“Latinas in the United States are a force that drives our community towards social justice, equity, and political power,” said Nathalie Rayes, President, and CEO of Latino Victory Foundation. “We hope this poll will help magnify the critical role Latinas play in our country’s prosperity and well-being and identify the challenges that Latinas face to mend these gaps with solutions and opportunities,” said Rayes, a Chestnut Hill resident.
The Latino Victory Foundation partnered with NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) in producing “The Latina Pulse: Champions of Change”, a detailed poll that surveyed Latinas across wide-ranging topics including education, healthcare, workforce, and politics, drawing actionable findings to better understand and engage this fast-growing and influential demographic.
“This new poll shows that Latinas are leveraging their growing influence, bicultural heritage, and personal strength to drive progress for our nation,” said Mónica Gil, EVP, Chief Administrative & Marketing Officer at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.
Key findings of the survey include: Latinas are powerhouses of industry; they don’t wait for opportunities, they create them.
- 4 in 10 Latinas were negatively impacted in their jobs due to COVID-19
- Latinas are almost 2x more likely to own or plan to open their own business in the next 3 years compared to non-Latinas
- Latinas are more likely to pursue higher education (58%) compared to non-Latinas (41%)
“With 31 million Latinas across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, they are entrepreneurial, highly skilled, and hold significant economic and political influence to lead positive outcomes across key priorities in our country,” said Gil.
“Our ability to overcome the barriers of racism and sexism, while starting businesses, working essential jobs, and protecting our families is a demonstration of our determination and perseverance,” said Helen Torres, Executive Director and CEO of HOPE.
Latinas are stewards of equality: Latinas have a greater sense of urgency to make change happen.
- 7 in 10 Latinas prioritize ending violent crime, domestic violence, and gun-related violence
- 37% have experienced discrimination in public or social situations
- 54% want to close the wage gap between men and women
- 70% of Latinas want to see greater representation in media and more Latina women in senior production roles
“For decades, Latinas have harnessed social and political engagement and women’s movements, fought for women’s rights, and strengthened political power. Latinas are a powerhouse electoral bloc who play a pivotal role in the electoral process,” said Rayes
Latinas are influencers of elections: Latinas’ power is not only economic; they also have the power to sway elections.
- 63% of Latinas age 18+ are registered to vote and 56% voted in the 2020 elections
- 6 in 10 Latinas keep up with politics and current events
- 6 in 10 Latinas would support a candidate that addresses issues of racism and inequality, increasing minimum wage, combats climate change, invests in public-school systems and universal healthcare programs
The survey polled a national online sample of 800 Latinas and 800 non-Latinas, 18 years and older. Conducted in English and Spanish, the poll was fielded in July 2021.
Cover Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash