This article discusses the complex and subtle reasons why many people of Spanish-speaking ancestry, both Latin Americans and Spaniards, like to call themselves Latinos. Among other things, this word, coined by the Mediterranean countries to resist Anglo dominance in the 19th century, is currently being used by people of Spanish-speaking ancestry…

Marriage among women in Latin America occurs early in life and is nearly universal in spite of the social and economic changes and instability in the region. We use demographic measures to illustrate the precociousness, persistence, and universality of marriage during the past 50 years. We argue that marriage is central to social life because…

Written for teachers to use with migrant children in elementary grades, this bilingual English/Spanish social studies resource booklet provides an encyclopedia-style overview of Brazil's history, geography, economy, and culture. Topics include Brazil's form of government; geographic regions; holidays; climate; people; music; carnaval celebration;…

Developed and taught during 1979 by facilitators working with groups of community women in central Vermont and in metropolitan Boston, these courses are intended to promote the visibility of women's accomplishments, to enhance women's personal growth, and to increase females' analytic skills in a political context. Each of the nine chapters in the…

Traditionally the sex ratio has been the domain of demographers and social biologists. This study takes the societal phenomenon of sex ratio imbalance as context, but focuses on the social psychological impact of perceived mate availability. One-half the contents of the 1989 Southern California Social Survey was devoted to the issue of mate…

Presents an interview with Maria Luisa Bemberg, an important female Argentinean filmmaker and one of the most prolific Latin American directors of the 1990s. Focuses on two of her period films, "Camila" and "I, the Worst Woman of All." (RS)

Examines the contribution of developmental and psychosocial factors to the number of teen pregnancies for which young Latino men have been responsible. Results indicated that men's involvement in teen pregnancy was mediated not only by sexual activity, but that it was also affected by developmental factors, gender-related attitudes, and…

Many Latin American immigrants have encountered new social problems, including language barriers, stereotypes associated with being hispanic, special insecurities experienced by women, role changes, isolation, and alienation from families. Attitudes about return migration appear to be different in men and women. Men more often wish to return to…

The minutes of the regional meeting (for Latin America and the Caribbean) summarize discussions pertaining to the critical review and appraisal of the progress achieved and the formulation of strategies for the advancement of women up to the year 2000. They suggest concrete measures for overcoming obstacles to the realization of the goals and…

This study determined how adverse childhood experiences influenced risky sexual behavior in a community sample of Latina adolescents in Los Angeles. Psychosocial, sociocultural, and environmental mediators of the relations between childhood experiences and risky sexual behavior were tested. Childhood maltreatment was associated with risky sexual…

A survey of 65 ethnically diverse women revealed relatively low rates of disclosure of HIV-positive serostatus to extended family members, somewhat higher rates for immediate family members, and highest rates for lovers or friends. Spanish-speaking Latinas were less likely to disclose their serostatus than English-speaking Latinas, African…

Presents an interview (edited into a first-person form) with Margot Benacerraf, known for two prize-winning films in the 1950s but not as well known for her active promotion of film culture in Venezuela. Discusses her education in Venezuela, travels outside Venezuela, production of her prize-winning films, and her efforts at promoting the…

"Los testimonios," or life stories, shared in this volume reveal that academia represents a labyrinth of challenges for aspiring and emerging Latina scholars--a story these authors know all too well. As Latina "veterana" scholars, who have traveled this arduous journey, the authors recognize that their collective efforts have…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have been trying to help developing countries speed up economic growth in order to help eradicate poverty. In the last two decades these policies in the Dominican Republic have caused rapid and severe changes. Over the last two centuries Dominican culture has faced numerous challenges…

Little research on women's political attitudes has been carried out in Latin America, making it difficult to know whether the categories used to study men's political participation are valid for women. In Latin America, the picture is further complicated by the equating of women's political attitudes with the maternal role. (IS)