Latino Stereotypes in Media

Every race has been stereotyped within media since the very beginning of its founding. These stereotypes not only influence public views, but media has helped to perpetuate these racist stereotypes for longer than they should have been. There are many different types of stereotypes casted upon the Hispanic community, but all of them are degrading nonetheless.  The stereotypes that taint the Hispanic community range from ‘The Latin Lover’ and ‘The Harlot’ to ‘The Bandit’ and ‘The Domestic’.

‘The Latin0 Lover’ was first introduced into media in the early 1920’s with the popularity of Western movies. ‘The Latino Lover’ is usually seen in a positive light for being the protagonist, but the issue with the ‘Latino Lover’ is that when it was first introduced, they weren’t even played by Latinos. The first ‘Latino Lovers’ were played by Italian actors because the real life Latino were looked down upon for being Latino.

Italian Actor, Rudolph Valentino.

The next stereotype that many Latina women face is ‘The Harlot’. ‘The Harlot’ is known for being a very sexual being, that is based around sexuality, passion and desire. ‘The Harlot’ is more commonly know in modern media as ‘The Mamacita’. This stereotype that is pushed onto Latina women not only inaccurate, but also objectifying. The media’s portrayal of Latina women in this light over sexualizes them and basically implies that they are only worthy depending on how sexual and attractive they are. This typecast can be seen with some of the first Latina Hollywood actresses like Carmen Miranda and Rita Hayworth where the industry capitalized on their bodies. This stereotype is still seen in today’s media with the like of Sofia Vergara, who plays the sexy Latina on Modern Family.

Carmen Miranda

Rita Hayworth

 

Sofia Vergara

‘The Bandito’ and ‘The Domestic’ are probably the most racist stereotypes that are cast upon the Latino community through media. ‘The Bandito’ known as the ‘Bandit’ puts Latinos into a very discriminatory place. Most Latinos, especially in early media, were showcased as bandits that either knew very little to no Spanish and those that did know English spoke it very heavily accented. They displayed the Latino community to be unintelligent, dirty, lazy criminals. This ‘Bandito’ can be seen as early as black and white Western films and while Western films aren’t as popular anymore, ‘The Bandito’ stereotype is still around just more modern. ‘The Bandito’ has evolved just as media has to become the ‘Gang-banger’ stereotype where most Latinos are shown playing gang members in dirty, poor areas. This ‘Cholo’ stereotype is played by even White actors when they try to portray a Latino person, like Jonah Hill in “22 Jump Street”.

Jonah Hill in ’22 Jump Street’

‘The Domestic’ is also a very degrading, yet highly common stereotype that follows Latinos in the media. ‘The Domestic’ portrays Latinos as new and often illegal immigrants that speak very little, heavily accented, English and work as maids, gardeners, janitors, etc. This is specific stereotype is the staple within in the media industry. The portrayal of said stereotype usually makes the Latino character seem unintelligent due to their lack of knowledge of the English language and also that they work in what most were deem  a low-qualifying job. Characters like Consuela the maid from “Family Guy”  are further proof of just how disrespectful this stereotype towards Latinos can be. The movie “Hot Chick” starring Rob Schneider even uses this staple stereotype when he is assumed to be Latino because he is the Gardener for the house that the girl he switched bodies with lives in. When he assumed to be Latino, he continues the charade by using heavily accented English.

Consuela from ‘Family Guy’

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Schneider as the ‘Latino Gardener’ in “Hot Chick”