US Latinx Activism and Protests: From the Farm to the (Legislative) Table

Women in Television

Women play vital roles as leaders, caregivers, professionals, and agents of change. They are important to the many communities they are a part of. While television also plays an important role in shaping cultural narratives and societal perceptions. It's a very powerful medium in which many different groups and communities are portrayed and represented. Throughout television history, the portrayal of Latina women has undergone transformations, in which the representation of latina women have begun showing the complex and dynamic nature of their roles in society. 

Telenovelas, a form of Latin American television, has had a profound impact on the representation of women. Traditionally, women in telenovelas were confined to stereotypical roles as submissive wives, self-sacrificing mothers, or damsels in distress. These roles further emphasizing their adherence to "traditional" gender norms. For example, in the telenovela "Yo soy Betty, la fea" the protagonist seems to be followed with a lot of bad luck. Despite her intelligence and competency in her field of work, she is often overlooked and ignored. Why? Because of her looks. She is considered ugly so people often disregard her. However, the moment she is transformed and is conventionally attractive, she is listened to. This telenovela further deepens the stereotype that latina women need to fit into societal beauty standards in order to be listened to, and in order to have a voice. 

Similarly, in latino films, women have been confined to being objectified and hypersexualized. In the movie "Santo contra la invasión de los marcianos" the men in the movie are portrayed as strong and defend the people in their communities. Meanwhile, women are portrayed as fragile, submissive, and sexual objects. For instance, when the aliens try to abduct more people, they decide to send the women aliens to seduce the men. When trying to defeat Santo, the protagonist of the film, the male aliens fight with him while the women aliens attempt to seduce him. 

For both telenovelas and films, women are portrayed in a certain manner in the poster advertisements. Women are mostly hypersexualized in these posters, which we can see with the poster for "Santo contra la invasion de los marcianos".

However in more recent years there has been a shift in the portrayal of women in which they have been characterized as strong and independent. This medium is beginning to reflect the changing social landscape. In film we now have more authentic and empowering women as protagonists, such as Veronica in "The Headless Woman" or Cleo in "Roma". These characters challenge traditional gender roles by defying societal expectations and pursuing their ambitions beyond the confines of domesticity. 

 

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