Latinos are the most dynamic segment of the U.S. population. They are the largest minority and also the youngest. Their role in the future of politics and the economy is fundamental. Thinking strategically, numbers and demography rule.
The Pew Hispanic Center (PHC) stated in one of its recent reports: “One- in-five schoolchildren is Hispanic. One-in-four newborns is Hispanic. Never before in this country’s history has a minority ethnic group made up such a large share of the youngest Americans. By force of numbers alone, the kinds of adults these young Latinos become will help shape the kind of society America becomes in the 21st century”.
Yeah, that would be the traditional approach. But, in other words we are also saying that Latinos have many babies and, of course, there is sex involve in it. Therefore, in this February edition of También Somos AMERICANOS we talk about love; Latino love.
That may be the older story in the book: boy meets girl, girl likes boy, and they love each other. Then (or before), the sex comes and soon enough, the babies arrive: cute, beautiful; many. Long story short, there are 10.7 million Latino families in the nation. And, please do not blame the border: Two-thirds of young Latinos (ages 16 to 25) are native-born Americans.
There are plenty of stereotypes in this matter –like the one about the classic Latin Lover, one moment a romantic gentleman, the next an arrogant macho; or the one about the Hot Latinas so frequently showed by the media, but within the Latino community there is a real issue when the time comes to address the topic of love, sex and its consequences.
The hard data clearly state: “On average, Hispanic females give birth to three children. In comparison, black females are projected to have an average of 2.15 children, and for whites the number is 1.86”, as noted in the PHC in its report “Between Two Worlds: How Young Latinos Come of Age in America”.
As evident as it is in any large city, school or shopping mall, and of course, maternity halls, Latinas have babies before other groups: 26 per cent of first generation Latinas 19 or younger are mothers (this compares with a rate of 22% among young black females, 11% among young white females, and 6% among young Asian females).
There may be many reasons behind this: Immigrants from Latino America (around half of the 40 million newcomers that arrived in this generation) came from countries with demographic rates significantly larger than the current ones (here and there). Also somebody could argue that the Catholic Church is responsible. You know, most Latinos are Catholics and the church is famous for its sex related issues. Nevertheless, around 90 per cent of Latinos do not want too many babies too soon. They are aware about the relation between unplanned babies, high school dropout and poverty.
To say it loud and clear, the main topic here isn’t just cultural or even a religious one; it’s a matter of education. For starters, sexual education and family planning. Nowadays.
It is a fact, Latinos are much younger than the rest of the country (close to 15 years younger than the white majority) and that isn’t a bad thing, not at all. A challenge? Yes of course, but as in many others, the best rational path forward involves getting a better education, in this instance, sexual education, reproductive education, health education and even financial education. You know, our publication priorities.
So, let’s make of this Valentine’s a good opportunity to have The Talk with our kids. And please, forget that thing about the bees and the flowers. As in many others matters they probably have much more information than we believe. But still, they may need some advice.
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