How Latinas in Tech Can Survive Fascism in the Workplace Without Losing Their Power
Hey Queen,
Can we just be honest for a second?
Some days, this tech world doesn’t just feel cold, it feels dangerous. Like you’re one misstep away from being erased. Like if you ask for too much, speak too loudly, or dare to take up space, you’ll get labeled “difficult,” “ungrateful,” or worse... unemployed.
Let’s name what this is.
We’re not just navigating “bias” or “microaggressions” anymore. A lot of what we’re dealing with?
It’s fascism. Corporate, coded, white-collar fascism.
Yeah, I said it. And I’m saying it with my whole chest. Because we can’t heal or rise unless we’re real about the battlefield we’re on.
What Fascism Looks Like in the Tech Industry
Fascism doesn’t always show up with flags and uniforms. Sometimes it shows up as:
HR “performance improvement plans” for women of color who speak up
Biometric tracking disguised as “efficiency tools”
Retaliation when you advocate for equity
“Culture fit” excuses to keep leadership pale, male, and stale
So if something feels oppressive, even if no one says it out loud? Believe yourself. You’re not imagining it.
How Latinas in Tech Can Strategize Against Workplace Fascism
This is where my work comes in. I coach Latinas in tech to negotiate from power, not permission. And in this climate, we’ve got to do more than ask for “fair pay,” we’ve got to demand our worth like it’s revolutionary.
Because it is.
Here’s what I tell my clients:
1. Speak From Your Ancestors, Not Just Your Resume
“I bring lived experience, resilience, and cultural intelligence that your org needs to thrive.”
You’re not just a cog in a machine; you’re a code-switching, strategic, community-rooted powerhouse. That’s not a soft skill. That’s survival intelligence. And it’s invaluable.
2. Document Everything. Even the Things That Feel Petty.
If your intuition is telling you something’s off, it probably is. Keep:
Screenshots
Slack messages
Email receipts
A notes folder titled “They Tried It”
Not because we live in fear, but because we live in strategy. Because the system is often designed to make you feel like the problem. You’re not.
3. Know Your Rights and Your Collective Power
Don’t just rely on company policy, know what EEOC protections are in place. Read up on how AI hiring tools are biased. And more importantly:
Find your people.
Build or join an ERG
Tap into Latina Advisory Lab or your local chapter of Latinas in Tech
Have a “ride-or-die” coworker to debrief with after those gaslighty meetings
Fascism isolates. But resistance is collective.
4. Build Your Exit Strategy
I say this with love: you don’t have to stay in a burning building.
You’re allowed to dream beyond the 9–5. Use those salary negotiation wins to fund:
A side hustle
Freelance freedom
A Latina-led tech co-op
A sabbatical to rest
And if you stay in tech? Do it on your terms. Build your empire—not theirs.
5. Take Care of Your Nervous System
This system wants us exhausted. Confused. Disconnected from our bodies.
So remember:
Breathwork is resistance
Journaling is intelligence-gathering
Crying? That’s alchemy. Don’t ever apologize for your tears
Art, healing, community? That’s revolution
FAQs About Surviving Fascism in the Workplace
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Yes — with the right strategy. You can negotiate while protecting your safety by anchoring in market data, keeping communication professional, and preparing exit options if needed.
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Because isolation benefits systems of control. Community offers validation, strategy, support, and collective resistance. It reminds you that you’re not alone — and you never were.
You Belong. You Always Have.
No matter how white, cold, or coded the room feels, remember this:
You are not lucky to be there. They are lucky to have you.
Your existence is not a risk, it’s a recalibration.
You are not a “culture fit,” you are the culture shift.
So go get that bag. Speak that truth. Take up that space.
Not because they gave you permission.
But because our abuelas, our mothers, our daughters, and our inner niñas are watching.
And we didn’t survive this far just to survive.
From the heart, always
Vee
P.S. Want this energy in your inbox or team? Let’s connect. Workshops, 1:1 coaching, keynotes, whatever empowers la comunidad, I’m in.