Overlooking Pink, We’Ced’s 12th publication, adresses the many struggles that we face under patriarchy. From external forces belittling our extistence and the way we present ourselves, to the internal battles we face about how we must be a “certain” way. Although patriarchy has existed for generations, does not mean it should continue to live. Each struggle to break away from the societal norm shows that it is possible to live in a world where we love ourselves, physically and mentally.
Sebastian Cervantes (Program Coordinator)
We’Ced Youth Media is a program of Youth Leadership Institute that equips young people with media and storytelling skills to uplift their stories and the stories of their communities, amplifies youth voice through media partnerships, and encourages civic engagement through community health reporting.
Follow them on instagram @ wecedyouth Content Warning: This publication discusses physical, verbal, mental, and sexual abuse.
Fighting the Struggle
The daily challenges that come with being a women in society, from struggling with rights, equality, misogyny, etc, giving good insight on some struggles and helping people understand more of how women feel without really saying much.
by Star Vasquez
JULY 2024
AUGUST 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024
MY FATHER
The last time I saw my father was the night I almost lost my mother. I try not to think of that night because it reminds me of my father. I can’t tell you much about him since he decided it was best for me to grow up without a father. What I can tell you is that my father was the perfect man.
When I was born my father was a mechanic, since he made good profit my mother was able to stay at home. In order to make that profit my father had to work long hours, but he always came home. By the time I was four my father was still a mechanic, since he made good profit he gave my mother a daughter. In order to make a profit my father had to work even more hours, but he always came home, sometimes. Sometimes he came home intoxicated, sometimes he came home with other women, and sometimes he didn’t come at all.
But he was the perfect man-
My father worked long hours to pay our rent, so he deserved to come home to a warm meal every night. My father provided for our family therefore he was entitled to have our dignified attention. My father was the man of the house, so he acted like a man.
My father made sure we had a roof over our head so no one else would hear his yelling. My father made sure we had plenty of food just in case he had to throw a plate at my mother. My father made sure my mother had no connection with the outside world because he was her world. But most importantly, my father made sure my mother had a good excuse for that black eye.
The last time I saw my father he was strangling my mother. I try not to think of that night since it reminds me of my father, but it’s the only memory I have of him. I can’t tell you much about him because his addiction to alcohol and women was more important than being my father.
by Guy Rosales
OCTOBER 2024
To Be Her
Being poise reflects my image of my womanhood and undertakes the vision of failure in femininity. My womaness causes pros and cons within the flesh of others, then again takes a stride as a fierce soul. The ideal man does not believe in me or my craft, but was created from it, and that motivates the ego that only subsides when not awakened, to push my limits and complete my accomplishments more rapidly.
PINK
Pink represents me. Us.
Women. Our power. The journey. The destiny. It fuels with a fire that cannot be extinguished. That fire is the strength and algorithm of a woman, which creates her and overtakes the outlook on the entire universe.
To be HER.
NOVEMBER 2024
Mande
Growing up in a household steeped in machismo with three daughters and no sons was a constant tightrope walk of expectations and disappointments. My father, who was the embodiment of the traditional machista, always demanded his needs met before anyone else’s. He was the “man of the house” and his word was law in our home. As his daughters, we often felt the weight of his unspoken longing for a son. And despite our efforts to fulfll the roles he once envisioned for sons, we were constantly reminded that due to our gender, we would never be enough. The expectation to respond with “mande” when called, a term rooted in colonialism and symbolized obedience was one way my father exerted his control over us. Mande was a reminder how we as girls were meant to serve him as a man.
by Stephany Puente
DECEMBER 2024
Wildfowers and Chaos
Society, expecting every generation in a world full of women to live with unrealistic beauty standards. Believing if they don’t wear any products on their face, they won’t feel beautiful. Tis young woman, who’s seemingly in distress because she is expected to wear makeup to feel beautiful and feel good about herself, doesn’t know that she’s already got beauty within her. As every woman existing out there does. We don’t fnd beauty within the face but seek it with what we fnd inside. No matter the color, shape, or size, all women are beautiful. Tey bring so much divine beauty.
by Minnie Prado
JANUARY 2025
FEBRUARY 2025
MARCH 2025
APRIL 2025
MAY 2025
Learning to love myself despite patriarchy
My name is Nathen, I was assigned male at birth, I now identify as non-binary. I’ve outgrown many oppressive and ignorant ideologies that were taught to me. My parents taught me to resolve conflict with violence, I would fight with other kids frequently. I took the blame for being a problem child when my father continued the cycle of abuse his father introduced him to. After cutting communication with my dad and moving to my grandparents house, I began to heal. This was my sophomore year, and I worked tirelessly to find anger that didn’t scare me. I was so tired of getting bullied and ridiculed by peers that I found myself licking the boots of male peers. Seeking safety in male dominated spaces drives men to follow vocal men who express their hate for women/ accountability/non-conforming identities freely. My emotional maturity has grown exponentially since high school.
