How Scarcity Mindset Holds Latinas Back and How to Break It
I’m about to say something that might make some people uncomfortable, but it’s the truth and it needs to be said. As a Latina, a salary negotiation strategist, and a woman who fought hard to make her way, I’m tired of the gatekeeping, the disunity, and the lack of real support in spaces that claim to "empower" Latinas.
We talk a lot about representation and "Latinas supporting Latinas," but behind closed doors, too many of us are still being met with shut doors, silent competition, and women who’d rather see you struggle than share opportunities.
And here’s where I’m going to say the real quiet part out loud: this is deep-rooted conditioning tied to a scarcity mindset that has been placed on us for generations.
Let’s talk about it.
How Scarcity Mindset Shows Up for Latinas
Latinas have been taught, directly or indirectly, that there's only room for one of us. Whether it’s growing up hearing things like "no te confíes de las demás mujeres" (don’t trust other women) or seeing only one Latina in the leadership room and thinking she’s our only shot, this conditioning runs deep.
A scarcity mindset tells us there’s not enough to go around, not enough jobs, not enough promotions, not enough seats at the table.
It whispers that if I help her get ahead, I’ll lose my own spot.
It makes us believe we have to compete with each other for the limited "Latina" role allowed in white-dominated spaces, instead of questioning why those spaces only allow one of us in the first place.
That’s a DAMN lie. And it’s a lie that keeps us all small.
How to Break Scarcity Mindset and Build Collective Power
The system wants us to believe in scarcity, because if we fight each other, we won’t fight the system that underpays us, undervalues us, and under-represents us.
Wanna break free?
1. Recognize the scarcity mindset when it shows up.
When you feel hesitant to share an opportunity with another Latina or when you see someone else’s success and feel envy or resentment, pause. Ask yourself: is this really about her? Or about what I’ve been taught to believe about my worth and possibility?
2. Shift to an abundance mindset.
There is room for all of us to win. In fact, the more of us who win, the more power we have to demand better pay, better treatment, and real equity. Collective power is how movements are built, not by going at it alone.
3. Be the mentor, sponsor, and advocate you needed.
If you’ve made it to a place of influence, reach back and pull another Latina up with you. Share knowledge, open doors, advocate for that promotion, and speak their names in rooms where decisions are made. You are not competing for crumbs, you are building a bigger table.
4. Call out the fake empowerment and set a new standard.
Stop clapping for the "let’s support each other" posts if that same person wouldn’t answer your email asking for advice. Hold people accountable, including yourself, to walk the talk of sisterhood.
5. Focus on community over competition.
Find and nurture genuine communities of Latinas who are about collaboration, not competition. Spaces where transparency is normalized, about salaries, opportunities, and real experiences, so no one has to "figure it out" alone.
FAQs About Scarcity Mindset and Latina Empowerment
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By sharing opportunities, building genuine community, and supporting each other’s wins instead of seeing them as threats. -
By sharing opportunities, building genuine community, and supporting each other’s wins instead of seeing them as threats.
Why This Shift Matters for Every Latina in Tech
I pivoted my business for this very reason, to close the gender pay gap that’s hitting Latinas the hardest and to be the mentor and leader I needed when I was starting out. Because if we don’t do this work for each other, no one else will.
If you’ve ever felt let down by those "empowerment" circles that don’t actually empower, I see you. And if you’re ready to change the narrative, I’m here for that work with you.
Because there IS enough. Enough money. Enough opportunity. Enough success.
But only if we claim it, together.
