RESILIENT SISTERS

RESILIENT SISTERS

By Sarah Najar

The most beautiful thing about the culture of the east side of San José is that many of our stories are centered in courage and success, as we navigate the rigid daily environments we endure. In that way, resilience is a word many of us associate with ourselves on the east side.

“...resilience is a word many of us associate with ourselves on the east side.”

The most resilient, in my humble opinion, are the eldest daughters of Latinx households: She is not perfect, but she is a caregiver, mother hen to her younger siblings - and even her older brothers. She is, at times, a financial provider. She is charged with the responsibility of both setting the example and being the example.

“The most resilient, in my humble opinion, are the eldest daughters of Latinx households”

When I was sixteen, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. During this time, my family unit consisted of my older brother, his daughter, my younger sister, father, and mother. My father worked six to seven days a week at a well-paying job. I worked two jobs, while my brother ran the streets chasing a glass dragon. I helped support my family, and five years later when our mother passed away, my younger sister and I immediately became responsible for our nine-year-old niece. Later, we also became responsible for our two older brothers that moved back home. As females, we were expected to provide care, empathy, and yes, even carry the financial burden of running a household.

“As females, we were expected to provide care, empathy, and yes, even carry the financial burden of running a household.”