By Cristina Gutierrez (Boswell)
Normally I have a personally-written intro about the headlines… a carefully scripted set of words segueing into the weekly dose of crap we women have to fight. On that note, my friend and Laredo homegirl, Liza, tagged me in this post and I loved it! It’s about a word we Latinos use on the border. I channel it every time I need to remind myself to never stop doing what is right… from “Chingona.soy” (go over an read the full description as well as other stories) I bring you the definition of “Chingona.” (pronounced “Cheen-go-na”)
Photo by "Chingona.soy"
“Today I will be a chingona.
“A [chingona] is a female version of a hustler.” (Queue Beyonce's Diva)
Being a chingona is both a choice and an honor. It is a constant state of mind, not to be taken lightly.
I would like to thank Urban Dictionary for describing chingonas as “the most badass girls in the world.” Flattering, really. But how to describe a chingona to the unfamiliar? Let me count the ways:
A chingona is dynamic.
A chingona hustles. She doesn’t sit tight. She makes it happen.
A chingona fights for what she believes in. Conviction through and through.
A chingona is passionate.
A chingona is so passionate, some might think she’s a little insane.
A chingona is powerful. She is strength, courage, and hard work.
A chingona is determined. She pushes and sprints and dives into everything she does.
A chingona sees no limits. Openminded and audacious.
A chingona does it for her gente. If you call yourself a chingona, you can’t forget the people who helped you become one.
A chingona attracts other chingonas. This is very important - there’s no way you’re doing this alone.
A chingona has no room for envy or insecurities. That fuels the haters but builds bonds with other chingonas. This dynamic creates a shared connection any real chingona can understand.
A chingona is true to herself and doesn’t let others change her. It’s hard enough being a chingona, no need to be one on anyone else’s terms.
A chingona is restless. She stays up at night, wakes up early, and still wants more hours in the day.
A chingona is loud. Introvert, extrovert, doesn’t matter. Her voice is heard.
A chingona defines success for herself. Others may not understand what success means to her, perhaps because her own definition of success is bigger than herself.
A chingona wants to see young chingonas coming up. As a beloved mentor once told me, “It gets lonely at the top. Bring others with you.”
A chingona looks good. She wears confidence, humility and grace, and she makes it look great.
A chingona is full of mystery. You never really know what’s brewing behind her eyes, behind her story, but oh yes is it intriguing.
A chingona is up for adventures. The only way for a chingona to stay driven is to find out what else is out there.
A chingona trusts in the universe. “And when you want something, the universe conspires to help you achieve it.” - Paulo Coelho (a chingon in his own right).
A chingona sometimes gets stretched too thin. She’s working on that…
A chingona is inspired by those who push boundaries and live on the edge of passion for whatever they believe in.
A chingona is a dancer. In spirit or in heels, she lives to a rhythm all her own.
A chingona values quality people she can trust. Nothing less.
A chingona can put her hair up and get her hands dirty. She also cleans up well.
A chingona believes in the strength of bold black eyeliner. Making a statement.
A chingona sees a challenge and runs toward it. That’s just how it works - aim for what’s hard and you’ll thrive.
A chingona is tough, sincere, and kind. She is all juxtaposition.
A chingona is the definition of pride, ache, dreams, and strength.
A chingona will be a president one day.
A chingona is my mom.
A chingona will be my daughter.
A chingona is here to stay.
Today I will be a chingona.”
Onto the week’s round up.
In horizontal hostility news:
A female judge in Florida jailed a domestic abuse victim because she did not show up to the court date in which she would have to confront her attacker. (http://wonkette.com/...) This judge had a number of options to hand to this poor woman, one of them being another chance. This judge is a shit and needs to be removed from the bench.
In women controlling their own destinies, news:
Women in Bangladesh are starting businesses and creating roles for themselves in government, therefore allowing for a woman’s say in matters concerning their daily lives. (http://www.theguardian.com/...)
In dirtbag-dumbassery, news:
John Kasich tried to hush up a female student by telling her “I don’t have Taylor Swift tickets.” Pendejo Kasich further put his foot in his mouth (which freshly came from his ass) by telling another female student in the front row, “I bet you get invited to all the parties.” Here’s a college question for you: What stupid “presidential hopeful” idiot goes to a college and acts no more mature than a frat boy does as he shoots five shots of cheap tequila? This guy wants to be a leader? (http://theslot.jezebel.com/...)
In girls being targeted for dress code only, news:
The “Scarlet A” letter is coming back but this time to point the shame and blame at a system which unfairly targets the female gender. Students at Charleston County School of the Arts in South Carolina decided to use their talents to bring awareness to this very real issue! Brava girls! (http://msmagazine.com/...)
In plain awesome news…
Meet the women who are supplying Syrian refugees with menstrual products (http://msmagazine.com/...)
In the people who have gone full potato, news…
Presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, who is clearly not known for his genius, vomits his acidic views about the Oregon shooting, blaming a number of factors, including abortion. You know, and call me hopelessly simple here, but the shooter’s mother didn’t abort him (obviously), and so what does this have to do with anything? (http://theslot.jezebel.com/...)
In equal pay news (and it’s all good)…
California is paving the way towards equal pay as Governor Jerry Brown has signed The Fair Pay Act into California law. Introduced by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson:
“The act provides legal protections to women being paid less than their male counterparts for doing work of “comparable worth.” For instance, a female hotel room cleaner can now take legal action if she’s being paid less than a male hotel janitor, since the work requires similar levels of experience and training. It also goes further than existing national and state equal pay legislation by requiring employers to prove that pay disparities are based on qualifications and not gender, and protecting from retaliation any woman who discusses wages with a coworker.”
Hannah and Jerry…Thank you.
In memoriam news…
Detroit Activist Grace Lee Boggs has died at 100.
"Grace Lee Boggs was involved with the civil rights, black power, labor, environmental justice and feminist movements over the past seven decades. She was born to Chinese immigrant parents in 1915. In 1992, she co-founded the Detroit Summer youth program to rebuild and renew her city."
In abortion “rights” news…
You just have to read about some of the stupid hurdles and emotional trauma women are required to go through in order to obtain this procedure. I can’t believe what I just read here…
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...)
Tons of additional news all supplied by my fellow forum sisters:
From Tara the antisocial worker:
Here's an article about female waitress having to endure low wages and sexual harassment: http://www.theguardian.com/...
Speaking of harassment, here's an article on "online harassment":
http://www.juliawertz.com/...
And this is scary...
An Idaho male teenager threatened to kill his female classmates because they refused to send him nude pics. This is "male privilege/entitlement" evolving into femicide. Read here: http://www.shakesville.com/...
And a group of pro-choice Clergy bless an abortion clinic...
http://thinkprogress.org/...
From Mettle Fatigue we have:
Thomson Reuters has a new "Women's Rights" tab... take a look: http://www.trust.org/...
From Officebs...
This is an extremely eye-opening article about gender inequality and land ownership in different countries: http://helpbuild.habitat.org/...
This makes sense and can be tied in with the article above about women in Bangladesh taking control of their destinies in everyday life and government.
AND READ "19 Things No Woman Should Have to Apologize For"... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
From Ramara we have....
Lesbian Birth control: http://www.buzzfeed.com/...
ACLU sues Catholic hospitals who would rather let women die than give them abortions:http://www.addictinginfo.org/...
***ACTION ITEM... Donate to the cause! Help girls who were sexually enslaved by ISIS and escaped! Go here to donate: https://codepink.nationbuilder.com/...
AND ever heard that old saying "When a guy gets angry it means he's asserting his intelligence, but if a woman gets angry she's a bitch?" Well a new study confirms this somewhat: http://feministing.com/...
Elenacarlena has an interesting article about women throwing "bitch" and "boss" at each other. Her take is that it isn't good...what's your take? Read here: http://www.nytimes.com/...
Finally, I will leave you with these funny dooziees:
Kim Davis and Rachel Dolezal get mocked on SNL: http://www.addictinginfo.org/...
AND...