Latin-American Studies

1. Analyzing the occupation in Sanetech and San Jose, it can be seen that there are two sides that illustrate the realities happening in the community. At one side, it can be seen the progressive and highly developed industries in Silicon Valley with technological innovations in computer and software. On the other hand, amidst the bustling workplace, there are also informal occupations present under the strata of formalized organizations that feature Mexican immigrants in general (Zlolinski, 2006). It is through such capacity that the idea of an informal economy exists.

Interpreting the value of informal economies in Sanetech and San Jose, it can be described as occupations wherein conditions do not meet expected standards provided by American society. In particular, it showcases limited opportunities for acquiring health benefits, social protection, and making contributions (via taxes) due to questionable immigrant status among people engaged in such occupations (Zolinski, 2006). It is through such capacity that majority of immigrants end up in this stratum and seeks alternative ways to earn a living and meet the demands of life.

Informal economy can be organized according to the value of work an employee provides the company. It demonstrates the ability of how these immigrant workers respond to the availability of occupations which can either be characterized as (1) hidden industrial activities or (2) a sub economy in the neighborhood (Zolinski, 2006). Each of these showcases different agendas and connotes a particular strategy to operate. For example, in hidden industrial activities, companies seek to utilize maximizing their savings with cheap labor and reduce production costs. On the other hand, a neighborhood sub economy illustrates the objective of maximizing income via transactions among low income and informal workers within the community (Zolinski, 2006).

Analyzing this situation, it can be seen that the occupations under this informal economy can be characterized into type of employment one undertakes. One example to highlight this involves the existence of a subcontracted employee in a formalized business unit. Here, the position available may correspond to low-skilled maintenance and manufacturing that pays below the minimum wage required by the government or state (Zolinski, 2006). They are considered subcontracted due to the fact that their occupation is determined by a middle party who determines their qualifications. Seeing this, their contributions remains vital to the overall production of the company but are unable to be recognized as formal because their affiliations is mandated by other their corresponding subcontractors (Zolinski, 2006). Such case can be seen with the case of Arturo and Alberto.

Another evident example of an informal economy present within Sanetech and San Jose involves the practice of street vending. Here, these individuals create and provide products and services to the local community corresponding to what they need. Sweatshops are also another occupation that coincides with Sanetechs informal economy. The main objective of this endeavor is to encourage lower production costs because producers does not have to pay benefits to workers and can encourage a higher quota (Zolinski, 2006). Such realities remain prevalent in many industrial factories which provide poor working conditions for its employees.

Given these relatively harsh conditions, it is apparent that informal employees do face constraints in their ability to meet their needs accordingly. Alongside this factor, there are also other hindrances and hurdles that these informal workers have to undergo. One clear example highlighted by Zolinski involves job security. Under this process, it showcases the inability to control their status in a specific employment. These immigrants suffer from the capacity to become terminated anytime or for no apparent reason because there is no binding document that can support their needs accordingly (Zolinski, 2006).  Another apparent hurdle revolves around financial stability. Since some of these occupations (street vending) correspond only to a particular amount and determined by particular seasons and demand, the income gained is not fixed and would be troublesome if a member of the family got sick or hospitalized.

The same problem can be seen with the availability of benefits. Since these employees are not under a specific contract, they cannot acquire specific benefits mandated by law such as health insurance, severance pay, and leaves (Zolinski, 2006). These then leaves employees, particularly in harsh working environments to become susceptible to exploitation and abuse by their supervisors and bosses. Lastly, there are also limited opportunities for these employees to establish and create unions that can seek out their needs. This especially applies since their capacity to become involved is constrained not only by lack of legal documents to support their citizenship but also the limited groups that support their cause accordingly (Zolinski, 2006).

Equally to supplement the needs of these Mexican immigrants, the woman also takes part in the work process. The case of Laura provided by Zolinski is one example of an alternative option that Mexican women can do to substantiate the limited economic support that their husbands can give. By street vending, Laura was not only able to sustain and maintain the needs of her family she was also able to utilize her skills in making her business grow (Zolinski, 2006). These dynamics became essential in addressing the threat when relying on their husbands too much for economic support. Given these, many Mexican immigrant families allow women to seek employment in order to augment important costs associated with living in Sanetech. Seeing this, it also prevents the threats of losing income and having limited opportunities to provide the basic needs of the family (Zolinski, 2006). Thus, these then became an essential component motivating Mexican immigrant women to seek livelihood and income.

In essence, the subsistence process revolves around the ability of the Mexican immigrant man to look for job which is most of the time low-skilled and the extra effort by the wife to find an alternative means to earn income. These then becomes the key component in addressing the needs of the family. Income becomes augmented by the salary earned by the husband and the corresponding money obtained by the woman through her additional work. Such relationship then creates better opportunities for the family to survive. Such aspect then becomes a viable tool for researchers such as Zolinski to understand the value of how immigration can indeed affect value of employment especially among undocumented ones. Regardless of these realities, it is still apparent that the overall condition within Sanetech corresponds to the ability to survive and make ends meet.

2. Promoting advocacy looks into the capacity of organizations and individuals to effectively create patterns that can shape change. This objective then becomes a culminating tool promoting appropriate schemes and endeavors to meet the limited capacity of governments or state to address these issues altogether. Applying this analogy to the case of Latin American Communities, it can be seen that there are indeed several groups that facilitate the active development of these. It includes the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Mexican American National Association or National Latina Organization (MANA), and the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) (Marquez, 2003).
Each one provides a particular mission and derives meaning in their ability to supplement the needs of the community and furthers appropriate directions in enacting the necessary changes. However, given the four choices available, I do believe that MANA complements the most out of what society needs today. Though its focus may only revolve around Latina women, it can be argued that it has provided the better means and capacity to explore dimensions of providing change among their target group.

Operating on the values and principles of the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), it can be seen that it is a grassroot organization that correspond to the analysis of value and relevance of proposals given by individuals. Here, they synthesize and incorporate effective methods of analyzing the most viable methods in addressing particular issues relating to poverty alleviation and better ways to support the needs of Mexican immigrant workers (Marquez, 2003).  An important contribution of this organization has been the continued existence of the U.S. Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership in enhancing better border relations with their counterparts (Marquez, 2003). Similarly, it gives valuable attention to independent individuals and groups to bring about transparency in their capacity to function without traces of prejudice and bias. Though this organization may be discredited for applying a faith-based approach in choosing recipients, it has made considerable changes in establishing social connections with the community it caters and providing values that it believes is essential towards human development. It is through this that IAF becomes a viable tool for social change regardless of the fact that they only cater to only several aspects related to establishing development and growth.

Comparing this with the overall setup with the TAMACC, it seeks to represent particular issues present within the Latin American region particularly business development, sustainability, and better working conditions within small-scale business operations. In essence, they serve as lobbyists in promoting and identifying important trends to ensure that legitimate small-business owners create better directions in achieving sustainability and progress (Marquez, 2003). Due to this, the organization provides preference and aid to people having difficulties legally and addressing specific technical standards related to registration, compliance, and adherence to specific changes in mandates. Given these, TAMACC provides emphasis in the value of establishing better communication, monitoring and reporting processes among the businesses it supports. These can then ensure better acquisition of information and compliance to whatever changes may occur in terms of policy and rules (Marquez, 2003).

The SNEEJ as an organization covers a myriad of social issues related to Latin Americans. Given the diversity of its membership and affiliations, it has been able to create directions in handling specific economic and environmental issues (Marquez, 2003). Their key success as a grassroot organization revolves around their capacity to instill change by diversifying and applying its key principles together. This means that their policy revolved around the active interplay among different inputs from its members. It thus created better utilization of ideas that promoted change as it applied to areas such as legislation, application, and effective communication (Marquez, 2003).

Lastly, MANA as an organization addresses personally the importance of Latina women in a global and local environment. Here, their projects and scope are focused mainly on uplifting the status of Latinas by creating effective models related to education, training, and development. This then gives opportunities for recipients to become empowered and resist the challenges of prejudice and discrimination in different areas such as workplace, family, society, etc. (Marquez, 2003). Due to their efforts and contributions, their activities and projects have spread across the globe and has helped reached out to the trends associated with globalization and increased interdependence in many societies.

Analyzing all these organizations, very little criticisms can be made on these organizations other than their scope and ability to function both in the local and international level. In essence, their purpose as a grassroot organization coincides with finding opportunities to impart the necessary change needed. The choice of choosing MANA to join coincides with my personal values and corresponding to the value of how Latina women have evolved from its traditional notions. For one, I do believe that SNEEJ is doing a good job in establishing its purpose as an organization. However, I do feel that their scope is too vague to supplement what the community needs the most. Since there are numerous social problems associated with the Latin American society, their ability to provide change would only be limited in a structural level rather on an individual level.

For the part of TAMAAC, it can be argued that it remains too focused mainly among Latin American business owners. Since this organization may indeed have brought about economic growth and stability, it lacks the capacity to fully center on other aspects that Latin Americans need in order to develop. Such capacity and associated technicalities may prove to be difficult to entertain especially if one is either not interested in doing business or does not know anything about it. In critiquing IAF, it can be seen that as a group, they have provided the inputs in creating unity amidst the diversity happening. However, its faith-based purpose and values also connote challenges and struggles that they have to face. For one, the value of affiliations becomes primary and undermines the value of advocacy as prerequisite for such.

Seeing this, I do believe that MANA coincides with my personal values and ideals. Since its inception, it has provided empowerment towards Latina women. It was able to help create transcendence from the traditional notions of women and fought for equality and the elimination of discrimination. At the same time, by supplementing these endeavors with sufficient training, education, and facilitation, it was able to create a lasting relationship with its recipients and provided the leverage towards meeting the demands of todays society. Such facet then coincides with what I believe the role of women should be in the 21st century.