Series:

Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness

Topic:

Social Movements

Environmental Illness

Biographical Note:

Interviewed for the UCLA Center for the Study of Women’s Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness series. Experiences health issues related to chemical exposure. Active with California Domestic Workers Alliance. Advocates for domestic labor laws and rights, renter’s rights, and for families of children with autism.

Interviewer:

Encinas, Abraham

Interviewee:

Cruz, Noemi

Persons Present:

Cruz and Encinas

Place Conducted:

The interview was conducted using the Zoom video conferencing platform.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

This interview was conducted by Abraham Encinas, a graduate student researcher, for the Center for the Study of Women; PhD student in English, UCLA. Abraham’s dissertation focuses on novels of dictatorship in 20th century Latinx and Asian American literature.

Processing of Interview:

The interviewer prepared for the interview by reading a pre-interview questionnaire completed by the narrator.

Length:

1 hr

Language:

Spanish

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

Chemical Entanglements: Oral Histories of Environmental Illness is a collection of interviews with over seventy individuals living in the U.S. and Canada whose family history, occupation, art practice, or activism have brought them into direct contact with illness experience and disability related to chronic, low-dose exposure to toxicant chemicals. The procurement of this collection (from March 2019 through September 2020) was sponsored by the UCLA Center for the Study of Women under the directorship of Rachel C. Lee, with interviews conducted by six undergraduates, five graduate students, two career staff, and two faculty members at CSW.

Note:

Under Legal Agreement, please delete file size 516035 as it is not countersigned.

Introduction--Thirty-five-year-old woman who lives in Los Angeles--Born in a town in Oaxaca and identifies as a person from the countryside--Two younger brothers and a younger sister--Wants to share about environmental justice and how where one lives influences their life--relationship between toxic chemicals and the virus--Not used to the noise in a developed city with little nature--Has to use products like Ajax and Clorox when cleaning but eliminates those things from her own home--Symptoms include eye and nose irritation and throat, head, and chest pain--Has a son with autism but doesn’t know if there’s a connection--Diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis but not cancer--Links chemical exposure to broader environmental problems--Uses products with biodegradable ingredients such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and natural soaps--Doesn’t work right now because of her kids, but, when she did, employers didn’t listen to her or let her use safer products--Member of many organizations that focus on the environment, workers, immigrants, and children with disabilities--Feels very proud especially of her work during the pandemic continuing to learn and inform others about their rights and available resources--Thinks as a woman she is exposed to chemicals more yet has less power to decide what products the family will use--Speaks about the importance of healthy food--Hopes that people will not take for granted the resources that they have, such as water--Takes finance classes--Insists people take care of themselves and are prepared in light of this crisis--Conclusion