When I arrived at James Madison University, I started to understand what it truly means to exist in a predominantly white institution (PWI). At JMU, where 70.3% of the student population is White, being Latinx places you in a strange spot. You’re visible-ish. You’re not invisible, but you’re not fully recognized either. It’s like existing […]
Read More Being Latinx in a PWIThere’s something deeply powerful about a table, not just as a piece of furniture, but as a space where identities take shape and roles are put to the test. On March 29th, at Noche de Sabor: De la Misma Mesa (Night of Flavor: From the Same Table), I watched a play organized by the Latinx […]
Read More From the Same Table: A Feminist Reflection on Noche de SaborThroughout my childhood, I never compared myself to my classmates who were different from me, nor did I think we were different from each other. Unless, of course, they thought that Cinderella was better than Ariel from The Little Mermaid. I honestly miss the days when the things you liked or disliked were the only […]
Read More The “Spicy Latina” StereotypeIt’s no secret that worldwide, women carry far more of the culinary responsibilities at home than men. In 2023, women over doubled men in the number of meals cooked within the average household. Despite this outsized role in food preparation at home, women have consistently struggled to break through in the restaurant industry. In the […]
Read More The Secret ingredient is Feminism?In the beginning, it’s Easter Sunday, and I’m sitting ankles-crossed in the pews with my new boyfriend. He grew up on homeschool Bibles and Walmart parking lot sermons, and the last time I prayed in earnest was for a parking spot in Chesapeake. By comparison, the arches, the choir, and the linen tablecloths are lovely. […]
Read More Feminist(?) Goes To ChurchGiving yourself the grace to live to your full potential. Today, I have a positive message to share. As I feel the seasons shift from fall to winter, I feel the year coming to a close. I am reflecting on the year, and feeling emotions shift, too. Experience has taught me that gratitude is the […]
Read More Dancing Is GratitudePicture it: It’s Thanksgiving Day. You can smell all your favorite dishes in the kitchen. Hours were put into cooking the turkey to perfection. Hours were spent putting the final touches on the table decorations. Hours were spent planning the dinner menu, the desserts, and the appetizers. Who did this work? Whether it’s mothers, aunts, […]
Read More Rethinking Gender Roles this ThanksgivingWhy don’t we let men be gentlemen? When I was younger, my grandparents took on traditional roles in the relationship. My GF would take the garbage out, open my grandma’s door for her, paid for dinner, and walk on the street side of the sidewalk. My GF did many other gentlemanly things, but those are […]
Read More Let Men be Gentlemen.This post was edited on 10/25/2023 by blondedblogger. Now that it’s officially October, Halloween is just around the corner. If you’re anything like my friend group, fall nights with a scary movie on, pumpkin cookies in the oven, and an apple cinnamon candle lit have already begun. And most importantly, we have the daily conversation […]
Read More avoiding cultural appropriation this halloweenI hope this can serve as comfort and validation, and ultimately reveal the beautifully painful words from the unfiltered soul.
Read More All The Things Left Unsaid: An ARCHIVE Of Notes