Abstract
Are we there yet? Anticipating the completion of arduous mental travels and aching from fatigue and anxiety, our cultural minds ask if we have arrived at the virus-free promised land. We wish to push away long-COVID fatigue and remnants of lockdown-era traumas. In the “before days”, we traveled more to Spanish-speaking nations, shared heritage foods, and easily planned elder visits. Mask-mandates have mostly disappeared, and booster vaccines are more easily scheduled. Subvariants of omicron continue. Latinas, as women, hold down cultural forts and pass on historical memories for families/communities.We must now carefully navigate cultural expectations such as cheek-kiss greetings, holy days of obligation, and co-preparation of special holiday foods (tamales, empanadas). Latinas also have responsibilities among family/heritage communities to be physically available and emotionally warm-hearted despite strain and social anxiety. Indoors, physical distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccine requirements could be interpreted as culturally cold and demonstrating “falta de respeto” (lack of respect). Latinas long for wellness and must strategize differently for mental/physical health. Self-care, an excellent health practice could be interpreted as culturally “selfish and ungrateful”. We are steadfast regarding self-care: tranquil breaks alone, free-style dancing, physical-therapy, arts, women’s retreats, and modulated volunteerism. When a Latina feels whole she is a healthy human and vibrant contributor to self and others. In this poster we use techniques of Latina auto ethnography as we academics/professionals reflect upon self/multicultural environments. We offer recommendations for women of color who long for wellness.
Presenters
Diana RiosFaculty Communication and EL Instituto: Latino-Latin American Caribbean Studies, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States Graciela Quinones Rodriguez
Psychiatric Social Worker, Student Health and Wellness - Mental Health, UCONN, Connecticut, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
LATINA, CULTURE, FAMILY, TRADITIONS, COMMUNITY, LONG-COVID, STRESS, FATIGUE, SELF-CARE, WOMEN
