Single Story: Latina Women

A single story of Latina women is one of being good homemakers, loving mothers, strict disciplinarians, loud speakers, and always ready to dance. The media portrays these women as being intense in everything they do. They have to be the loving mothers who cook and clean, but who aren't afraid to use physical punishment. The character Gloria portrayed by Sofia Vergara on the hit TV series Modern Family is one such example. She's a loving wife and mother who isn't afraid to hit and yell at her family, even if it is out of love. Why does a Latina woman have to be over the top to demonstrate love? Also, only the Hollywood-standard "beautiful" Latina actresses are able to play such central roles in media (e.g. Sofia Vergara, Salma Hayek, Eva Longoria). If the Latina woman is middle-aged and considered less than desirable, than she is often portrayed in the roles of "house help." The character Consuela from the TV comedy series Family Guy is one such example. Although there isn't anything degrading about house work, but putting Latina women in that bubble suggests that they demonstrate few talents, little originality, and menial status. However, despite what role the woman plays, she is family-oriented, loud, and intense - and it makes for good ratings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBCntDJgZVU

This story limits the true value these women have to offer. The culture of Latina women should not be defined on how good their food is or the way they parent their children. There are various styles of parenting and home-keeping, and the media often portrays the methods of these women as irrational. What woman wants their mothering to be defined as being loud and physical? It's often shocking to find mothers who use harsh physical punishment on their children, and people consider this the norm for Latina women to do it to their kids. Also, if a Latina woman is not considered "sexy," then she must fit obviously be a house help to a wealthier family. This stereotype is morally wrong and blatantly offensive. Plenty of Latina women work jobs other than house work. The media does not show these women in positions of power, unless it is using their sexuality, as seen with the Modern Family example.

Latina women should not be summarized into a few categories. The media chooses to make comedic references based on stereotypes associated with this social group, but they have so much more to offer. They shouldn't base their worth on their appearance or sexuality, and they should be portrayed in a more respectable manner. Latina women can be gentle mothers, not all of them know how to cook, and I am sure many of them hate dancing. Not all the portrayals are false, but they do not determine the whole. Intelligence, tenderness, power, and other strengths are looked over in these artifacts. Latina women should be celebrated and know that society understands their potential beyond these trite stereotypes.