In a bid to highlight social and political issues faced by
minority women around the world, Raza Womyn de UCLA will present
the eighth annual Chicana/Latina Conference on Saturday.
Continuing in its long-standing tradition of promoting
political, educational and cultural consciousness, the organization
will present several performances and hold workshops to examine and
discuss the experience of Latina women.
The conference will also address international issues to
establish a commonality with other women in the global community.
One workshop will focus on the plight of Iraqi women who face
sexual discrimination and repression in their daily lives, said
Raza Womyn member Desiree Flores.
“Especially since the war is going on in Iraq,
there’s a lot of discrimination and violence going on against
women and we want to represent a solidarity to fight against this
violence,” said Flores.
Organizers expect around 500 people to attend from various local
high schools and universities throughout California. The event will
feature 25 workshops, along with keynote speakers who will address
the daily struggles of Latina women on a domestic and societal
level.
“As women we go through a lot of the same issues whether
you’re from the Middle East or in high school,” said
Yolanda Peneda, facilities and finances coordinator for the
conference. “These issues transcend ethnic and racial lines
and so you have to keep addressing them.”
The general session will feature songwriter and activist Rosa
Martha Zarate, who will discuss women’s rights and her
personal experiences as an activist for immigrant laborers.
Following this, artist Raquel Salinas will perform
“Mothers of Juarez,” a dramatic reenactment of the
serial killing of 200 women from the border city of Juarez.
A documentary titled “Senorita Extraviada” will also
be shown and will provide a more detailed account of the murders
and disappearances that have been occurring for the past 10
years.
The general session will be followed by workshops varying in
topics from teen pregnancy and how to raise a family, to
information on college and gender issues.
In addition to addressing cultural and social issues, the
conference will emphasize feminism and gender discrimination.
“Discrimination isn’t manifested the same as it was
then,” said Anita Revilla, a graduate student in education,
referring to the organization’s founding in 1981. “But
for the most part, we are still underrepresented because sexism is
a reality. Classism and all the different “˜isms’ still
affect our lives.”
Since its founding 22 years ago, Raza Womyn de UCLA has evolved
to change the face of its organization. Members no longer don the
Mexican Zapatista bandannas in symbolic protest of inequality and
demand for impartiality.
But one thing that remains the same is its commitment to
facilitate public consciousness, said Peneda.
Revilla clarified the spelling of “womyn” by
explaining it as a statement to remove the association with
“men” in the word.
The Raza Womyn event will be held at UCLA from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
in the Court of Sciences. The event is free.