History of Mexican Stereotypes

Introduction 

Ethnicity and race are not only meant to depict the physical attributes of individuals but are also used as a way of visualizing and understanding the world. In the United States, historically the white people have been associated with privilege and superiority while the people of color including the blacks and the Hispanics have been depicted as inferior and people of the ‘other' society. The American society has however made major steps in mitigating racial discrimination and stereotyping, but social injustices such as inequality and segregation remain. The race is described as a way of classifying groups or individuals by their skin color or physical appearance. Latinos, a majority of which come from Mexicans, form the largest minority group in the U.S. They have been subjected to several misconceptions and stereotypes over the years. Racial stereotyping of the Mexicans include the Greaser, the Latin Lover, the Mamacita, slum dwellers, gang bangers, the Mexican Spitfire, and the Soldaderas. The Soldaderas were women warriors who fought alongside men in the Mexican revolution. Because of their legacy in the Mexican history, there are certain stereotypic images created about the Mexican women especially by the white communities in the United States. The discussion will compare and contrast two distinct pictures to show how Americans use stereotypes to depict people of other races. 

History of Mexican Stereotypes 

The stereotype trace back to the mid 19 th century during the American-Mexican war. The Americans had a firm stance that the entire North America belonged to them while the Mexicans were opposed to such assertions ( Dawley, 2013). America, therefore, attempted to buy the land from Mexico and once they refused the offer, President James Polk declared war against Mexico. The United States eventually won the war leading to the formation of the new states such as New Mexico, California, Utah, Nevada, and Oklahoma among others. The fallout that ensued after the Mexican-American war resulted in the displacement of many Mexicans hence leading to a majority of them being exploited for cheap labor. The first stereotype that originated was that Mexicans were only good for cheap labor. The stereotyping further increased after the commencement of the California Gold Rush where the Mexicans were viewed as a source of threat to the fortunes of the whites. Most of the Mexicans were lynched, and an increasingly widespread of stereotype against them was witnessed. In around 1910, many Mexicans immigrated into the country, and the Americans were further threatened that their jobs would be taken. However, the Mexicans settled for the dangerous and difficult jobs that were abandoned by the Americans which had lower pay. The jobs included railroads, construction, farming, and working in the coal mines. The result was an increased stereotyping that the Mexicans were only good for these kinds of jobs. 

The media also played a critical role in the stereotyping the Hispanics. Most of them were depicted as gangbangers, servants, thugs, laborers, immature, naive, and stupid among other negative aspects ( Tindall & Shi, 2016). In the movies, Hispanic characters were normally depicted as the villains while the whites were regarded as the heroes. The image given of the Hispanics was also that which was not appealing such as dark skin, huge sombrero, and also a strong Mexican accent. They were also depicted as lazy, a factor that was annoying to most Mexicans who worked hard to make their ends meet. The most recent types of stereotypes leveled against the Hispanics include that fact that they are all gangsters who cannot speak English. Secondly is that they have all migrated to the United States using illegal means, that they are all poor and can only perform low-profile jobs such as working as a maid or a laborer. It is unfortunate enough that many Americans believe in these stereotypes. From the pictures given, the following deductions can be made from them regarding how Americans stereotype people from other races. 

Feisty Women 

From the two photos, it can be concluded that the two women pictured are warriors who directly participated in the Mexican Revolutionary War. Both of them are carrying ammunition and have an array of bullets surrounding their body. The history of the Soldadera associates women to two types of soldiers, the female soldiers, and women who only accompanied the soldiers but were not actual soldiers. According to Medrano, (2017), the women fought against the government troops and most of them acted like men, dressed like men, rode horses, and fought like any other revolutionary. Therefore, in the eyes of the white people, they could be known as courageous, violent, arrogant, and even brave. The two pictures presented could be used to prove their point given that conventionally women are known to be timid, fearful, and uninvolved in matters to deal with war and fighting. Therefore the stereotype has continued that Mexican women have the potential of becoming violent and hence can be a danger to the society. 

Promiscuous Women 

Despite the general feeling that Soldadera played a vital role in fighting in the Mexican War and also advocating for their equality rights, negative inferences have been made to tarnish their position in the society at that time. The strong, brave woman depicted in the first photo has had her image transformed into that of a promiscuous woman that came to be referred to as the La Adelita. The woman in the first picture is presented as beautiful and appealing as opposed to the woman in the second picture who looks more reserved and unattractive. Therefore her efforts in the battlefield have since been downplayed, and focus has shifted on romanticizing the picture and accusing them of being promiscuous. To date, many Mexican women are looked through such lenses of infidelity to their husbands by their appearance rather than tangible evidence. 

Cultural Differences 

The two pictures give the viewer certain differences on the culture of the Mexican people during their liberation war. The Soldadera during their time did not possess any attractive clothes or the flashy makeup that is depicted in the first picture. Also, they did not possess jewelry as represented in the photo. Women during this time were required to adhere to the societal norms that required them to dress and present themselves in a manner that inspires morals as said by Poniatowska, (2014). The second picture is a true depiction of a Soldadera. The woman is putting on a long dress that reaches on her toes and also looks reserve from her general appearance. Therefore, the inference that can be made from the two pictures is that the American people stereotyped the Mexican women along their cultural lines. They present the Mexicans as people who do not respect their culture and are therefore vulnerable of new cultures such as the American dream. This stereotype further emphasizes on the belief that most Mexicans emigrate from their country into the United States for flimsy reasons such as adopting a new culture that is alien to them. 

Gender Roles 

As earlier stated, the Soldaderas were women who joined the army to fight for their rights. The women found that this was the only legitimate way they would overcome the many limitations they were facing in their lives. When the women decided to join the army, they abandoned their traditional roles that enabled them to be identified as women. They decided to remove their docile images and almost did every other thing the same way men did them. Being a soldier was regarded as a non-traditional for women and therefore faced a major backlash. The two pictures clear attest to the fact that the women have abandoned their roles hence changing their position in the society. Partly, the reason why the women participated in this war was that they had been seeking for equality in the face of oppression for many years. However, the meaning has changed with regards to how Americans view the Mexican women. From the picture, it would seem true to make assertions that Mexican women do not respect the gender roles and by engaging in the war, they are signaling some form of incapacitation on the men. Such a stereotype has continued as most of the Mexican women are viewed as people who are willing to disrupt the social order by taking the position of the men in the society as pointed out by López and Chesney-Lind (2014). However, this remains untrue because the reason why the Soldaderas engaged in the war was that they were taking a collective responsibility as women and also because they were fighting for their rights as women. 

Sexualization of the Women 

This can be said to be true of the first picture but not the second one. Whereas the second picture depicts a woman dressed in an ideal manner, the first picture gives an opposing view. The first picture gives a wrong depiction of the Soldadera. The woman captured in the second picture is an embodiment of a true soldier who fought in the Mexican War. The first picture, however, focuses more on the sexuality of the woman at the expense of her bravery. The picture, however, retains her assertive characteristics of a woman, but it greatly undermines her position as a soldier with sexual overtones ( Poniatowska, 2016). The stereotyping comes in this case because the men have deliberately decided to under look the positive influence of women as soldiers and fighters of equality but instead decided to taint their images using sexual overtures. Secondly, they are equated to prostitutes through the over-sexualization that is represented in the picture. During the Revolutionary War, prostitutes were among the few individuals who enjoyed liberation in Mexico. They did not obey the socio-cultural norms outlined and were also reluctant to be married to one man or commit to a sexual relationship with a single man. The Soldadera were similar to prostitutes in many ways. Just like the prostitutes, they had sex with any man they wanted while they also sought equality by fighting on the battlefield. Therefore, the over-sexualization depicted in the picture is stereotypic as it tries to associate the Mexican women to prostitutes due to their behavior. 

Poverty and Economic Status 

The Soldaderas were also depicted as poor and people who are suffering economically. The Mexicans up to date are portrayed as lazy, unintelligent, criminal, and greasy among the whites in America as asserted by Croom (2014). Their contributions, culturally, economically, or historically have never been documented in the history of the United States. The Hollywood movies also utilize stereotypes along such lines to give the audience a picture that can be easy to digest. In the two pictures presented, the economic facet is depicted especially in the first picture where the woman was shown wearing a torn dress. Whereas in the second picture there is no direct indicator of poverty or poor economic levels, the conditions seem to be deplorable for any given standards. Historically, Mexican immigrants have mainly come to the United States to pursue the American dream which is an economic factor as pointed out by Ortiz & Telles, (2012). Most of them have been accused of causing insecurity and engaging in illicit trades such as drug trafficking to salvage their deplorable conditions back home. Therefore the stereotype that comes of out of the pictures is that Mexicans are always poor and their main aim of coming to America is to take advantage of the economic situation in the country. It is also a general misconception that all Mexicans in America are immigrants despite the fact there exist citizens with legitimate documents and valid sources of income. Such a stereotype has led to the increased victimization of the Mexicans leading to unwarranted arrests and harassments in different scenarios despite the fact that they might be innocent. 

American Films 

The stereotype against the Mexicans, especially the women, has extended to the Hollywood movies to give the audience real-life situations. The first character in which they have dominantly featured in is the domestic servant or what is normally referred to as maids. According to List, (2013), this emanates from the fact that most Mexicans are regarded as low lives in America something that can be proven in both pictures. The second important role that Mexicans play in these movies is in the position of Latin Lovers. This can be proved by the over-sexualization of the woman depicted in the first image and her general appearance. Women are also used as sex tools in the movies something that is also emphasized by the over-sexualization of the woman in the first image. Most of them are also depicted as beautiful and attractive. Also, most of them are also presented as thugs and hardcore that can survive any situation that is presented in front of them. Most of them, both men and women are depicted as gangsters that are ready to engage in any criminal activity so long as they achieve their mission ultimately. However, such a depiction has a negative consequence on the Latino because it gives a picture that they are not law-abiding citizens. The two pictures that are presented can be used to prove this gangster and criminal depiction given that the women can hold guns and ammunition without any problem. They are presented as people ready to act provided that they are put in an ideal situation. However such assertions are only mere prejudice given that the demographics have proven that many Mexicans work as police officers, teachers, and lawyers. 

Media Stereotyping 

The media in the United States has also been on the forefront in creating stereotypes against the Mexicans. The negative portrayals in the media have had dire effects on the whole Latino community. The American media has over the years ignored the Mexicans from the media. The media has created a certain misconception amongst the white population that the Mexican community is composed of a homogenous people who do not have diversity. According to the US media, there are no differences in the beliefs, languages, traditions, and cultures of this people. The two pictures in the text can give a clue why such assertions could be true. A close analysis of the pictures depicts a generational difference between the two woman soldiers. One looks to be in her mid-life while the other is in her advance ages. However, they have similarities in the way they think with regards to war and fighting for their rights. They have a strong conviction that their freedom can only be won through the battle and nothing else. The media in the United States is using the same thinking that all Latinos, despite their ages, culture, and religion among others have a sense of diversity. It would be difficult to address any of the problems concerning the Mexicans if people have a generalized feeling about them. 

Patriotism 

Patriotism is an important aspect of every citizen in a country. It is the love for one’s nation despite the situation on the ground. The Soldaderas are depicted as patriots who gave their all to fight for their rights and the liberation of the country. The first picture represents a Soldaderas holding the national flag of Mexico representing the steadfast determination to protect the integrity of the country and preserve the sovereignty of the people. However, in the second picture, the woman does not hold any flag but nevertheless has ammunition that can be used to act when given the opportunity. From the patriotism point of view, stereotyping can be made by the Americans, especially when drawing inferences from the second picture, that a majority of the Mexicans are not as patriotic to the country as it might appear on the outside. A majority of them have immigrated to the United States to pursue a culture that is alien to them hence weaken their societal structures. Every Mexican wants to move to America for both social and economic reason in what is referred to as pursuing the American dream. 

Immigrants 

There has always been a general fallacy that all undocumented immigrants hail from Mexico. Whereas the assertions that many undocumented immigrants originate from the south of America, it would be fictitious to assert that all of them are from Mexico. From the two pictures, it is likely possible for Americans to come to such a conclusion because of the aggressive nature that is shown in the images. If they can engage in difficult battles that involve matters of life and death, then it is possible that they can fail to adhere to the tenets of the law that require individuals to be documented before entering a foreign country. However, this is only a stereotype because research has proven otherwise. Acuña, (2015) asserted that the number of undocumented immigrants from Mexico has since dropped as those from other Latin countries increase. Other than this, there is also a belief that all Hispanics in the country are immigrants, but the fact is that there are Mexican-Americans in the country who belong to the third generation. With all factors constant, it is also obvious that most immigrants in the country would be from Mexico due to its proximity to the United States. 

Conclusion 

Stereotyping is a vice that continues to form the basis of the American culture and belief towards people of other races. The two pictures have shown how the American people have historically developed their misconceptions, especially towards the Mexican woman. Most of them have been regarded as unintelligent, poor, promiscuous, prostitutes, and thugs among others. The stereotyping continues and although other minority groups such as the African-Americans have also been subjected to this kind of humiliation, the effect is bigger on the Hispanics given that they are the largest minority group in the country. The history of the stereotyping is clear hence if measures are there to be taken to mitigate the problem, they must be able to address the historical injustices that led to its rise. The only hope that remains is that the Americans move beyond the prejudices that come with skin color, and also the Mexicans living in the United States need to adopt a sedentary and law-abiding life to ensure that they are spared from unnecessary stereotyping. 

References 

Acuña, R. (2015). Occupied America. The Latino/a Condition: A Critical Reader, , 61-4. 

Croom, A. M. (2014). Spanish slurs and stereotypes for Mexican-Americans in the USA: A context-sensitive account of derogation and appropriation. Pragmática Sociocultural/Sociocultural Pragmatics , 8 (2), 145-179. 

Dawley, A. (2013). Changing the world: American progressives in war and revolution . Princeton University Press. 

López, V., & Chesney-Lind, M. (2014). Latina girls speak out: Stereotypes, gender and relationship dynamics. Latino Studies , 12 (4), 527-549. 

Medrano, G. (2017). Las Soldaderas. The Undergraduate Historical Journal at UC Merced , 3 (2). 

Ortiz, V., & Telles, E. (2012). Racial identity and racial treatment of Mexican Americans. Race and social problems , 4 (1), 41-56. 

Poniatowska, E. (2014). Las Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican revolution . Cinco Puntos Press. 

Poniatowska, E. (2016). Soldaderas and the Making of Revolutionary Spaces. Mexico's Nobodies: The Cultural Legacy of the Soldadera and Afro-Mexican Women , 37. 

The list, C. (2013). Chicano images: Refiguring ethnicity in mainstream film . Routledge. 

Tindall, G. B., & Shi, D. E. (2016). America: A narrative history . WW Norton & Company.