Last month, I was contacted by someone from Lowenstein Associates regarding a review copy of The Maria Paradox. Since I had been reading many stories about black history, I thought this book would be a nice departure from that coming into March. So I decided to read it.
The Maria Paradox was written for Latinas making the transition to life in the U.S. It discusses in depth the challenges Latinas face while trying to adapt to a new culture. The authors identify why these conflicts exist and introduce strategies that allow women to transition while not abandoning their own culture.
This book has a very specific target audience and even though I am not a part of it, I was introduced to coping techniques that can be applied in my own life. One concept that was introduced is acculturation.
“Acculturation is a more gentle and gradual process in which, without disregarding their own culture, immigrants shift attitudes and behavior toward those of the dominant culture as a result of repeated exposure.”
This is something that can happen to anyone in any setting which is why paying attention to the company we keep is so important.
One thing that I would be interested to know is how receptive the Latina community is to this book. It exposes many things that I do not think are commonly know about their culture and upbringing and very personal topics are discussed. However, I think the authors’ willingness to address those vulnerabilities is what could make the book so valuable to women experiencing difficulties with their transition.
Reading this book allowed me to become sensitized to the plight of Latinas but I also picked up several tips on the different ways to handle situations in which I may find myself feeling like an outsider. This book has also reminded me that yes, I may be dealing with some things, but most people are dealing with something.

