Land of Opportunity

Pastel, image transfer on board
30" x 26"
2015
Private Collection

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​I moved to El Dorado, Arkansas at the age of fifteen not knowing how to speak English. Often people thought I was an immigrant, unaware that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. As I reflected on the issue of immigration, I became curious about the demographics of immigrant women and learned there are more than 20 million immigrant women in the United Stated today, and nearly half are naturalized U.S. citizens. More than a quarter of immigrant women have a bachelor’s degree or higher, with women from India being the most highly educated. Despite all their hard work and educational achievements, immigrant women earn less than foreign-born men, and less than native-born men and women. This painting was inspired by my gratitude to the United States for all the opportunities it has offered my family. In this piece, I utilize an article from the American Immigration Council as I explore issues of identity and what it is like to FEEL like an immigrant woman in the United States workforce.