A New Image of the Latina 

By Paulina Gutierrez-Hernandez 

¿Qué significa ser Latina? 

What does it mean to be a Latina? 

Complex 

Diverse and beautiful 

Like a rose made of vibrant layers that reveal our true colors 

Latinas come from everywhere 

The Caribbean, Central America, México, Latinoamérica 

Our various latinidades do not fit into just one box 

Latinidad is a composed expression of the broad range of skin colors, hair textures, and body types of the unique Latina 

There is still room for improvement to be made 

A change that is inclusive of indigenous and Afro latinidades 

Cross cultural unities reveal the beauty of latinidad 

A latinidad that is accepting and accommodating for all identities 

Colorism, discrimination, machismo, marianismo 

Wall borders that block us from pursuing other opportunities 

Latinas will rise above it 

We have overcome curves and obstacles 

Illogical stereotypes: Hot-tempered and a curvaceous aesthetic 

A presented image to the media that appeals to the male gaze 

The image of a pretty señorita depicts their views of Latinidad 

Carmen Miranda and her “chiquita banana” presence 

Exploitation for an audience at the expense of her authenticity 

An image that makes profit for the American market 

Misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the Latina image spread across the media 

Our different physicalities are not acknowledged but labeled 

“Gorda” “Flaca” “Curvilínea” 

An unrealistic image characterized by plastic surgery and “feminine” aesthetics Our ideas and efforts repressed by the patriarchal system 

Latinas will rise above it

We make up the biggest “minority” in the U.S 

Yet, our language has somehow become divided from American society 

Spanish marketing viewed as “foreign” to Anglo society despite its contributions Yearning for accurate representation and authenticity 

Latinas are breaking barriers 

Challenging societal norms for a better future 

Forging a path that strays away from the expectations of becoming a mother and taking care of her husband 

We aspire to find a place outside of just becoming a housewife or waitress “Selfish” and “desgraciada” our own people call us for wanting to be something more Ideals of collectivism and family values that contradict our desires 

Discouraging comments that keep us from shaping our own trail 

Internalized gender roles and generational gaps have established what we should be This time, reality will not reflect the telenovelas 

We can do both 

Latinas can aspire to be a mother and have a career 

We are changing the face of the workforce 

No nos van a dejar a un lado 

Seguimos avanzando 

Yo soy Latina 

From Anita and Jose 

I am from Chicanos and Mexican immigrants 

From “el barrios” and “the ghettos” of Los Angeles 

I grew up hearing and speaking in both languages 

My latinidad is not restricted to my Mexican-American identity 

I am not any less American for embracing my latinidad 

My latinidad is not diminished because I don’t speak perfect Spanish 

The Latina image is not composed of a fixed set of traits 

I don’t carry the features that society perceives what a Latina should “look like” I am Latina in my own way 

I wear long brown wavy hair that compliment my brown eyes and rosy lips My Latina femininity comes from red lipstick and dangling earrings 

The floral bufanda I put on reminds me of my abuelita 

I am a second generation Mexican-American 

A first generation college student

I am a Latina in STEM 

Forging my own path to make way for other Latinas to pursue professional careers More latinas in education, medicine, and engineering 

Mujeres Latinas en liderazgo y la política 

We are a representation for our Latino community 

Our shared experiences will bring us closer together 

Standards have evolved, giving more Latinas a position in place 

Las Latinas pueden y lo podrán 

Strength relies in the arms that learned to cook arroz y frijoles 

Determined to strive for higher education, being the first in my family to do so I was born in the U.S, but I am Latina nonetheless 

Con mucho orgullo y empoderamiento 

Yo soy Latina

Analysis 

For my creative project, I chose the main theme to be Latinidades that depicts how Latinas are represented or perceived in American society, media, and marketability. I wrote my poem from a Latina/female perspective, with an emphasis on Latina. In the process of my project, I interviewed three people to gain their perspective about their latinidad and what being Latina means to them. Their perspective aligned with themes and readings I learned about in class. I start off the poem to express that Latinidad is not specific to just one identity or culture rather it is a combination of the cultures that make up Latinos, thus when I write “The Caribbean, Central America, México, Latinoamérica.” However, Latinidades are not just limited to these places as the goal for latinidad is to be inclusive to all identities. I read an article by The Nation magazine that discusses the exclusivity of Latinidad and how many Afro Latinos or indigenous people are left out from this term. They wonder where they fit into this community, especially when colorism plays a role in defining what is “Latino” and what is not. I mentioned the struggles of machismo, marianismo, and the patriarchal system that Latinas face in American society. These themes are depicted in the film Real Women Have Curves directed by Patricia Cardoso when the audience is introduced to Doña Carmen and her collectivism ideals that attempt to keep Ana from pursuing a higher education. She is viewed as the woman of the household, making commands and demanding the girls to work with her, leaving them no other option but the family business. Ana wants to break away from this, when she applies to college. Doña Carmen also body shames her daughter and calls her “gorda.” In addition, Frijoles by Mixel Muñoz discusses the patriarchal system themes when Mari comes to realize that the patriarchy has dominated her and her mother, Flaca, in their own home despite her feminist awakening. I make a reference to the marketability of Latinidad as seen in Dirty Girls Social Club that discusses how society tends to perceive a “Latina.” These ideals are images of the Latina are general and stereotypical, because not all Latinas share the same features or speak the same levels of Spanish. Rodriguez writes on page 9, “We are a domestic market. To be marketed to.” This demonstrates the our language and image as Latinas only bring attention to the workforce when there is profit and money involved. Our efforts have contributed to society, yet we are not given credit for it. Similarly, the profitability and marketability of Latinidad is criticized in Latinos Inc. when Dávila writes, “the Spanish language is built as the paramount basis of U.S. Latinidad, as is evident in the industry’s common designation of Hispanic marketing and Hispanic driven media” (4). Spanish is often associated with Latinidad but it doesn’t take away someone’s Latinidad even if they don’t. Lauren from Dirty Girls diminishes her own Latinidad because she doesn’t speak a lot of Spanish. The final source that I referenced in my poem was Embodying Latinidad by Myra Mendible. Some of the themes discussed were the Latina body and “plastic surgery” aesthetics inspired by Selena and J-Lo. Medible writes, “From Bananas to Buttocks explores some of the ways that certain women’s bodies are made and seen as “Latinas” (7). She also discusses how the image of Carmen Miranda was exploited when she was a young woman and how her “chiquita banana” status became a symbol for Latin America, giving American audience a misinterpreted

representation of the Latina image. This idea is expressed when Mendible writes, “notes that Miranda was most pained by the accusation that she had become ‘Americanized’ and had thus betrayed her ‘authentic’ Brazilian national identity” (10). Her image has since become a corporate symbol for fruit companies in the U.S. Lastly, in my poem, I do include my personal experiences with Latinidades and what being a Latina means to me. I also nod references to the traditional women’s roles that we learned in class and how Latinas are slowly breaking through those barriers. I wanted this project to discuss the themes of Latinidades but also an empowering message for many Latinas like me.

 

Works Cited 

Dávila, Arlene M. Latinos, Inc. the Marketing and Making of a People. University of California Press, 2012. 

López, Josefina. Real Women Have Curves. Dramatic Publishing Company, 2016. Cardoso Patricia. Real Women Have Curves, 2002 

Muñoz, Mixel. Frijoles, 2017 

Mendible, Myra. From Bananas to Buttocks: The Latina Body in Popular Film and Culture. University of Texas Press, 2007. 

Salazar, Miguel. “The Problem with Latinidad.” The Nation, 16 Sept. 2019, www.thenation.com/article/archive/hispanic-heritage-month-latinidad/. 

Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa. Dirty Girls Social Club. Rowohlt, 2005.