Religious minorities are groups whose beliefs and practices differ from those of the majority population in a given country or region. Due to their minority status, these groups often face challenges such as discrimination, prejudice, and limited access to resources. International law and human rights declarations emphasize the importance of protecting the rights of religious minorities.

In Mexico, religious diversity includes numerous Pentecostal churches, various Protestant denominations, spiritualist movements, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah’s Witnesses, and—particularly in the last decade—different New Age and Eastern spiritual groups. According to national census figures from 1990, about 90% of the population was still Catholic, though there are strong regional variations in religious affiliation.

Smith, J., & García, M. (2010). Religious diversity in Mexico. In R. Jones (Ed.), Religious dynamics in Latin America (pp. 450–468). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9094-5_28

Characteristics:  Unequal Treatment and Limited Power, Distinguishing Physical or Cultural Traits, Involuntary Membership in the Group, Awareness of Subordination, High-rate of In-group Marriage

Sociology Group. (2017, 1 de noviembre). Minority groups: Definition, characteristics, types, problems. Sociology Group. https://www.sociologygroup.com/minority-group/

In the 21st century, we witness a diversity of youth identities with different life perspectives and tastes; some are more conservative, others more open, each trying to follow a philosophy of life. But what all these young people share is the need to be part of a group. That is, they look for people similar to them, with common tastes, with whom they can feel comfortable, understood, and secure.

Within these groups, individuals tend to share tastes in music, clothing, places they frequent, and ways of speaking. The feeling of belonging to a group is one of the main reasons why young people become part of what we call urban tribes.

An urban tribe is a group of people, usually young, with similar interests and tastes, such as a specific type of music, fashion, or hobbies. These tribes often develop their own rules, codes, and ways of communicating, and sometimes their own philosophy of life.

Some urban tribes in Mexico are:

Goths
They dress mostly in black, wear silver accessories, and enjoy music genres like gothic rock and darkwave. Their makeup is usually pale with dark eyes and lips, and they often have a mysterious or melancholic aesthetic.

Emos
They express their emotions openly, often through music and fashion. They typically wear tight clothing in dark colors with some bright accents, straight hairstyles covering part of the face, and listen to emo, punk, or alternative rock music.

Punks
Known for their rebellious attitude against the system, they wear leather jackets, spiked accessories, and hairstyles like mohawks dyed in bright colors. Their music is characterized by fast rhythms and socially critical lyrics.

Rockers
They are fans of classic rock, hard rock, and heavy metal. They often wear denim, leather jackets, band T-shirts, and have long hair. They value musical authenticity and guitar solos.

Skaters
They identify with skateboarding culture, wearing comfortable clothes such as loose T-shirts, sneakers, and caps. Their music often includes punk, ska, and hip hop. They spend much of their time practicing tricks at skateparks.

Cholos
They adopt a style influenced by Chicano culture, wearing baggy clothes, flannel shirts, bandanas, and tattoos. Their music is often rap or hip hop, and they tend to use distinctive slang from their community.

These groups are often discriminated against because they challenge or differ from mainstream cultural norms. Their clothing, music preferences, language, and behavior can be perceived as strange, threatening, or rebellious by people who are not familiar with them.

Prejudice often comes from stereotypes — simplified and exaggerated ideas about what members of these groups are like. For example, some might wrongly associate certain clothing styles or music genres with violence, laziness, or criminal activity.

Another reason is fear of difference. Many people feel uncomfortable with lifestyles they don’t understand, so they judge or exclude those who belong to alternative groups. This social rejection can be worsened by misinformation spread through media or social networks.

In short, discrimination happens because of ignorance, fear, and resistance to diversity.

Vega Navarro, R. (2010, 6 de abril). Las tribus urbanas en México [PDF]. Instituto Municipal de Cultura de Hidalgo. Recuperado de https://www.imch.org.mx/21_archivos/LAS%20TRIBUS%20URBANAS%20EN%20M%C3%89XIC1.pdf

However, many of these minority groups still face challenges such as discrimination and prejudice simply because their beliefs are different. That is why I think it is essential to guarantee their rights, not only because international law recognizes them, but because respect and tolerance are fundamental for building a more inclusive and fair Mexico.

Even with laws that protect their rights, many LGBT+ people still experience rejection from family, school, or work environments. It’s one thing to have legal recognition and another to feel safe walking down the street holding someone’s hand or being open about who you are. This gap between the law and everyday life is one of the biggest challenges the community faces.

The LGBT+ population in Mexico is diverse in itself, including people with different sexual orientations and gender identities. While some groups are more visible, others remain almost invisible, which makes it harder for them to receive support or representation. What’s clear is that Mexico has the potential to become a true example of inclusion, not just on paper, but in the way people live day to day. For that to happen, society needs to go beyond tolerance and move toward genuine respect, where diversity is celebrated and everyone can feel safe simply being themselves.

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). (2022). Encuesta Nacional sobre Diversidad Sexual y de Género (ENDISEG) 2021: Resultados. Recuperado de https://www.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/saladeprensa/boletines/2022/endiseg/Resul_Endiseg21.pdf

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. (2021). Mexico. IWGIA. https://www.iwgia.org/en/mexico/4232-iw-2021-mexico.html

Minority Rights Group International. (2018). Indigenous peoples – Mexico. https://minorityrights.org/communities/indigenous-peoples-4/

OECD. (2019). Indigenous peoples in Mexico. In Linking Indigenous communities with regional development in Canada (pp. 229–248). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264300477-14-en

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2011). World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Mexico: Indigenous Peoples. Refworld. https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/mrgi/2011/en/80169

But in the end, all of this is just our prejudice opinion, because if we treat them like we are with other people, we can see that they are like us. But they simply have something that differentiates them from others.

About my topic having a disability even a temporary one, can be very stressful and detrimental. I say this because I have a injured over a year, and when you return, you don’t feel well at all. But in my case it depends on others to make you feel better, and that was my case.

1) Indigenous Peoples

Who they are: Original communities of Mexico (e.g., Náhuatl, Maya, Mixtec, Zapotec, Otomí, Tzotzil, etc.) with their own languages, cultural practices, and social systems.
Why they are a minority: Although they represent several million people, they make up a smaller fraction of the national population. Historically, colonization and land dispossession marginalized them.
Barriers: Higher poverty rates, limited access to education in their native languages, racial discrimination, weak political representation, and cultural loss due to pressure from dominant norms.

2) Afro-Mexicans / Afro-descendants

Who they are: People and communities of African descent (notably in Guerrero, Oaxaca’s Costa Chica, Veracruz, and some urban areas).
Why they are a minority: They are a small proportion of the population and were historically made invisible through mestizaje policies and lack of recognition in censuses.
Barriers: Racism and stigmatization, lack of social visibility, limited access to quality education and healthcare, and fewer economic opportunities (though recognition has increased in recent years).