Hispanic women facing 3 obstacles

Telegram Staff Writer

This is one in a series of stories about the role of women in Columbus.

COLUMBUS - When Juana Hanson moved to Columbus from Chicago 14 years ago, she was one of few Latina women in the community.

Now, Hispanic people, or Spanish speakers, make up more than 6 percent of Columbus's population, according to the 2004 Columbus Collaborative Team Community Needs Assessment.

As the Hispanic community continues to grow and flourish, many, including Hanson, a bilingual advocate for the Center for Survivors, believe Columbus could do more to keep up with the demands of Spanish speakers.

“The number one thing is the language barrier,” Hanson said. “Everywhere you go, you see the Latino population, but to find a good interpreter is really hard.”

According to the same CCT Assessment, the community believes that “communication with or for Non-English speakers” is a problem, ranking it 2.68 out of 4.0 in terms of seriousness.

However, when asked to evaluate how well local services met the needs of persons in the community, the same issue (communication with or for Non-English speakers) was ranked as “adequate.”

The lack of resources, which Hanson describes as an absence of interpreters in public places, especially medical facilities, has a prominent effect on Hispanic Women, who are often care givers and home makers in Latino communities.

“It affects them in the fact that they can't provide medical or dental services for their children,” Hanson said, explaining that mothers cannot communicate with doctors or nurses when their children or other family members are ill.

Rosie Velasco, who was born in Mexico, but who has lived in the United States for 22 years, agrees that more options could be offered for non-English speaking women in Columbus. Velasco, who has lived in Columbus for four years, says she would like to see classes instructing Latina women on how to appropriately conduct a job interview, how to balance checkbooks and how to keep track of finances.

Most importantly, though, Velasco wishes to see an end to discrimination against Hispanic women.

“There are three different barriers. One is that you're a woman. The second is your color. The third is your language,” Velasco said. “(People need to) look beyond color, race and language.”

This language barrier has other, perhaps more harmful affects. Because some Latina women are raised to be submissive to the men in their families, they do not venture out into the community, causing them to miss important resources that are available - including education.

The Standing Diversity Committee and Platte Valley Literacy Association are making strong headway in helping Non-English speakers overcome the barriers they face.

“We encourage (immigrants) to be part of the community by gaining citizenship,” said Tammy Bichlmeier of the Diversity Standing Committee, adding that future plans are currently underway for a transportation system to accommodate Spanish speakers in the community.

The Platte Valley Literacy Association offers English classes at the Columbus Public Library, Carenco and Behlen Manufacturing. A variety of classes are offered, including a beginners classes, reading and writing classes, and adult education courses, which can lead to GED graduation.

“We're encouraging people to pick up the language without loosing their heritage,” said Kelly McGowan, of the Platte Valley Literacy Association. “I think we're on the right track, but this is going to be a growing and evolving situation.”

According to Jolene Hake, Director of the Platte Valley Literacy Association, the classes teach more than just language skills; they also instruct Non-English speakers on civics, American Holidays and the culture of Columbus. And, in recent years, Hake has seen an increase of women who attend the classes, something she finds encouraging.

“When I started, it seemed like there were a lot more men,” Hake said. “The women are very eager to learn.”

Approximately 25 people per month attend the classes, which are taught only in English. Orientation, held the first Wednesday of each month, is required to enter the classes, which are free and open to the public.

Because English is a very difficult language to learn, Hanson urges businesses in the area to hire bilingual employees who can speak with and help the community's Spanish speakers. Most of all, Hanson says community members should treat Non-English speakers with respect, and she asks that people not judge others on the basis of skin color or native language.

“If you give them a chance and let them in the community, (you find) that most people are here because they want to make a living and raise their family,” Hanson said.