By Holden Colclough
Introduction
For Latin Americans, stereotyping has a particular way of revolving around immigration to the US in regards to job accessibility and value. Some of the most common Latin American Stereotypes are; the assumption that Latin American immigrants ‘steal’ American jobs, the assumption that Latina Americans are constricted to jobs such as maids or caretakers and rarely possess ‘real jobs’, and the assumption that Latin Americans are not willing to learn English while in the US. However, many of these stereotypes are incorrect, as they are often misunderstood through the media of which the claims can be easily disproved with research. Through analyzing articles, journals, and other pieces of media, I will illustrate how many of these assumptions are incorrect and lack grounding. Furthermore, I will be drawing connections to the invalidity of these stereotypes to some of the films we have watched within this class.
Research
The article entitled “Immigrants work in more Arduous Jobs than U.S. Natives” disproves the
stereotype that 'Latin American immigrants steal American jobs', stating; “One of the reasons often cited to explain the importance of immigrant workers to the U.S. economy is the presumption that immigrants perform jobs that U.S. natives are unwilling to take. Numerous studies show that immigrant workers complement the native-born in various ways". Furthermore, the article 'Immigrants contribute greatly to the U.S. Economy' supports the idea that Latin American actually has POSITIVE effects on the economy, stating that immigrants work higher rate jobs, help support the aging us population, have children that show upward mobility, and are important to the economy. Immigrants also contribute to the US economy by working jobs that most Americans wont, namely physically strenuous jobs. In the movie ‘A Better Life’; in the movie Carlos Galindo works as a landscaper, supporting this idea. Through ‘reinforcing’ the stereotype of Latin Americans possessing mainly physically demanding roles, however, the movie conveys a reality.
Carlos Guilano and his son, 'A Better Life'
An infographic showcasing which professions Immigrants occupy within the US
Additionally, the assumption that 'Latina Americans only word maid/caretaker roles rather that real jobs' is harmful, but the statement does shed light on the fact that a glass ceiling exists for many Latina Americans in the workforce. The film 'East Side Sushi' works to subvert the stereotype that ‘Latinas can only be maids/caretakers’ through showing a Latina character (Juana) enduring the very real struggles of becoming a sushi chef in a traditional setting that favors Japanese, male sushi chefs. 'East Side Sushi' also works to correct this assumption in cinema; the journal article “Domesticating Rosario: Conflicting Representations of the Latina Maid in U.S'' states that many movies that attempt to address or revolve around the multidimensional of Latin Americans and their culture end up falling flat, representing them in a one dimensional way.
A screencap from 'East Side Sushi', showcasing a brief moment where Juana's coworker accepts her place in their establishment
A screencap from 'Maid in Manhattan'
Lastly, the assumption that Latin Americans are not willing to learn English is an argument that is counterproductive due to the fact that many underestimate the difficulty in learning a new language. The estimated time it takes to learn a second language is between three months and two years; in regards to speaking, writing, and reading in a new language fluently. The article “Success with Hispanics: why don’t Hispanics learn English?” raises the idea that instead of asking ‘why Hispanics don't learn English?’, we should be asking ‘why Hispanics don’t learn English when they try?’. Again, the film 'A Better Life' showcases this idea through Luis Galindo and his father. We see how they each have different approaches to the English language due to the time of their exposure to American culture (Luis having been exposed younger than his father).
This clip showcases the difference in language between Carlos and Luis from 'A Better Life'
Sources:
Cantor, G. and Cantor, G., 2021. Immigrants Work in More Arduous Jobs than U.S. Natives, New Study Shows. [online] Immigration Impact. Available at: <https://immigrationimpact.com/2014/08/12/immigrants-work-in-more-arduous-jobs-than-u-s-natives-new-study-shows/#.YZ0rclNOlQI> [Accessed 23 November 2021].
Roofingcontractor.com. 2021. | Roofing Contractor. [online] Available at: <https://www.roofingcontractor.com/articles/85682-success-with-hispanics-why-don-t-hispanics-learn-english> [Accessed 23 November 2021].
Benton, Emilia. “6 Harmful Stereotypes about Latin Americans.” Verywell Mind, 20 Mar. 2021, www.verywellmind.com/6-harmful-stereotypes-about-latin-americans-5113358.