Three Generational Anxieties That Latinas Face and How to Ease Them

Inside Out 2 is one of June's most talked-about movie releases. If you relate to the sequel’s new emotion, Anxiety, you’re not alone. Here’s how Latinas can ease everyday and generational anxieties.

"Inside Out 2" has not only been a huge box office success but has also been generating a lot of buzz because it addresses one of the universal themes: human emotions. Specifically, anxiety, one of the new emotions introduced in this sequel, strikes a chord with many people, including Latinas, who feel the pressures of needing to have a significant other, be mentally and emotionally stable, and know how to cook and clean perfectly, among other things.

Although we are on the cusp of overturning outdated ideas of being the perfect woman to serve our partners and households, Anxiety’s central feelings can still be deeply rooted in us. Have you ever felt anxious about not being the perfect significant other or mother? You’re not alone.

Here are tips on easing Latinas' generational anxieties to prevent them from being passed on to the next generation.

It’s OK Not to Have a Significant Other

It’s 2024, and las tías still ask about having a significant other. In these instances, it may be hard to remember other aspects of your life that are as important as your love life. Unfortunately, some Latina women are still stuck on the idea that if you don’t have a significant other, you’re not truly happy. But we all know that’s not true. As the saying goes, “mejor sola que mal acompañada.”

Tired of waiting for the perfect significant other to do things? Adventure out alone. While it may be easier said than done, joining book clubs or hiking clubs in your community can ease this anxiety of missing out on activities due to your relationship status. Need an extra push? Meetup is a good way to start connecting with your community.

It’s OK Not to Have Your Mental or Physical Life Together

Life has its ups and downs. Some days are good, and you can easily tick off the boxes for a productive day: Work, check. Exercise, check. Eat healthy, check. Other days, not so much. And it’s not the end of the world. Latinas are pressured to have everything together and, on top of that, look good while doing it. But at what cost?

To start getting it all together again, why not take 15 minutes to journal your thoughts or goals or to stretch and walk? It’s the little things that make a huge difference in hindsight.

It’s OK Not to Know How to Cook or Clean Properly

Growing up getting yelled at rather than being taught to do things properly, I learned to repeatedly ask my mother to teach me and not to assume things come out of common sense. While making staple dishes may be easy for your parents, they had to learn somewhere – and so do we.

Try small, easy dishes on YouTube channels or TikTok accounts to start your cooking journey. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn by watching a simple video!