Application of Postcolonial Feminist Theory, Chicana Feminist Thought, and Black Feminist Thought in Analyzing the Mental Health Needs of Latina Migrant Farmworkers

Abstract

The purpose of this theoretical article is to analyze the utility of postcolonial, Black, and Chicana feminist frameworks to inform nursing research and practice specific to mental health needs of Latina women migrant farmworkers. Twentieth-century Western feminist narratives overlooked the intersecting systems of oppression experienced by women of color, including Latina women. Feminist epistemologies are useful in understanding the complex sociopolitical contexts that have impacted women's health outcomes and well-being. This analysis is critical to shaping nursing care that meets the unique health needs of migrant farmworker women while considering their sociopolitical realities.

A Qualitative Analysis of Latina Migrant Farmworkers’ Perception of Mental Health: Voices From Wisconsin

“…This study was informed by Chicana feminist thought, postcolonial feminist theory, and Black feminist thought (Collins, 2002;Garcia, 1989;Mohanty, 1995). The application of these theories allows for an in-depth analysis of Latina migrant farmworkers' mental health and how it is affected by the intersection of race, class, and gender amid the current sociopolitical environment and anti-migratory rhetoric (Graf et al, 2022). In addition, the use of a feminist approach promotes a reflective, interactive, and nonhierarchical interaction between researchers and participants who become collaborators and are not merely "subjects" of study (Ritchie et al, 2014).…”