In the mass media, some of the common stereotypes that I have seen focus around the uneducated, unable to speak English, cleaning lady. I have also seen, such as Gloria from Modern Family, the heavy accented woman who is often portrayed as unintelligent. In the news media, we constantly see, especially in our area, the portrayal of poor families with several children, lacking basic needs. The media also frames the Latinx/Hispanic communities as all from the same country, sometimes this can vary from location to location. I remember in high school seeing an interaction with a person wearing a Colombian flag shirt, who was asked if they spoke Mexican. Unfortunately, this interaction and stereotype can be connected to the constant exposure to the negative frames that the mass media uses to fuel the immigration topic.
Situations and stereotypes like these can be reduced or combatted by providing segments or programs that show how these Latinx/Hispanic communities are flourishing right here in the US, some of which come from nearby countries hoping to achieve the American dream that their own media promotes. Most of these families or individuals, venture out to an unknown country, whether illegal or legal, and find any jobs they can to begin work on the dream. At times, these families achieve further than they imagined and manage to fully integrate to the US, while doing so they find that they can provide a resource or aid to new families that may be doing a similar move. Keeping the framing in a positive, and true manner rather than only showing the negative aspects of being an immigrant in the US. In the same line, we can provide resources to those who are wanting to become legal citizens but possibly lack the understanding, or even, language expertise to navigate these complicated legal situations.
Leave a Reply