Historically, especially in Chicanx/Latinx history, the contributions of women have been overshadowed by that of men. For labor reform and civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta, it was no different. In my research alone, the gendered bias and favoritism were quite prevalent. The majority of the sources that I came across did not mention Dolores Huerta without mentioning her male counterpart, César Chávez, either in the title or within the first few sentences. Chicanas have always faced a great deal of opposition, when standing up for something they are passionate about, especially if it requires them to be outside of the home, because of the traditional belief that women are meant to stay home and be primary caregivers to the children, while men went out into the workforce. Despite the fact that her work tends to be overshadowed by that of César Chávez, I argue that Dolores Huerta was one of the most influential individuals in Chicanx/Latinx history and continues to be to this day. Although most well-known for co-founding the United Farm Workers union in the Central Valley, Dolores Huerta also had a great impact on the feminist movement, civil rights, and has become a role model for Chicana/Latina women everywhere (García xv).
Dolores Huerta was born Dolores Clara Fernandez in Dawson, New Mexico on April 10, 1930. However, when her parents divorced, she moved to Stockton, California with her mother and siblings. Her ambitious and passionate spirit stemmed from her upbringing and was greatly impacted by both of her parents. From a young age, Dolores was influenced by both a strong, independent, entrepreneurial mother and a labor activist father (Dolores Huerta Foundation, “Dolores Huerta”). According to A Dolores Huerta Reader, when they moved to Stockton, California, Huerta’s mother, Alicia Chávez bought a restaurant and a hotel. Growing up in Stockton—namely, a poor farming town in the Central Valley—Dolores Huerta was exposed to poverty and a multitude of minority groups. Because of her unstoppable drive, Huerta’s mother was able to support her family and even moved up in social stature (García xvi). Despite their social mobility, Huerta was well aware of the poverty and harsh conditions that the migrant farmworkers faced within her community. Her mother allowed farmworkers and their families to stay in her hotel free of charge (Nardini 4). Although she lived with her mother, Huerta still had contact with her father, Juan Fernández. Her father was a miner who became a union activist, and in 1938, became an elected politician in New Mexico (Dolores Huerta Foundation, “Dolores Huerta”). Therefore, it is unsurprising that Huerta grew up and emulated both of her parents, respectively.
Throughout her young adulthood and adolescence, Dolores Huerta was also exposed to a home with a traditionally unheard-of caregiver. In her article, Claire Wolfteich stated that “[Huerta’s] mother worked to support the family and her grandfather assisted with child care; thus, she grew up with the model of an employed mother and a domestically-involved male figure.” This would prove to influence how Huerta conducted her own home later in life. Throughout her time at Stockton High School, Huerta was involved in many clubs and programs, demonstrating a taste of the activism that was to come from her in the future (Dolores Huerta Foundation, “Dolores Huerta”).
After high school, Dolores Huerta received an Associate’s Degree, and later, a teaching certificate. She taught the children of migrant farmworkers in Stockton, and after years of seeing their struggle, both at her mother’s hotel and in her own classroom, Huerta decided to leave her position as a teacher in 1955 (Acosta 11). As stated on the website for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, “While teaching she could no longer bear to see her students come to school with empty stomachs and bare feet, and thus began her lifelong journey of working to correct economic injustice.” Huerta recognized that although an education would benefit the future of the farmworker’s children, and their community, she knew something had to be done about the harsh conditions that these families faced in their daily life (Dolores Huerta Foundation, “Dolores Huerta”). I, too, agree that although a positive educational experience would have greatly benefitted the students, getting to the bottom of the problem would have had the most positive, long-lasting impact. The children would not have been able to reach their full potential with all the stressors they had to return to after school. It is because of this that Dolores Huerta began her work with the Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization in 1955, indefinitely leaving the classroom. While working for this organization, Huerta helped register people to vote, advocate for the improvement of public services, and curtail discrimination in legislation (Acosta 11).
While working with the Community Service Organization, also known as the CSO, and attending meetings across California, Dolores Huerta met César Chávez. Soon after, he began taking note of her determination and passion for the CSO and all the issues they addressed. In 1962, Huerta went on to co-found the National Farmworkers Association, now known as United Farm Workers, or UFW, with Chávez (Fitzgerald). The UFW was organized to tackle unsafe working conditions, low wages, and the continued use of dangerous pesticides in the different crop industries (Ruiz and Sánchez 332). The union’s first success came in 1964. As a result of lobbying by the UFW, the United States Congress abolished the Bracero Program—namely, a program that allowed employers to hire Mexican natives as scabs—which effectively allowed them to organize and strike without facing harrowing repercussions (Ruiz and Sánchez 333).
Furthermore, the United Farm Workers began their boycott of the grape industry. They “went into the fields to organize farmworkers”, Huerta with her children by her side (Ruiz and Sánchez 333; Pena 3A). Taking her children into the fields enabled Huerta to show her children what she was most passionate about first hand, as well as likely motivating them to do their part concerning different civil rights issues— as her father did for her all those years ago. Above all, taking her children into the fields served as proof that she would not allow anything to get in her way and was serious about making a change. It instilled a sense of trust in the farmworkers for Dolores Huerta, since they likely had traditional beliefs about the role of women and would, thus, find it difficult to believe that she could actually make a difference.
Beginning in 1965, the grape boycott was held in opposition to the toxic pesticides that growers continually used, even after seeing that cancer and horrendous birth defects resulted. Although not the only industry using pesticides, Huerta and Chávez tackled the biggest of them all, in an effort to influence the others to stop as well (Pena 3A). After five years of peaceful protesting, the United Farm Workers and the grape-growing companies were able to come to an agreement (Nardini 5). Upon one of the most influential successes, was the UFW’s involvement in the passage of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act in 1975, which protected the farm workers right to unionize and continue their fight for better working conditions (Acosta 11).
During her time spent organizing for the United Farm Workers, Dolores Huerta faced a lot of opposition from men and other’s that shared the belief that women belonged in the home with their children. Despite this, Huerta always stood up for herself, even calling a UFW male board member on his attempt to take credit for her work (Fitzgerald). In her newspaper article, Valeria Fitzgerald explained how Huerta urged women to &
quot;Stand up for [themselves] and find clever ways to do it, so it isn't confrontational. Build[ing] alliances, volunteer[ing] and belonging to women's organizations is important” (Fitzgerald). Huerta always practiced what she preached. She built alliances and relied on others in her community and extended family to help her care for her eleven children. Huerta constantly received backlash because of the Machismo ideal. Historically, women have been expected to stay home and tend to the children, while the men went out into the workforce. She challenged this and sacrificed spending time with her children for the greater good. As aforementioned, she was influenced and always supported by her mother who, too, focused more-so on her career than spending time at home tending to her children. When others did not understand Huerta’s dedication to her cause, her mother was there to motivate and support her (Wolfteich 153-154). Never allowing it to deter her, Huerta continued to fight for what she believed in.
After recovering from a brutal police attack during a peaceful protest in San Francisco, that landed her into emergency surgery, Dolores Huerta shifted her focus to civil rights, more specifically, that of the underrepresented and disadvantaged women and children in the Chicanx/Latinx community. As a result, the Dolores Huerta Foundation was established. As stated in Daniel Nardini’s newspaper article, “The [Dolores Huerta Foundation] is a nonprofit organization helping to provide access to health care, housing, education and jobs to disadvantaged communities, especially to women and children.” According to their website, The Dolores Huerta Foundation, headquartered in Bakersfield, California, is a grassroots movement, emphasizing the importance of the opinions of the individuals in the communities in need of aid. Through Vecinos Unidos, or United Neighbors, they are able to meet and discuss the issues that are most prevalent and prioritize them. Their concerns and focuses are categorized as either civic engagement, health and environment, education and youth development, or economic development, with an emphasis on maintaining equality across all domains (Dolores Huerta Foundation, “Programs”). Still, around today, the Dolores Huerta Foundation continues to help underrepresented communities.
Years later, Dolores Huerta still continues to influence the Chicanx and Latinx community. In 2012, President Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Dolores Huerta Foundation, “Dolores Huerta”). The presentation of this honor recognized all of the hard work and positive influence that she has had on different communities. She was also one of “…six individuals [to be] honored because of their work to influence and enrich our culture through their dedication, hard work and sacrifices to the community” ("Awards for civil rights” ). In her lifetime, thus far, Dolores Huerta has had a great impact on the feminist movement and civil rights. She also co-founded the United Farm Workers, the Robert Kennedy Medical Plan, Juan De La Cruz Farm Workers Pension Fund, Farm Workers Credit Union, and National Farm Workers Communication, alongside César Chávez, and established the Dolores Huerta Foundation ("Awards for civil rights” ).
Dolores Huerta’s leadership and dedication have impacted my family directly. My maternal grandfather was a part of the United Farm Workers and protested alongside her, in the push for better working conditions, higher wages, and the elimination of harmful pesticides. Moreover, having been raised in Napa, California, the grape industry has always been a big part of my community. When my father and his siblings immigrated to the United States, they sought out work within the hundreds of vineyards and wineries that made up the Napa Valley. For years, these vineyards were my father’s sole source of income and made his transition to life in a new country easier.
During the time of the boycotts and the peak of the United Farm Workers presence, companies treated their farmworkers, especially immigrants, with little to no respect; they were seen as disposable. Now, these workers are valued. Some are equipped with work trucks to use from the moment the vines bud to the end of harvest, and sometimes even permitted to live in homes on the winery properties. Above all, they are paid living wages. The difference from the 1960s and 1970s to now is night and day. Now, the tourism and hospitality industry help maintain our communities and provide many families with a living income in the Napa Valley, all thanks to the Dolores Huerta, César Chávez, and the United Farm Workers.
Personally, as a Mexican-American female, I have always strived to be more than what is traditionally expected of me. Much like Dolores Huerta, I, too, work hard in the face of Machismo and never let it discourage me. My extended family shows more traits of the Machismo ideal than my nuclear family, but I never succumb to their sexist expectations. I have always done what I knew what was best for me and my future. Additionally, if I can encourage and influence my family members to grow beyond those traditional expectations, I can do my part in influencing the future of my relatives and then, those that they can go on to influence.
Traditionally, the contributions of women have been overshadowed by that of men, especially within Chicanx/Latinx culture. The feminist movement has brought an awareness of the positive impacts these women have made, and they are now receiving the recognition they deserve. Although still not equal to that of men, it is a step in the right direction.
When taking the time to learn about and acknowledge all that women have contributed to society, one can see the value in bringing it all to light. Dolores Huerta’s work and influence deserve to be recognized as more than being just a sidekick to a man, so that women everywhere, not just in the Chicanx/Latinx community can strive to emulate Dolores Huerta in her strength, hard work, and determination.