The issue of abuse and silence in farmworker communities has taken on new urgency in recent weeks. Labor leader Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s, disclosed that she was sexually assaulted twice by the late labor leader. Chavez was the center of an investigation by The New York Times, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse against Chavez involving women and minors.
Often, those experiences go unreported, but now, women farmworkers are sharing their stories and finding help through organizations like Líderes Campesinas.
Women-run organizations, like Líderes Campesinas, created by women, for women, help farmworkers feel protected when speaking up and getting support. The organization provides everything from medical care after assaults to legal guidance, reporting assistance, and protection from retaliation. They also hold community meetings to teach women about sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and their rights.
"One [farmworker woman] disclosed to me that the foreman did tell her, 'Don't forget, I have all your personal information. I know where you live. I know where your children go to school. I will call immigration on you.' So, again, it's something that they have to think about," said Elvira Herrera, the coordinator for the Violence Against Women program within Líderes Campesinas.
"They are more informed now on the rights. At times, a lot of women don't know that was a sexual harassment. I'll give this example of a case that I had. The foreman touched her breast every time he'll grab a box from her. And after a while, she's like, that feels uncomfortable... so we ended up connecting her with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and they opened a case," said Herrera.
Advocates say hearing other women speak out gives survivors the courage to come forward themselves. Herrera says that when women see others speaking up in their community, they realize that if someone else can do it, they can too.
California has also officially recognized the March 31 holiday, once devoted to Chavez, as Farmworkers Day.
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