There are many cultural archetypes in Mexico. Like everywhere, they tend to be polarized: universally revered, or universally despised.
Revered? Look no further than the all-sacrificing, all-involved mother, her children her highest adoration.
Despised? In today’s article, we’ll be talking about the infamous figure of the “nini.” Sometimes written as NINI, it stands for “ni estudia ni trabaja” (doesn’t study, doesn’t work).
NINIs, NINIs everywhere
First of all, it’s important to note that when people use this term, they’re referring to young people. Officially, a “nini” is a young person between the age of 18 and 24. As of 2022, they made up about 20% of the population in that age bracket (some sources count ages 14-28).
They’re Mexico’s answer to the Anglo figure of the “bum,” except they’re not the stereotypical 50-something dude. The stereotype here is young, lazy, disrespectful, and (usually) male. Dudes sitting around staring at their phones in the middle of the day is not what anyone wants to see around here.
But who are they really?
In reality, most NINIs in Mexico are women. Part of the reason for this is simple biology. If you get someone pregnant, your life can, in most cases, go on as it normally would. If you become pregnant, then your opportunities become quite a bit more limited.
So too, if you suddenly have the duties of “wife” thrust onto you. Though hard to believe, there are plenty of communities in which the “selling” of minor daughters to husbands is not unheard of. Unfortunately, sexism still abounds in many places of the country. It’s not great for creating opportunities for young women.
Crime
As you might guess, organized crime also has a way of swooping in to fill the vacuum. In areas of the country where educational and economic opportunities are low, recruiting, unfortunately, becomes much easier.
For a little perspective, organized crime is the fifth highest employer in Mexico. As you’d probably guess, no one lists “Las Zetas” as their employers in official polls.
Attempts at solutions
AMLO was elected in 2018 in part with a mandate to help NINIs. His ideals came from the heart, but the policies that sprung from them fell far short of their goal. The initiative “Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro” (Young People Building the Future) was popular. It was and is a scholarship program for young people to get paid while they learn a trade. However, the already small budget for it shrank quite a bit during the pandemic. With schools and workplaces closed, many young people missed out on vital years of development.
Still, he tried. He bet on not disturbing organized crime in the hopes that they’d cool down. Conclusion: unsuccessful. He ensured that the minimum wage was raised several times during his term. He was not responsible for the pandemic, of course, but the missed opportunities and lack of government support during that time hurt many.
Half a bet that didn’t pan out, half bad luck? Anyway, it’s back to the drawing board for now.
Mejor nada
Even for those young people who work hard to finish school (though secondary is required), opportunities can be slim.
Even college graduates can expect to see low offers for professional posts. That is, if they have the proper connections. If they’re from poor families and don’t have a “palanca” to help them get a leg up, meaningful opportunities are slim.
Meanwhile, employers paying minimum wage complain that they can’t find quality workers.
Gee, if only there were something more they could do!
I often think about how I’d feel if I were a young poor person. Perhaps I’d watched an aunt or an uncle work their butts off only to toil 6 days a week plus overtime to barely provide for their families.
It would almost seem not worth the effort.
Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
Strange article, no numbers, no sources, just some thoughts resulting in sneers at AMLO.
I think this is a very good article and not every article has to spout numbers or sources. This is an opinion article, in case you did not realize that. Sarah also gave some excellent links that add to the article.
However, since you want some statistics, here are some and it would be easy to find a lot more.
“A government report published every two years that divides Mexico’s population into 10 segments by income says the very poorest segment in 2018 received about 19% of social spending. Just two years later, that poorest group was receiving only about 6%, said Manuel Martínez Espinoza, a researcher at Mexico’s National Council of the Humanities, Sciences and Technologies. For reasons unknown, the government has not published the 2022 report.” This was in an article by the Associated Press on May 24, 2024.
I thought she bent over backwards not to blame AMLO, in laying out what’s happening.
The answers are tough. She credited AMLO with efforts. Perhaps you have more than criticism, maybe some constructive ideas???
Paying the minimum wage in Mexico doesn’t cut it. Pay a living wage can help solve some problems but what Mexican employer or expat here is doing that? I would guess a small percentage. With the price of food stuffs going way up and rents in most towns Canadians and Americans live in soaring do you think making $1.85 to $2.79 US an hour is going to cut it? Income inequality is way worse than up north how you solve a problem like this is anyone’s guess. What restaurant or store is going to enjoy paying say $5. US an hour? I just pulled that number off the top of my head but I would guess you need that amount to support your family in many larger towns and cities.
I agree with you Richard. The minimum wage in Mexico is way too low. Mexico has one of the lowest salaries in the world and it’s really a shame.
The real answer is to make it easier to start and run businesses. Small employers are the key to job creation.
Mexico is full of small informal businesses that do not make alot of money. There is not enough profit to pay employees high wages when the owners arent making alot themselves.
Why is socialism a dirty word for gringos? It’s worked quite well in northern Europe. I am rooting for the same results in Mexico. At least the current administration is not doing same old same old.
I really think the powers that be will need to take a realistic look at the types of jobs available here, and everywhere, for that matter. Employers seem to be increasingly asking for and requiring more while paying wages that dwindle in comparison to the cost of living. And that’s for so-called “skilled” workers; forget about those toiling in the bottom half!
I have several friends in their 50s and 60s who’ve worked for years at the university (this is a college town). Doing so has provided them with good jobs and benefits, generous pensions, and the ability to own homes and travel. Those types of jobs now, however, are things of the past, no longer on offer for the majority of up-and-coming academics and professionals; mine is, I’m sad to say, the first generation in a while in which only the very wealthy will be able to afford to retire.
Like I said above — not very motivating to young people thinking about their futures! Of course, this is the reality in many places all over the world, not just Mexico, as the policies that produced a robust middle class in so many places during the 20th century have been pushed aside in favor of a trickle-down neoliberalism whose unimaginable amounts of produced wealth never seems to actually trickle down. Is it comforting or depressing to see one’s place in history? Sigh.
Anyway, thanks for reading and commending, everyone! 🙂
Sarah (the author)
Not unique to Mexico : it’s something of a modern phenomenon (in Japan, a wealthy and successful country they have the concept of “lying flat” that is the young don’t bother with education or work) It’s a feature of American society ; 30 something’s in living in parents basement playing video games : no interest in working . . .