A quick google search of “latin women streoytypes” brings up images of thinly- clad olive skinned, bird haired, crimson- lipped, shapely women. This fetishization of Latinas in the internet is n’t just embarrassing, but it also has serious implications. It exacerbates stereotyping and can lead to bigotry. It can even encourage dating violence https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1073241.pdf and enhance sexual abuse of young people.

The strangeness and fetishizing of female physiques turns them into simple materials to be won and showcased. This is not to say that there are n’t some positive stereotypes of latina women, but the majority of portrayals in our mediascape leave out a whole community. This typecasting of latinas can control their potential by internalizing the graphic argentinian babe that society puts forth of them.

Likewise, these prejudices may become harmful to expat communities because they can fuel extra- expat attitudes and reinforce the idea that Latinas do n’t belong in the workforce or contribute to the economy. It’s important to write Latina characters who are intelligent, driven, and successful. But it’s just as crucial to compose them with flaws, too.

Using a social determinants of health platform, this study explores home plotting perspectives and experiences among 16 Latinas recruited from two federally qualified healthcare centers in Baltimore City, Maryland. Focus groups and semi- structured interviews were conducted November 2014 through June 2015. Three central themes emerged: