What's so bad about being raised and/or living in Oaxaca?

Question

My co-workers from Mexico City use the name "Oaxaca" as an insult toward other Mexicans, sometimes.

All I can figure is that Oaxaca is rural, populated by "rancheros" or farmers.

What's the deal?

Answer 1

From my personal experience, from people in my family, people from Oaxaca are thought to look more indian or indigenous and be more unsophisticated. That being said in Mexico there's a lot of sort of hidden racism/ classism. So using the term as I've heard it they're just basically saying that that person looks backwards and indian as opposed to looking "white and cultured". I hope this helps.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with it.  People are just jerks.

Answer 3

I live in Mexico City and in any way I have heard the term "Oaxaca" as an insult. In fact, I think it's without any doubt the most beautiful or one of the most beautiful states in Mexico. Oaxaca is amazing and I admire the living and strong culture over there.

Answer 4

Oaxaca is one of the poorests states in the country. It is actually the second (just after Chiapas). The economic condition of the south of the country (where Oaxaca is located) is very different to that from the capital or the north. The quality of life is another difference. Here in the north (Monterrey) we have a quality of life that is even superior than several cities in the south of the US, and is far better than in eastern Europe. However, in Chiapas and Oaxaca the quality of life if similar to that in some African countries. In Oaxaca there are several indigenous communities that have not seen a real progress for several years. Some of them do not even speak Spanish. The government (federal and state) has always had them in such conditions (no education or good health care). Food is limited. Hygiene is not good. Education is one of the worsts of the whole world, I think. Basically, people from those places have their self-steem so damaged since the ages of the Spanish colony (about 5 centuries). Several indiginous people leave their homes and go to most developed places (as the capital or big cities) to live from begging on the streets. They are called "Oaxacas" in those places.

Needless to say that there is a lot of racism in Mexico. In the capital, for example, anyone coming from the state of Oaxaca (even if he is engaged in formal employement, even as an engineer, doctor, or any other profession) is named "Oaxaca".

Answer 5

I don't know, I guess that city is know to be where the dregs live. Where I live we say the same thing about Camden, N.J or just N.J. its just seedy here.