Racism
Garcia, B. (1940). [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://aldianews.com/articles/culture/social/mendez-v-westminster-case-mexican-families-who-ended-segregation-california
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Racism was quite prevalent in these worker camps, and when white people met these immigrants they discriminated heavily. Filipinos and Mexicans, both faced clear oppression. Their struggles in America was often overshadowed by the struggles of the African-Americans. Separate but equal policies led to a huge disparity in standard of living between Caucasians and immigrants.
Filipinos and Mexicans kept their distances and had little to no interaction, even though they worked in close areas. They viewed each other solely as competitors. |
"Filipino and Mexican workers ... had traditionally been recruited to work during the other group’s protest actions."
~Franky Abbott, former Delano Grape Strike worker. |
"Anti-miscegenation laws were at play in California until 1948, and even that interracial marriage was essentially nonexistent. Over 90% of Filipino workers were unmarried because of anti-miscegenation laws and had no families to live for."
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Misogyny
Even with the 19th amendment being in place, women still were often seen as lower class citizens all throughout America. Women in the working force were often put under scrutiny by society. A woman's sole role was to care for her family. A significant amount of Mexican workers were female yet they were mistreated more than the men were.
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Gonzalez, M. (2010). [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://pacweb.alamo.edu/interactivehistory/projects/people/categories/Immigration/Mexican/Gonzalez-JGonzalez/OralHistoryTemplate.html
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"Racism and sexism, misogyny...they're so visible. They're out in the open."
~ Dolores Huerta,cofounder of the UFW. |
"The 1950s is often viewed as a period of conformity, when both men and women observed strict gender roles and complied with society’s expectations."
~Juan DeSoto, Former Professor of Women's Studies |