A Dose of Latina Pride
Latina women are proud. So it comes as no surprise that many of us struggle with asking for help or showing our hurt feelings. Christina Lopez, a 33-year-old Puerto Rican/French Canadian from New York City, admits to shrugging things off even when she cares.
“I usually say ‘I don’t mind’ which really means I do mind but don’t want to admit it.”
How about that for miscommunication!
Ana Lydia Monaco, a 40-year-old public relations rep from Los Angeles, can also relate to this style of expression. To her husband of a year, she often says, “I don’t need your help,” when what she really means is,
“I really want to be a woman and let a man be a man.”
So, when a woman gives you her blessing to go to a strip club or says she can handle the weight of her suitcase, really listen to what she is saying but also observe her body language as she’s saying it. Is she tense? Are her arms crossed? Did she roll her eyes or walk away when she answered you? These are non-verbal cues that express she is not happy with you or the situation. Another term to be aware of is,
“No, no, I’ll get it.”
You better help her with the trash or dig for that answer, or you are going to get it all right!