Growing up Latina in the U.S.: Controlling images, stereotypes, and resistance

A Quantitative Investigation of Black and Latina Adolescent Girls’ Experiences of Gendered Racial Microaggressions, Familial Racial Socialization, and Critical Action

“…Understanding the various forms of gendered racism that Black and Latina girls may experience is important for acquiring the ability to assess their impact. Both Black and Latina girls experience stereotypes regarding beauty and objectification that are associated with expectations of promiscuity (e.g., being sexually active and/or available) [44,45], exoticism (e.g., being considered an "unusual" or foreign beauty) [45][46][47], and gatekeeping in academic and professional spaces [47,48]. Further, there are parallel stereotypes about Black and Latina girls as "strong", "spicy", or "sassy" that relate to the lack of support they may receive from adults in their lives who believe they may not need help [44,45,49].…”

“…Further, there are parallel stereotypes about Black and Latina girls as "strong", "spicy", or "sassy" that relate to the lack of support they may receive from adults in their lives who believe they may not need help [44,45,49]. Lastly, educators and other adults' negative stereotypes of Black and Latina girls as angry, defiant, or trouble makers can contribute to their hyper surveillance and criminalization, which limits their educational and professional opportunities, reifies the school-to-prison pipeline [44][45][46], and sometimes results in physical harm from punitive disciplinary practices [50]. While scholarship has documented that Black and Latina girls' experiences of gendered racism impacts their well-being, opportunities and overall development [39,40], it is important to recognize that these girls' experiences of gendered racism are experienced, appraised, and navigated differently, based on their social position [51,52].…”

“…Similarly, research focused on Latina girls has documented their experience navigating stereotypes about their socioeconomic status, intelligence, and sexual activity [45,46,56]. Stereotypes about Latina women and girls' beauty and power stem from colonization, as well as from more recent stigma around immigrants [46]. Latina girls are often dichotomized as "good girls" or "bad girls" [45].…”

“…Latina girls are often dichotomized as "good girls" or "bad girls" [45]. Good girls are considered virginal and virtuous and live a life in service to others, aligned with values of marianismo (i.e., idealized feminine gender role characterized by submissiveness, selflessness, and humbleness) [46,57]. Bad girls, on the other hand, are considered "pagan putas" who are considered promiscuous, defiant, and angry.…”

“…Bad girls, on the other hand, are considered "pagan putas" who are considered promiscuous, defiant, and angry. Latina girls stereotyped as "bad girls" are often assumed to be at risk for unwanted teen pregnancy or gang membership [45,46]. One qualitative study demonstrated how clinicians working with Latina girls dichotomized them as "good" or "bad", based on how their behaviors mapped onto Latinx gender scripts of women as caretakers of their families and communities [45].…”