Fighting to Be Heard: Latina Adolescent Girls Writing Toward Change

Abstract

The author explores the words and writing of Rocky, Reyna, Blanca, and Elizabeth (grades 6–12) through their participation in Somos Escritoras/We Are Writers, a creative space for Latina girls and their parents. For 6 weeks, alongside their parents, girls used drawing and personal writing to dialogue about their experiences and bring into language the issues most important in their lives and worlds. Alongside one another, their writing served as a tool to define themselves and supported them in developing visions for the future. Their voices illuminate the urgency of connecting our writing classrooms and community spaces to the lives of youth to make writing relevant and meaningful in order to move our words into action.

“Her Voice is Proud”: Exploring the Intersections of Writing, Gender, and Mental Health

“…Depression and anxiety are on the rise for adolescents because of the continued effects of Covid‐19 (Magson et al., 2021). With teens experiencing extreme social isolation, writing programs such as Girl Power have the potential to address the need for connection in America's youth (Flores, 2021; Player, 2021). But, out‐of‐school programs cannot do the heavy lifting alone; classrooms must also provide relief to students experiencing the effects of mental health.…”

“…Writing workshops are an opportune space for girls to process difficult experiences, examine emotions, and explore identities (Flores, 2021; Player, 2021). While writing is a solitary, embodied endeavor, workshops provide a community of practice that aids in the process of catharsis and self‐understanding (Flores, 2021; Muhammad, 2015). In several studies, it was the act of sharing one's writing that brought about a feeling of commonality—of not being alone (Flores, 2021; Player, 2021).…”

“…While writing is a solitary, embodied endeavor, workshops provide a community of practice that aids in the process of catharsis and self‐understanding (Flores, 2021; Muhammad, 2015). In several studies, it was the act of sharing one's writing that brought about a feeling of commonality—of not being alone (Flores, 2021; Player, 2021). In Player's (2021) study of an after‐school writing club, the young women learned about common bonds they share through communal writing and reading, which led to greater understanding of themselves.…”

“…This practice provided each girl a voice while also offering the participants a shared authority over that space. When writing workshops create opportunities for female voices to be validated, girls are empowered to not only negotiate their sense of self, but also to share that self with the world (Flores, 2021; Muhammad, 2015; Player, 2021).…”

“…The power of workshop communities is the safe space they can provide for girls, and other students, who experience marginalization and abuse. In particular, spaces that promote freedom of expression through writing create an outlet for difficult emotions and experiences (Flores, 2021). Without such spaces, adolescents may internalize their trauma, resulting in higher levels of depression and anxiety, even resulting in hospitalization (Fink et al, 2015).…”