and we take pride in hiring from a diverse candidate pool!" "Our business mission at Adelita’s is to highlight small businesses, makers and artisans that are people of color and/or LGBTQ+" Deeper into our conversation, I learned that Both Pippi & Adelita's state that their friend and social circles are not limited to only LGBTQ+ and POC of color. They love interacting and sharing space/community with people of all walks of life, creed, body shapes, sizes and ages - true inclusivity! What matters is the person's heart, not any part of their exterior. Supplier diversity refers to a company policy of sourcing a certain percentage of goods and services from businesses owned by people who have been socially and economically disadvantaged. This includes businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, disabled people, and the LGBT community. Many large companies, as well as federal, state, and local governments, have supplier diversity programs. Do you consider supplier diversity good for business? “That is the mission of our store, to give space to those underrepresented groups. The brands we carry are our “suppliers”, they provide the products we sell and this visibility for them is what Adelita’s was founded on” Has any part of your culture affected you negatively towards building your small business? Any false presumption of what your “right” path is? Ex. Oldest daughter, taking care of family, cultural and societal pressures? "I have noticed the 'tone' that is pre-set before in-person business meetings because of their names. “Would a Susan Thompson be welcomed in a different manner than a Maria Lopez?” "I've noticed how underrepresented Puerto Ricans are in California. The automatic assumption since I am Latina is that I am Mexican. And I take pride in knowing that my existence has been made by other Puerto Ricans and I want other Latino’s who are not just central Latin Americans to feel seen. I have started to feel the need to make a little more noise to elevate ALL Latin-A communities. Highlighting that I am Puerto Rican has been a positive in advocating for my community through my So Cal based business." Do you create products or policies within your small business that heals some part of yourself? Do you hope to heal others? "This isn't necessarily a formal company policy, but as a business owner, our employee policy is that “YOU come first”. Take care of yourself, take care of your own and take care of your family. As a working community we support our staff and provide them the space they need in moments of personal struggle. We created Pippi + Lola to be a safe space for people; whether it be employees, customers or just a random community member. We want our studios to be a place where people are free to be their authentic selves. Ultimately plants are secondary, almost third. It’s community first, artist second and plants are third. All of it comes from a therapeutic background. It’s like, how can we heal each other, how can we be there for each other, how can we build community, and then how does it all tie into each other.” "Adelita’s has given both Marina & I our own safe haven to be our true authentic selves and honor our roots. It is healing to know the community WE are creating through the store.” Have you ever been told that your personal style is “unprofessional”? In what way? How would you like others to know that being themselves isn’t unprofessional? "I am very comfortable in my own skin and THAT is what dictates how I dress. If how I dress makes others feel uncomfortable, that’s a THEM problem. We are a body positive and sex positive brand and I don’t think I’m pushing the envelope. If they are not comfortable in their own skin, that’s a YOU thing. I want to encourage others to be comfortable in their own skin. We represent ALL body types. I think that’s a beautiful thing. I think that being free and liberated of all those social stereotypes. I think being sexualized is such a personal thing and something I think people grow up with, and I can’t really help it. If you’re already like that, I’m not gonna change you. Being a woman, who stands for body positivity, that’s just who I am." "It can be tricky. There are boundaries for sure, but being yourself is professional. It is the intent behind how you dress/what you wear. If the intent is malicious or harmful, or hurtful to someone, even though it’s what you feel, then I feel, THAT could be unprofessional. If it’s off putting in a malicious way, regardless of your values, I think that, there’s a line. People should be free to have tattoos and showcase them; if they want to have blue hair, have blue hair. Bottom line is, you shouldn’t be cruel or mal intended." “YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD ONLY WHEN WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION OF LGBTQ+ LATINX IN SENIOR-LEVEL POSITIONS.” How much do you agree or disagree with this statement? "I have worked at all levels of business and what I realize is that it’s not a matter of adequate representation, we just have to be LOUDER, especially when we’re in THOSE spaces." I learned so much speaking with these queer, Latina small business owners. I believe that more conversations like this are not only important for the ally community, but necessary within our allyship. I also believe that it should be the allies responsibility to start these conversations. It can be uncomfortable at first but when the conversation gets started, the things we learn about each other are far more valuable than staying in our comfort zone. I'll leave you with a quote from Dynelly.
“ I know it’s a good thing when the excitement outweighs the fear.”
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