Latina Stereotype By: Skylar Smith & Jasmine

Your View How do you view Latina women ? What are some stereotypes you believe there are of Latina woman?

Stereotypes Stereotypes persist because ‘‘they fulfill important identity needs for the dominant culture’’ thereby maintaining the status quo and preserving hegemony An ideology of White Anglo racial superiority is maintained in part using stereotypes designed to construct an ‘‘other’’ that is regarded as lesser than the declared and constructed ideal. Stereotypes, ashegemonic tools, reduce individuals to a single, monolithic, one-dimensional type that appears and is presented as natural and normal (read true and accurate) as they fit into ideological patterns of representations that serve, among other functions, to establish ‘‘in-group categorizations of out-groups’’ (Ramierez-Berg, 1990, p. 294) Markers of sex and sexuality in Latinas posit them as ‘‘exotic, sexual, and available, and as more in touch with their bodies and motivated by physical and sexual pleasure than white women’’ (Beltran, 2002, p. 82) When stereotypical physical characteristics (red lips, big bottoms, large hips, voluptuous bosoms, and small waists), fashion extremes (high heels, huge hoop earrings, seductive clothing), sexual predation, and promiscuity (hot, exotic, experienced) are combined with behavioral generalities, the Latina is constructed as ‘‘mixed signifiers of sexual desire and fertility as well as bodily waste and racial contamination’’

“Hot Latina Stereotype” Carmen Miranda (1945) Was America’s highest paid woman But her fame carried “fruit- feted hats & an accent thick as picante” (Merskin, pg. 136) Stereotypes rely on a lot of repetition to perpetuate and to sustain them Do you guys agree that the “hot Latina stereotype is one with great longevity” (Merskin, pg. 134)

3 Categories of Representations 1.Cantina Girl “Great sexual allure” Represented as a sexual object 2.Faithful, self-sacrificing senorita Starts out good but ends up bad by end of program or film Willing to protect Anglo love interest by putting her body between bullet/sword/violence intended for him 3.Vamp Uses intellectual and devious sexual tricks to get what she wants

Different “Faces” of Eva Longoria Episodes of Desperate Housewives were de-coded On Latina body and behavior of Eva Longoria Method: a)Examine Gabrielle character as a representation of the dominant stereotype of Latinas b)To see if her off screen, print, & commercial personae reinforce the stereotype

Desperate Housewives vs. “Real-Life Exposure” Desperate Housewives Cantina girl Thrives on and feels validated by attention to her appearance Vamp Promiscuity, passion, sex and risk are her characteristics Suffering Senorita Promise or use of sex to manipulate and get what she wants (jewelry, cars, etc.) “Real Life” exposure Described as “Latina Temptress” Behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs identical to Gabrielle Interview: “What’s the best thing about being a woman? - “I love being a woman. I love shopping. I love wearing dresses and heels and jewelry. I love being sexy and feeling sexy. But the best thing about being a woman is the power we have over men.” “I’ll have Brad’s babies”

“Real Life Exposure”

Question What’s wrong with being a Latin Lover? Why is that a bad stereotype? I consider that a compliment.’’ Same thing with Latinas always being cast as the sexy girl. It’s a good thing!” Could a positive stereotype (hot Latina or Latin lover), hurt or limit the overall image of Latinos in general or “is it a good thing?”

Question: Can anyone think of movies that Latina actresses are portrayed as either the Cantina girl, Vamp or the suffering Senorita? Some where they break the stereotype?

What if Latina women were portrayed differently in movies or shows? Ex. America Ferrera Not so sexual but yet desirable, a different body image, going against the stereotype. Could roles like this for Latina women change stereotypes?

More Discussion Questions Would society be accepting if movies or TV shows portrayed different images of Latina’s? Would you go see movies or watch shows if Latino women were less sexually provocative?

References Merskin, D. (2007). Three Faces of Eva: Perpetuation of the Hot-Latina Stereotype in Desperate Housewives. Howard Journal of Communications (pp ). Oregon: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 0.jpg 0.jpg 6-eva-longoria-stuns-in-revealing-gown-shows-off-leg-in- floor-length-black-lace-dr/ _eva-longoria- zoom.jpg 6-eva-longoria-stuns-in-revealing-gown-shows-off-leg-in- floor-length-black-lace-dr/ _eva-longoria- zoom.jpg