Asynchronous Blog Post on A Journey from the West to the Southwest (Part II)- Paola Ramos

24 thoughts on “Asynchronous Blog Post on A Journey from the West to the Southwest (Part II)- Paola Ramos”

1. OPTION ONE:

   When Paola Ramos refers to “the other wall” in Chapter 4 of “Finding Latinx”, she is referring to the various forms of exclusion and discrimination faced by Latinx individuals and communities in the United States. While the physical border wall between the U.S. and Mexico is a highly visible symbol of division and exclusion, Ramos argues that there are many other “walls” that also impact the lives of Latinx people. For example, Ramos discusses the wall of language, noting that many Latinx individuals face barriers accessing education, healthcare, and other essential services due to their limited English proficiency. She also discusses the wall of discrimination, noting that Latinx individuals often face racism, xenophobia, and other forms of prejudice and discrimination in their daily lives. Ramos argues that these walls contribute to the marginalization and exclusion of Latinx individuals and communities. One of the walls that Ramos heavily discusses is the wall of healthcare access, which disproportionately affects Latinx individuals, particularly women and LGBTQ+ youth. She notes that Latinas are more likely to face health disparities than their non-Latinx counterparts, due in part to factors such as language barriers, lack of insurance coverage, and discrimination in healthcare settings. Ramos also highlights the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ Latinx youth, who often face discrimination and rejection from their families and communities, leading to increased rates of mental health issues and substance abuse. She argues that these issues are exacerbated by the lack of culturally competent healthcare services that are specifically tailored to the needs of LGBTQ+ Latinx youth. Overall, Ramos emphasizes the importance of recognizing and dismantling the various forms of exclusion and discrimination faced by Latinx individuals and communities, including those related to healthcare access. She argues that building bridges and promoting solidarity across communities is essential for addressing these issues and creating a more just and equitable society.

2. Option #1

   As I read pages 64-99 of Paola Ramos’ travelogue “A Journey From the West to the Southwest.”, I noticed she talks about “the other wall” and the different health issues that affect many Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth. When she says “The other wall”, she is referring to the Latinx people and groups in the US who experience various forms of marginalization and prejudice. In relation to the different health issues these communities face, many Latino men in this particular city, are plagued by the HIV virus. Ramos states, that 1 in every 4 males will become HIV positive in their lifetime. In this town, it is said that there is a lack of sex education and a scarcity of resources. The reason as to why the HIV rates keep on increasing in this particular city, is also because of the fact that many would rather turn a blind eye than to address the issues plaguing the town, rather it be social, economical, or health issues. A prime example was Ayden Castellano’s, who did not know he was HIV positive until several months have passed. Ramos states, “When asked why it took him so long to know about his status, he responded, The health literacy level in the area and in the state in general is very low.” To conclude, this goes to show how many Latinx people in this community suffer due to the lack of knowledge and people turning a blind eye to the various social, economical, or health issues.

3. Option 3:

   Some of the mental health issues that Ramos sheds a light on that many young Latines are facing are anxiety, depression, and alienation. She talks about how it is a topic that is not talked about much, and that leads to an invisibility of the Latine community in discourses about mental health, and an invisibility of the issues that young Latines face. Studies have shown that up to 20% Latine youth/students have experienced suicidal ideation, that Latine students were the demographic most likely to consider suicide, and nearly 50% of Latina youth experienced hopelessness and perpetual sadness. In terms of alienation, she mentions that the harsh conditions, neglect, and injustice many Latines may experience in their communities leads to a normalization of the issues and a detachment from society as a whole. Being under those conditions may lead one to believe that the way the world is is normal and can’t imagine a world in which they lived better lives. A sign of hope and transformation in the younger generation of Latines is the breaking of silence, no longer just staying silent in your despair, and actually seeking help. Another is breaking barriers, being the first in their family to be able to get a higher education and possibly change their situation. Another is mobilizing the community and speaking out against injustice, it may seem easier to just stay silent and endure, but fighting for a better future for all can break down those barriers Latine youth face.

4. Option One

   What Ramos means when she talks about “The Other Wall”, she is talking about the social, political, and economic wall that block these individuals from getting proper healthcare and living dignified lives. There is also the walls of stigma and taboo which prevent lgbt latines from getting diagnosis and treatment for illnesses such as HIV. This same wall also prevents any discussion on the reproductive care and rights of latina women, especially those living in poverty stricken towns. The walls of economics, taboo, and stigma are major reasons as to why so many latines in these border towns struggle with high rates of HIV and other illnesses.

5. Option 3: Ramos identified the mental health crisis affecting the latine population through a few different means, but as to not cause despair as we look towards the future including the various ways in which the latine youth are mobilizing for activism and taking their own individual steps to heal. The youth afflicted by mental health issues stem from several sources, whether it be the lack of financial means to seek therapy, recovering from the direct or ripple effects of traumatic events such as the shooting in El Paso, Texas, lack of familial support for mental health services, discrimination, or any number of other reasons. What’s important to realize is that this pattern of struggles with mental health is a part of a greater system in which previous generations suffered as well, and the toll it takes on them is passed down with the same expectation of “I managed, why can’t you”, often perceiving reaching out for help as a form of weakness. The younger latine generation are finding ways to try and put an end to the cycle of trauma, whether it be through political activism like Carlitos, a Parkland shooting survivor attempting to influence policy change to prevent future shootings, or Esperanza who managed to connect with others who share her experiences and with this new understanding that she isn’t alone in her struggles, was emboldened to have an earnest talk with mother about mental health, to which she responded with understanding and only strengthened their relationship after beginning therapy, effectively changing her life for the better. Today’s youth are more interconnected than ever for better or for worse, but when used for sharing lived experiences like those of the aforementioned and connecting with others who can relate and know they’re not alone in having those feelings, can be a driver in halting the traumatic cycle so many find themselves in.

6. Option 1
   Throughout the chapter, Ramos argues that the existence of the physical border wall imposes the existence of an equally restrictive social wall. Though the secondary wall is not physical, its consequences are, which is why healthcare disparities are a driving force in the humanitarian crisis. Ramos centers around the taboo topic of abortion to highlight what she calls an “entrapment” of undocumented women’s dignity. Women like Rosie Jimenez are often put in positions where healthcare policy and access intentionally work against them, where the only way they can learn about alternatives is within communities that are neglected in other aspects of welfare. Mobilization like that of the colonias and trailer parks happens despite mainstream political coverage. Self-advocacy is the only way to ensure preservation against systematic socioeconomic traps. Ramos also observes this happening in the physical detention centers as the women come up with ways to avoid their ICE trackers, as well as relative to issues like HIV. The latter has an added stigma because of its negative and usually homosexual connotation. Issues involving these topics are unlikely to be publicized and will be undermined if not for the constant activism by the communities they affect. Ramos’ argument stresses the importance of intersectionality, as most of the things that she discusses have a limited scope in the documented American political lens. The undocumented lens has to be, by nature, multifaceted because it houses a much more diverse population. The immigration crisis and humanitarian crisis exist mostly for the sake of the other.

7. Paola Ramos uses the phrase “the other wall” as a way to portray how Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth on the Texas-Mexican border are faced with a whole new challenge to get through, healthcare. Female immigrants from Mexico are mistreated by border patrol. They are beaten and put into “hieleras,” giant freezers. Even after being released from detention centers, they do not have citizenship, so they do not have health insurance to cover essential doctor visits. Immigrant Latinas’ access to abortions is also limited. Rosie Jimenez, the daughter of two migrants, needed an abortion in 1979. Unfortunately, she passed away from unsafe medical practices. Though she was a citizen, had medical insurance, and was not far along in her pregnancy, she could still not have the procedure done because the government passed laws that targeted those on Medicaid, mostly poor and immigrant Americans, from having abortions. Funding for Latino-used healthcare is scarce. The HIV crisis in these communties is also super prevalent. The CDC did a study from 2010 to 2016 where cases of HIV-positive males who had sex with males stabilized, but the number of men on the Texas-Mexican border with HIV diagnoses was rising. These communities border communities know of the issue but turn a blind eye to it. This is because there’s not much they can do about it. Health awareness levels in these communities are low because of the poor quality of education and the lack of proper healthcare in the surrounding areas. The governments, local and federal, are ignoring these issues and pushing them to the side, causing LGBTQ+ youth and Latinas to have to jump through another hurdle to survive.

8. Option 3
   Ramos says that based on a study Latino kid and teenagers are at greater risk of suffering from mental health problems than other demographics. Some statistics Ramos shed light on for mental health issues were one in five Latinos with symptoms of a mental health disorder will approach a doctor. In 2015, the CDC found that Latino high school students were more likely to consider suicide than white and black students. In 2017, 10.5% of Latina adolescents aged 10-24 years in the US attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 7.3% of white females, 5.8% of Latino, and 4.6% white male teens. This is partly due to a general lower socioeconomic status that stops them from affording basic care. The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a study that found “perceived racial/ethnic discrimination was consistently linked to poorer mental health, lower academic achievement and more engagement in risky or negative behavior.” Ramos goes on to say that young Latinos were more likely to show higher levels of depression in response to this type of discrimination than their black and white colleagues. Another reason for the mental health issues were because mental health is not traditionally a topic that Latinx families openly discuss. In “Being Silent”, Ramos talks about Esperanza. Esperanza is a girl going through mental health problems and she breaks this chain of mental health being a taboo. She finally broke the silence by finally telling her mom that she has problems, and she needs to talk to a professional. Ever since that day Esperanza mental health went full 180, as her relationship with her mother strengthened and her therapy sessions were a success. By talking about Esperanza, Ramos can invoke hope and change in the younger Latine community.

9. Ramos sheds light on mental health that many Latinx face such a depression and anxiety. Ramos states, “In 2015, the CDC found that Latino high school students were more likely to consider suicide than white and black students.” Mental health is not topic that is often talked about within the Latinx community because it is seen as taboo. Ramos gives the example of “Calladita te vas más bonita” which is use as a way to end a conversation especially when it comes to a topic that is taboo such as mental health in the Latinx community. Ramos mention Latinx teenager Esperanza, who wants to break the cycle of mental health being seen as a taboo. Esperanza is an example of breaking the cycle. Esperanzas father passed away when she was only 5 years old. She was bullied for not having a father figure, she went to therapy but her mother pulled her out of it because she saw no use in it. Esperanza dealt with depression, stress and anxiety. As she got older she realized that she needed help and needed to go see someone. She told her mom and her mom didn’t shoot down the idea of going to get help. There is hope for others to break the cycle of mental health within their family and within their community just like Esperanza is doing. It’s about being the first one to do it and others will follow you because they will see the good in it.

10. Option 3:
    Even though the U.S was supposed to be a country that gives rights and opportunities to everyone and anyone, no matter their background, that just simply doesn’t seem to be the case. Immigrants have tried to escape from violence but, they are only met with more violence. It even occurs to their children who were born in the U.S but, they are still discriminated against. It is known that there are many negative stereotypes towards Latinos but the problem is when people act violently upon them like what Patrick did in El Paso. The fact that even before committing the crime, he stated who his targets were, Latinos. Even worse the fact that after he killed many, he had the audacity to say he wasn’t guilty of the crime. It is events like this that cause mental health issues to Latinos, knowing that just because they are Latino, whether they were born in the U.S or their parent’s home country, there will be a target on their backs by hateful people. The fear that no matter where they are in public, they will be shot down, causes people to have anxiety, depression, and the feeling of alienation, which could even lead to some to feel suicidal and some do go through with it. However, there are many that even with this fear, the feeling of oppression, that are doing everything they can to move forward, to do something positive in their lives. Many know that even with all the negativity, they at least have a shot at education, which their parents probably didn’t have that chance. Or they know that many in the Latino community are feeling the same fear so, they listen to them and spread their story so that more people are aware of what the community are going through. In other words, Latinos are doing everything they can to leave a positive impact on their community with the hope that it will spark a change that will help lessen that fear, that feeling of wanting to take your life, that feeling that you don’t belong because the fact of the matter is you do and there is still so much more left to do in our lives, Latinos just have to continue to fight.

11. Option 2:
    The shooting in El Paso was undergone with the intent of “killing brown people.” Among one of the victims was a 15 year old Javier Amir Rodriguez, a passionate soccer player known by many. Instead of being appreciated and celebrated, Latinos in the U.S. are being discriminated against and alienated from society. Most young latines in the U.S. are born in the U.S., “more than 80% of the Latinos under the age of 35 were born in this nation.” Even though, The majority of young Latines are American, they are still perceived as perpetual foreigners as Paola Ramos refers to it. The hate transfers to last names, skin color, and backgrounds. This was the truth that Latines had to face when the shooting happened on August 3rd, 2019. The otherization placed on Latines is reflected on the fact that mental health affects the Latine community at large, where they feel suicidal at larger rates comared to white and black youth. The otherization is also placed by things that might seem minute but really aren’t in the long run, such as Latinas being “fiery”, “aggressive”, or “fierce.” This makes Latinas sexualized and treated as objects rather than being respected and treated like humans. Another example seen is when someone who was a Trump supporter asked “what about what about his lawn?” This was the answer given when there was rhetoric being spread about the wall being built but Esperanza thought about her Godfather who actually does yardwork. The label foreigner is slapped on by various different ways and is implied indirectly in many ways on the Latine community.

12. Option 3
    Paola Ramos touches on many of the mental health struggles plaguing the Latino community, some of these being anxiety and depression. Ramos analyzes how the feelings of alienation that comes from being considered a foreigner in this country, is largely responsible for the mental health struggles of many Latinos across the United States, particularly younger Latinos. Ramos provides multiple pieces of data from the American Psychology Association, and the CDC, that confirm the high rates of suicidal ideation, and mental health issues within the Latino community. Another important factor that Ramos brings up is the stigmas against mental illness in hispanic households. Latinos are less likely to look for or receive help than other demographics, and because of the taboos regarding mental health, many Latinos internalize mental anguish that they may be facing. This leads to suicidal tendencies many times or turning to non productive coping methods like drugs and alcohol. Ramos also discusses the economic issues many Latinos face that may prevent them from seeking help. Ramos looks at this through the lens of the aftermath of the El Paso mass shooting and Donald Trumps racist rhetoric, and how this has impacted the mental health of Latinos, and our experience in this country.

13. Option 1:
    Paola Ramos’ travelogue “A Journey From the West to the Southwest.” was an intriguing reading because she begins the chapter by physically going to the border and describing what she sees and the politics behind it all. I thought it was interesting how the reading discusses recent border immigration policies under the Trump administration because it shines a light on what was happening in terms of immigration control between 2016 and 2020. It is evident that the biggest issue in terms of migration into the United States from the Mexican border is Trump’s wall and the policies that came with that. This literally was a physical border with new policies to ensure that the number of people entering the states would slowly would diminish over time. Throughout the reading, Ramos talks about other “walls’ that the Latino community faces which are more barriers that they have to face once they have crossed the border. The other walls are social, economic, and political issues such as the language barrier, not having access to health insurance, racism/discrimination, and mental health issues. Ramos also goes into detail about health issues related to Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth by explaining how certain laws prohibit people from getting an abortion and provides an example of a woman named Rosie. Ramos explains how Rosie was affected by the hyde amendment which meant that Medicaid would not cover certain abortion costs and Rosie was unable to pay for it out of her pocket which resulted in using cheaper methods. Rosie caught a bacterial infection and unfortunately passed away from organ failure.

14. Option number 1:

    When reading Paola Ramos work I saw how Latinas and queer people did not have easy access to health care. Which proceeds with many trying to migrate here to the United States to have access to this basic right, while reading I saw the HIV crisis was something that was getting very serious in Mexico. Mentioned in the reading it states how Paola asked a taxi driver if he knew about the HIV crisis happening in Mexico and he said “They know about the problem but they look the other way.” Showing the lack of care there is to peoples well being in Mexico. She then continues by speaking about someone names Ayden Castellano’s, he was a queer boy who was feeling very unwell and turned out that he was HIV positive. After feeling so unwell , losing weight etc. He finally went to the doctor and he told him that he was in fact HIV positive. The health knowledge is very low in Mexico so when someone feels unwell you don’t really think to much about it you think that your just sick. One thing that needs to be taught is sexual health and how to properly protect yourself and make sure you’re doing well. Another thing was abortion and how women have no rights over their bodies when it comes to getting an abortion. Stating that after 6 weeks if there is a heartbeat you cannot have an abortion taking away the women’s right to make a choice to keep the baby or not.

15. Option 2:
    The shooting in El Paso, Texas was a tragic event in history because this was racially motivated and is why it created more problems. Twenty-one-year-old Patrick Crusius drove all the way to a Walmart to shoot “brown” people and was able to lose 23 souls. Crusius was able to not only go for one race but any other, as long as you had a different skin color. There were common Latino names meaning that the Latinx community was targeted. Despite Latinos having to go through the problem of immigration and adapting to the environment, they now had more cases or mental disorders. Being labeled as a “foreigner” created more distress in a Latinx community because it means that country is not your home. It makes one not feel welcome, and makes you seem like a “moving target” for those who are native to the country. In this case Crusius was a white supremacist, where he targeted those who were not white. El Paso was also known for being right by the Mexican border, having no more than 80 percent of Latinos in that area. In terms of “otherization” the Latino community had been going through a place where they were considered different. While after the shooting many people were able to develop mental issues like depression and anxiety. Most Latinx families never took into consideration of these things because it’s “not real.” Latinx families were not really open about it, which affected many first generation Latinx. These are things that should be normalized and prioritize mental health.

16. Paola Ramos mentioned “the other wall” in this chapter. She says this to shed light on the discrimination Latinx people and communities in the US. She also shed light on how people can exclude Latinx people. We can see the physical aspect she spoke about which is the actual border that separates the US and Mexico. Mexico in this case is the country that is being excluded and discriminated against because of their culture and the stereotype that society has put on these people. When it comes to health issues, Ramos says that 1 in 4 men will have HIV in their life. This is compared to all Latin men which is an extremely high number. This comes because sex is something that is spoken about in Latin households like something that is bad and something that you should never do. This causes the loss in knowledge on how to do these acts safely. People with any health problem especially if it’s an STD or STI are shied away to not talk about or be aware of their issue because they are gonna get discriminated against. When it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, they are denied the right to get good medical care because of discrimination and stereotypes. Ramos makes it clear that the importance of knowing what people from Latinx communities are going through when it comes to health care. She also wants her readers to know that discrimination isn’t only physical. She also makes it clear that people in Latin communities suffer from lack of knowledge, which causes a lot of issues in their health, especially when they turn a blind eye and ignore the problems they are facing.

17. OPTION ONE: Paola Ramos’ chapter titled “The Other Wall” not only mentions the literal/physical wall that stands at the border between the United States and Mexico but she also takes the opportunity to take this phrase in a figurative term. She brings light on the barriers this wall has brought other than just causing the separation of two worlds and families from new opportunities and each other. This wall that exits between the border of two country’s has created this barrier/ isolation, this “other wall” that Ramos relates to health issues related to Latinas and the LGBTQ+ community. Communities near the wall have been neglected of any proper living conditions, education opportunities, and health care. Communities like La Poderosas have taken this opportunity to educate one another and the rest of the nation of what circumstances they live under and are oppressed of. Ayden Castellanos, a member of the LGBTQ+ community states that the reason why ppl amongst his residence can’t do anything about the rise of HIV diagnoses is due to the fact that they aren’t given the opportunity to learn that such a thing is happening. Queer Latino men have found that “the entrenched culture of machismo to the lack of sex education and the scarce resources that exist, it often feels that the easiest way to “make it” is by putting your head down” (pg 77). This shows that the Latinx and LGBTQ+ community feels the effects that the wall has created and catered towards them. A significant portrayal of the reality of life the wall has been mentioned by a member of the colonias where they states, “Call it a health desert, food desert, or economic desert-the only thing that appears to be visible around this colonia is negligence” (pg 72). They mention that health consciousness is not a leisure thing that comes to them. They are left to face health issues as they are deprived of all things that is beneficial to life and health. They also speak out on the issue of abortion rights on woman as the have been laws that restrain them from being given aid to afford such an action. This then leads persons of lower income to resort to unhealthy abortion actions that cause diseases and can lead to death. Ramos writes, “Many Latinas- constrained to rural grounds, pinned against a wall, and tied to the law- push against bar. Tiers that slowly attempt to chip away at their dignity” (pg 69-70). She illustrates this wall that the Latina community is “pinned” against by the barriers that the laws have restrained them of from their life. As we can see, Ramos takes the idea of the other wall to talk about the consequences that the literal wall in between borders brings for the marginalized community.

18. Paola Ramos sheds a light on mental health issues that are occurring in our Latinx communities. The impact and effects of migration, dealing with citizenship status, facing discrimination, and living through traumatic events are associated with depressive symptoms & anxiety. Paola points out that in 2015 the CDC found that Latino high school students were more likely to consider suicide then whites or blacks. She also states in the literature that the American Psychological Association conducted a study that found perceived racial and ethnical discrimination was consistently linked to poorer mental health, Lower academic achievement and more engagement in risky or negative behavior with higher levels of depression. The author Paola Ramos describes the story of a Latinx student named Esperanza & explains to us how she was battling with mental health issues. Instead of living with the mantra “Callaita te ves mas bonita”. Esperanza had the courage to have a direct conversation with her mother and let her know that she would like to go seek help and speak to a therapist. This display of action shows that there is a sign of hope for Esperanza. Just like Esperanza there are many younger Latinx individuals that instead of keeping things inside or not disclosing certain information they are speaking out and trying to make a difference. A sign of mobilization is shown in the story of Carlitos who Paola met at the March of our lives rally in Washington. Carlito was one of the students that were hiding in one of the classrooms during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland FL. After the shooting Carlito started a youth movement to end gun violence. He also spear headed a digital effort to make sure that other stories were told. The younger Latinx generation and the new Latinx movement brings a transformation in the way that the older Latino generations handled their circumstances. I believe this is happening because of the courage that is being built on standing up and making a difference.

19. When Ramos talks about the “other wall” she doesn’t just mean the wall that is blocking immigration w from happening. She’s talking about the social, political, racial, economic walls that are being put up to deny Latinx communities from being functioning members of society. They were denied basic rights such as language, education, healthcare services, and physical nourishment. Aside from immigration control, Latinx communities were struggling to even receive fair treatment when it came to everyday needs. They were trying to control the bodies of these individuals and not even allow access to certain food, they felt as if they had rights over women and their reproductive systems. The lack of healthcare access affected LGBTQ and the youth directly as they went through obstacles like everyone else such as drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases with no treatment access, mental health concerns, and physical lack of nourishment due to the poor treatment. An example of this was Ayden Castellano who was HIV positive and didn’t know for a long time due to his lack of physical health checkups. The amount of mental and physical trauma that came from the lack of freedom and poor treatment stunned the generation and most likely had long term negative psychological effects on the children growing up with them. Another aspect of trauma many faced was domestic violence. Who did they turn to when their own families weren’t treating them right? Authority wasn’t on their side, there was very few options. The combination of daily life struggles on top of the limitations placed on them were not fit conditions to live through.

20. Response to Option 1:
    When Paola Ramos talks about “the other wall,” she is talking about the systemic barriers that prevent Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth from accessing healthcare services and resources in the United States. This phrase is meant to draw attention to the ways in which social and cultural factors can have a significant impact on health outcomes, particularly for marginalized communities.
    Ramos argues that these barriers to healthcare are not always physical or visible like a border wall, but can be just as damaging and difficult to overcome. For example, she notes that language barriers, cultural stigmas, and discrimination can all prevent Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth from seeking and receiving the care they need to stay healthy.
    In particular, Ramos highlights how these barriers can have a significant impact on the health of Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth, who often face unique challenges and health disparities. LGBTQ+ youth are also at increased risk of mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide, often due to the social and emotional challenges of navigating their identities in a society that is often hostile and discriminatory.
    Ramos argues that addressing these systemic barriers to healthcare is critical to improving the health and well-being of Latinas and LGBTQ+ youth, and requires a concerted effort from policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders. By recognizing the impact of “the other wall” on health outcomes, she aims to raise awareness about the importance of creating more inclusive and accessible healthcare systems that can better serve the needs of all individuals, regardless of their race, gender, or sexual orientation.

21. In Paola Ramos “A Journey From the West to the Southwest.”, she talks about the different types of “walls” that affect the Latino community, she uses the wall as an analogy because of the actual Border that separates the US and Mexico. Things like language barrier, lack of insurance and discrimination are just some of the ‘walls’ that the Latino community face. Those “walls’ can hinder a person’s life because they can’t communicate with others as well as they would like, people in the latino community could be targeted for hate just because they look or sound different. It becomes even more apparent when you look at the LGBTQ+ community within the latino community who have to deal with discrimination from other communities but also their own. That hate and prejudice being very much in the latino community makes it harder for people of the LGBTQ+ to even tell others in their family about their sexual orientation. Throughout Ramos’ writing she talks about different ways that the community can fight against such discrimination towards those inside their own community and to help lead the charge for change in the healthcare system that could be beneficial not just towards people in the LGBTQ+ community but the whole Latino community.

22. Option 1
    After reading the chapter “the other wall” I concluded that what Paola is referring to when she mentions the other wall is the marginalization that the Latinx people face. When Paola refers to “the other wall” she mentions a few things such as the language barrier and how it is difficult for Latinx individuals to communicate making them more susceptible to discrimination. She also touches on the topic of LGBTQ+youth and how it’s difficult for them to get access to healthcare because of their lack of access to health insurance or resources to help them get health care. She states how the lack of access to the necessary resources makes it more difficult for LGBTQ+ youth to stay healthy. She also mentions how it doesn’t help the mental health of the LGBTQ+ youth when they aren’t accepted by their family or their community because it makes them feel alone in the world instead of having someone by their side. She states that it makes it more likely for them to develop a mental health issue such as depression or even an addiction to certain substances as a way to cope with their feelings. All in all, Paola touching on all the things that create “the other wall” was very important as it helps to inform and contribute to the changes that need to happen to create a more fair community for LGBTQ+ individuals as well as the latino community in general.

23. Option One

    Paola Ramos talk about “the other wall” and she refer to it as a barrier the latinx community face. It is a wall that today day it still exits. She talks about the barrier of language and the discrimination that comes from been a latino. Ramos goes into details about the healthcare and the lack of support the latinx community face which is similar to the LGBTQ community. Were the lack of support is missing either from our own community or from those around us. A huge artifact is the lack of been more open minded and accept we are all different with unique identity. The government and our community both should be able to be supporter and accepted base on who we are. The cases of lonliness that lead to mental health issue can be lower if together as individual we respect and support one another regardless of our culture, values, language or where we come from. Thus, this barrier still form part of our life they have been slowly become more open of a conversation than a few years ago.

24. Option Three:
    Some of the mental health issues Ramos sheds light on in this section refer to anxiety and depression. In terms of other issues, Ramos also focuses on the stigma that accompanies seeking help like attending therapy within the Latinx community. Ramos provides her readers with statistics from APA and CDC that demonstrate how high suicide ideation is among adolescents, a very frightening revelation. However, she is able to optimistically combat this information by sharing that these future generations are what will cause the stigma and negative light on mental health awareness to be eradicated. Giving this sense of hope within a generation, she urges that upcoming teenagers and adolescents are beginning to seek out help for themselves despite traditional convictions within Hispanic households. This transformation present is two-fold, this is because not only is it rather radical to acknowledge you need mental health guidance from a professional or etc in a Latinx household, it is especially radical to put in the initiative to find help for the issues you’re facing. This can be due to the “queimportismo” that can be found in Hispanic households when it comes to mental health issues. Usually, typical responses or advice will tell the individual who is suffering to simply “sleep it off, get out of bed, man up, etc.” Throughout this modern epoch, Ramos ensures us that those adolescents admitting vulnerability and a desire to live mentally healthy will pave the way for future generations and their society.

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