Intersectional Capitalism and its Geographic Dimensions: Lessons from Latina Farmworkers' Experiences in the Trump Era.

In this paper, we build upon Gurusami's (2017) theory of intersectional capitalism by highlighting its spatial dimensions, combining theoretical insights from Anzaldua (1987), immigration scholars, human geography, and the "spatial mismatch" theory of poverty. Our research is based on an analysis of 40 in-depth interviews with Latina farmworkers working in California's Coachella Valley and San Joaquin Valley. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of the U.S.-Mexican border and inequalities based on immigration status to farm workers' employment and work conditions. Many observed or personally experienced unequal treatment and "othering" of farm workers based on their immigration and citizenship status, and claimed that the fear of deportation was intensified under the Trump Administration. Interviewees described various types of labor law violations, including wage theft and sexual harassment, and many of them perceived undocumented workers as especially vulnerable to workplace abuse. Our interviews also revealed that "spatial mismatches" between where farm work is located is relative to workers' homes combined with the lack of access to personal vehicles and public transportation in rural (especially disadvantaged unincorporated) communities further constrains Latina farmworkers' employment opportunities, reduces their disposable income, creates difficulties for their family life, and increases the risk and worry about deportation among undocumented immigrants. We conclude that further research is needed on the significance of the geographic dimensions of intersecting relations of domination, particularly in the context of rural and unincorporated communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]