Reaping More Than What They Sow: A Critical Race Perspective on Environmental Microaggressions Toward Latinx Farmworkers

Abstract

There are 3+ million farmworkers in the 132.8-billion-dollar U.S. agricultural industry, most of whom are Latinx. Latinx farmworkers possess at least two marginalized identities, class and ethnicity, which expose them to prejudice and discrimination. Drawing from a critical race perspective, we proposed that prejudice and discrimination are experienced interpersonally and subtly embedded within the social and physical environments for Latinx farmworkers (i.e., environmental microaggressions (EMs)). Further, we hypothesized that farmworker-specific EMs would be associated with health. Data from 90 Latinx farmworkers ( M age = 46.09 years, 63.3% women) partly supported our hypotheses. Results revealed interesting patterns of association with depression and anxiety symptoms, and physical function. Findings underscore the need to examine classism and racism as intersecting systemic forces in the lives of Latinx farmworkers, some of the most vulnerable peoples within U.S. American society.

Focusing the critical race psychology lens: CRT and the psychological study of social issues

“…Led by pioneering activists and legal scholars of color, such as Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Richard Delgado, Neil Gotanda, Mari Matsuda, Patricia Williams, and others, CRT developed in the 1980s as a critical approach in legal studies to explain and intervene in the entrenchment of racism and other tools of oppression in law and in society (Crenshaw, 2011). CRT has expanded beyond legal studies over the past 30 years and has increasingly influenced both theory (e.g., Adams & Salter, 2011; Jones, 1998; Volpe et al., 2019) and research praxis in psychology (e.g., Areguin et al., 2020; Crossing et al., 2022). Scholarship identifying with CRT frameworks typically engages: (a) racism as a systemic force embedded in the structure of American society, rather than solely as isolated acts of discrimination or bigotry (e.g., Bell, 2000; Jones, 1998); (b) narratives of liberalism, individualism, colorblindness, choice, and meritocracy as tools that obscure the permanence and centrality of race, reproducing racism in society (e.g., Gotanda, 1991; Salter & Adams, 2013); (c) the hedging of progress or broad‐based support of civil rights for People of Color unless it aligns with the interests of White Americans (i.e., interest convergence, Bell, 1980); (d) White identity (and its cultural manifestations) as a profitable possession that brings benefits to the bearer (e.g., Harris, 1995; Lipsitz, 2006); (e) the unique voices and lived experiences of People of Color and the practice of counter‐storytelling as a tool for deconstructing the racialized bases of everyday society (e.g., Delgado, 2000; Solorzano & Yosso, 2002); and/or (f) experiences of oppression as intersectional (e.g., Crenshaw, 1991; Gillborn, 2015).…”

The dynamics of coping, positive emotions, and well-being: Evidence from Latin American immigrant farmworkers and college students during a time of political strife.

“…A typical day of an immigrant farmworker may consist of getting up at early hours in the morning to avoid the 100-degree sun and working in the fields across the United States, working long hours, and then going home to eat and rest while writing or calling family thousands of miles away. In addition to harsh working conditions and being separated from family for long periods of time (Hiott et al, 2008), the stress of acculturation (Alderete et al, 1999; Hovey & Magaña, 2002a, 2002b) and discrimination (Areguin et al, 2020), immigrant farmworkers face other added stressors that have negative consequences on psychological health. For example, studies find that immigrant farmworkers experience stressors that result in increased anxiety and depression (Areguin et al, 2020; Hiott et al, 2008; Magaña & Hovey, 2003; Pulgar et al, 2016), including economic hardships such as food insecurity, low paid and uncertain work, exposure to pesticides, poor housing conditions, and documentation status or what many view as political persecution.…”

“…In addition to harsh working conditions and being separated from family for long periods of time (Hiott et al, 2008), the stress of acculturation (Alderete et al, 1999; Hovey & Magaña, 2002a, 2002b) and discrimination (Areguin et al, 2020), immigrant farmworkers face other added stressors that have negative consequences on psychological health. For example, studies find that immigrant farmworkers experience stressors that result in increased anxiety and depression (Areguin et al, 2020; Hiott et al, 2008; Magaña & Hovey, 2003; Pulgar et al, 2016), including economic hardships such as food insecurity, low paid and uncertain work, exposure to pesticides, poor housing conditions, and documentation status or what many view as political persecution. This provides a unique context to investigate how people cope with stress in a sample that’s largely understudied and are beyond WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic; Henrich et al, 2010).…”

Pandemic Impacts on Florida Farmworkers: Emerging Takeaways to Inform Outreach and Policymaking

“…Moreover, influential politicians' anti-immigrant rhetoric and attacks against immigrants, minorities, and refugees have fueled hostility and even hate crimes against farmworkers (Medel-Herrero et al, 2021). The public discourse often promotes a narrative that farmworker communities are a burden to the American economy (e.g., "farmworkers take away jobs"), obscuring farmworkers' actual economic contributions (Areguin et al, 2020).…”