Michelle Phan (@michellephan)
Photo by Marcos Castillo - Shutterstock
Fed up with the sweltering summer heat in her sister’s East Los Angeles dress factory, 18-year-old Ana Garcia, played by actress America Ferrera, takes off her shirt. Ana’s mother, Carmen, played by Lupe Ontiveros, quickly moves to cover her daughter’s body.
“Look at you; you look awful,” Carmen says, referring to Ana’s weight.
“How dare anyone try to tell me what I should look like, or who I should be, when there’s so much more to me than just my weight,” Ana says during the exchange.
Ana’s sister and another woman working in the factory come to her defense. To Carmen’s horror, the women each start to remove their clothes to compare their perceived body flaws. By the end, they are laughing, sewing dresses in their underwear and vibing to music in a powerful display of pride in their body fat, their stretch marks and their different sizes.
Lupe Ontiveros (as Carmen Garcia) and America Ferrera (as Ana Garcia) in Real Women Have Curves (2002) directed by Patricia Cardoso (HBO)
Patricia Cardoso, director of “Real Women Have Curves,” knew it was an important story to tell. At the time, few other films had centered the stories of Latina girls and teens in the United States, she told The 19th. “Real Women Have Curves” offered a glimpse into a world that was relatable to so many: the financial considerations for a working-class family, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, a first-generation Mexican-American teen with dreams of going to college in New York City.
In the 21 years since its release, the number of Latina coming-of-age stories has increased — and so has the representation within them. There are more actresses being cast and a wider variety of viewpoints being told that reflect the complexity and humanity of a diverse population that has historically been reduced to harmful stereotypes. But both in front and behind the camera, disparities remain, Latina women in the film and television industry told The 19th.
“There’s still a lot more needed because there’s not enough representation,” Cardoso said. “I teach at the University of California, Riverside, now, and the majority of my students are first-generation college students. They have only seen themselves reflected on screen a few times growing up, and it’s usually not realistically and not dealing with the issues they face.”
One 2021 study by researchers at the University of Southern California analyzed 1,300 top-grossing films between 2007 and 2019 and found that 3.5 percent, or 45 of the movies, had Latinx leads or co-leads. Of those 45 films, 24 of them had Latina leads.
Across the 100 top-grossing films in 2019, 35 had no Latinx characters at all and 59 had no Latina characters. Ninety-five of the films had no Latinx characters with disabilities, and 98 had no LGBTQ+ Latinx characters.
The study shows both existing challenges for Latinx representation, and how the numbers have improved somewhat over the years.
Like Cardoso, for filmmaker Aurora Guerrero it was difficult to think of many movies or television shows 25 or 30 years ago that depicted the adolescence of U.S. Latinas. Mainly, there was “Selena,” the 1997 movie starring Jennifer Lopez about the life and rising fame of Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla.
The year 2002 brought “Real Women Have Curves” and the Disney Channel original movie “Gotta Kick It Up!,” both starring America Ferrera. The latter tells the story of a dance team at an under-resourced middle school in Southern California. The movie has received some criticism for the absence or Afro-Latinas and for repeating a common White savior narrative in Hollywood, with a non-Latinx teacher stepping in to save the school dance team.
Still, “Gotta Kick It Up!” remains a treasured nostalgic re-watch for many Latina millennials. In different ways, “Real Women Have Curves” and “Gotta Kick It Up!” showed layers to the Latina teen experience. There were nerdy bookworm characters in addition to the rebellious cool girl. Some faced high expectations from their families or experienced anxieties navigating a White-dominated society.
For years, Latina characters have been hypersexualized, portrayed as loud and vain or as very strict and religious, without much nuance. Those portrayals can affect how the world treats Latinas and how Latina girls see themselves. Research indicates that seeing negative stereotypes or portrayals of women and girl characters in entertainment has harmful effects on mental health and body image.
Seeing more varied examples of Latinas as children and adults can help young Latinas understand they are not alone in their experiences, said Rosa Parra, a film critic who writes for The Daily Chela, a Chicano and Hispanic news website. Certain characters can also help young girls envision what their lives could be like in a particular career or at a particular college, Parra said.
Addressing stereotypes is a balancing act because some stereotypes develop from a seed of truth, she added.
“Do I have a tia or cousins who are very religious? Absolutely. And yes, I know people who can be loud and obnoxious sometimes. But it’s about showing a range of personalities and lives,” she said. “We’re such a diverse group of people. We have different shapes, sizes, skin tones, hairstyles, cultures and languages. It is unfair to just paint all of us as a monolith.”
More exploitative Latinx depictions often flatten a character into a single trope without adding more depth, Guerrero said. She worked on the set of “Real Women Have Curves” as an assistant to Cardoso while working on her own groundbreaking feature film.
Ten years after “Real Women Have Curves,” Guerrero’s “Mosquita y Mari” premiered. The 2012 film follows two Chicana teens in Los Angeles as they deal with school and family, in addition to their romantic feelings for each other.
Guerrero builds the connection between the two teen girls through subtle glances and touches that capture the butterflies, the confusion and the fear that many LGBTQ+ teens experience with a same-sex crush. Guerrero said she was tired and angry about the continued lack of queer Latinx stories in film and television.
“I wasn’t afraid to do it. I felt it was necessary, and I was empowered to do it,” Guerrero said. “The only thing that scared me was the question of whether I was going to be able to get funding for it.”
Initially, that fear was a reality as Guerrero struggled to get the money she needed. Ultimately, her team crowdfunded an $80,000 production budget, and “Mosquita y Mari” was released to critical acclaim.
Venecia Troncoso and Fenessa Pineda in “Mosquita y Mari” (2012) directed by Aurora Guerrero (THE FILM COLLABORATIVE)
Today both “Real Women Have Curves” and “Mosquita y Mari” are celebrated for breaking barriers of Latina storytelling in film; however, Cardoso’s and Guerrero’s struggles did not end after these successes. Following their respective films, they both faced years of rejection and struggled to find other opportunities as directors and filmmakers. Cardoso said she couldn’t get work as a director for 15 years after 2002. For Guerrero, she continued to face hurdles nearly three years after 2012.
In both cases, Black filmmaker Ava DuVernay offered a lifeline, by bringing them on to direct episodes of her Oprah Winfrey-backed show “Queen Sugar.” The support from DuVernay helped them to maintain steady work in television, they said, but it also highlights an ongoing problem for Latinx storytellers. “Not a lot of people have that ability. Not a lot of people have Ava to be their bridge. You know, she can’t hire everybody,” Guerrero said.
Over the past couple of decades, new projects have emerged elevating different Latinx perspectives, including the shows “Gentefied” and the reboot of “One Day at a Time,” and movies like Marvel’s Spider-Verse series and DC Universe’s “Blue Beetle,” which both focus on male characters. Blockbuster movies focused on young Latinas are still harder to find, with 2019’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” and this year’s “Spy Kids: Armageddon” as notable exceptions.
Creating more pathways for a larger variety of Latinx people to have a role in film and television creation will allow more authentic storytelling and coming-of-age films that young people can relate to.
“So many women of color, so many Latina women get passed over for an opportunity to direct,” Guerrero said. “So there are these barriers that are very difficult to get past when people don’t take the time to really see you, to really consider you and let you compete with your talent.”
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Donald Trump Declared 47th President of the United States
Donald Trump | Donald Trump speaking at the 2014 Conservativ… | Flickrwww.flickr.com
Donald J. Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 Presidential Election as of 8 a.m. ET. Media outlets, including the Associated Press, are reporting that Trump has secured his victory with 277 electoral college votes, effectively making a political comeback after his 2020 defeat to Joseph R. Biden Jr. Trump’s projected win was finalized early Wednesday morning when he won Wisconsin, a crucial battleground state, pushing him past the necessary 270 electoral votes.
Kamala Harris’s run for the presidency as the Democratic nominee has historical significance. The first Black and South Asian woman to serve as Vice President, Harris now becomes the second woman in eight years to receive the Democratic Party’s nomination and be defeated. Harris maintained a strong lead among Black voters, both men and women, and received the majority support of Latina women. However, her campaign was impacted by significant inroads Trump made with Latino voters.
Harris conceded the election in a call with Trump as reported by BBC, and she addressed the nation later in the day. In her concession speech, she urged her supporters to accept the election results and never give up on the fight for freedom. "On the campaign, I would often say when we fight, we win. But here’s the thing, here’s the thing. Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up, don’t ever give up, don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place," Harris said.
Later on in her speech, she stated, "This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organize, to mobilize, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together."
Republican Control of the Senate
Photo by Connor Gan on UnsplashThe Republican Party regained control of the Senate with key victories in Ohio, West Virginia, and Nebraska. These races were decided by candidates Bernie Moreno in Ohio, Jim Justice in West Virginia, and incumbent Deb Fischer in Nebraska, all of whom secured their seats in highly competitive races. The GOP’s control of the Senate solidifies their legislative power, enabling them to have a more significant influence on national policy and judicial appointments.
Latino Voters: A Pivotal Shift
Photo by Element5 Digital on UnsplashA notable outcome of this election is the swing among Latino voters toward Trump. Latino men, in particular, shifted in Trump’s favor for the first time, contributing to his broader support base. In 2020, Biden had won Latino men by a margin of 23 points, but this year, Trump won this demographic, indicating a major change. Overall, Trump received 45% of the Latino vote nationwide, while Harris garnered 53%. This result is a marked improvement from 2020 when Trump lost the Latino vote by 33 points (32% to Biden’s 65%). The shift is one of the strongest GOP performances among Latinos since George W. Bush in 2004, who won 44% of Latino votes.
Latina women still leaned toward Harris but did so by smaller margins than they did for Clinton or Biden. The results signal challenges for the Democratic Party, which has traditionally relied on strong Latino support. The substantial swing among Latino voters—especially Latino men—may lead Democrats to reassess their strategies and policies concerning this key demographic.
State-Level Abortion Rights Decisions
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on UnsplashAbortion rights were a major issue on ballots across several states, with voters in 10 states deciding on amendments related to reproductive rights. Here’s a summary of key decisions:
- Maryland: Voters approved an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, ensuring long-term protection for reproductive freedom. Maryland’s Question 1, backed by a Democrat-controlled legislature, establishes a broad right to abortion and related healthcare services.
- New York: The state passed an Equal Rights Amendment that not only protects abortion rights but also prevents discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, and pregnancy. Proposition 1 reinforces New York’s commitment to reproductive rights.
- Michigan: Michigan voters expanded the pro-abortion rights majority on the state Supreme Court, a move that further strengthens the protections for reproductive rights in the state.
- Colorado: Colorado voters approved Amendment 79, which repeals the ban on public funding for abortions, allowing state employees and Medicaid recipients to access abortion services under state insurance. This amendment required a 55% supermajority to pass.
- Missouri: Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, which restores access to abortion up to fetal viability, reversing the state’s total abortion ban. The amendment also protects other aspects of reproductive healthcare, including contraception and miscarriage care.
- Arizona: Proposition 139 was passed, ending Arizona’s 15-week abortion ban and protecting the right to abortion up to fetal viability. This decision came after organizers submitted over 820,000 signatures for a constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion rights in Arizona.
State-Level Abortion Rights Decisions: Rejected
a large group of people holding up signsPhoto by Gayatri Malhotra on UnsplashThree states, however, rejected proposed amendments to protect or expand abortion rights:
- Florida: Voters turned down Amendment 4, which aimed to guarantee a right to abortion up to fetal viability. The measure needed a 60% supermajority to pass but came close at 57%, signaling a majority support for the measure, but not enough to get past the required supermajority threshold. Governor Ron DeSantis opposed the amendment, and his administration actively campaigned against it.
- South Dakota: Voters rejected Constitutional Amendment G, which would have guaranteed abortion rights in the first trimester and allowed regulations in the second trimester related to physical health. Some reproductive rights advocates argued the measure was too restrictive.
- Nebraska: Nebraska voters rejected Initiative 439, which would have established a constitutional right to abortion up to fetal viability. Instead, they passed Initiative 434, a more restrictive measure that bans most abortions after 12 weeks, with exceptions for cases of sexual assault, incest, and medical emergencies.
Across the board, abortion rights amendments passed in seven out of the ten states, signaling a strong push in several regions to protect reproductive rights at the state level.
Historical Wins in Representation
Photo by Joshua Sukoff on UnsplashThe election also saw historic wins for diverse representation:
- Cindy Nava became the first former DACA recipient elected to the New Mexico Legislature.
- Gabby Salinas became the first Latina LGBTQ woman to serve in Tennessee’s House of Representatives.
- Luz Rivas became the first Latina to represent California’s 29th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Lisa Blunt Rochester made history in Delaware as the first Black person and the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from her state.
- Ruben Gallego is leading in Arizona in a contentious U.S. Senate race. With only 69% of the votes tallied, it’s too soon to call.
These achievements reflect a broadening of diversity in elected positions, showing progress in both racial and LGBTQ+ representation across various states.
Notable Latino Victories in Local and State Elections
The Georgia House of Representatives on Wikimedia Commons
Latino candidates saw significant success at various levels of government:
- Analise Ortiz won a seat in Arizona’s State Senate, representing LD-24.
- Delia Ramirez was elected to the U.S. House for Illinois’s 3rd District.
- Darren Soto and Greg Casar both secured re-elections for the U.S. House in Florida and Texas, respectively.
- Carlos Guillermo Smith won a seat in Florida’s State Senate, SD-17.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won another term representing New York’s 14th Congressional District.
- Mary Ann Santos was elected to the Georgia State House, representing HD-117.
- Saira Draper won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, representing HD-90.
- Jackie Espinosa was elected as Mayor of Kissimmee, Florida.
- Gabriella Romero won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 109 (AD-109).
- Kristen Gonzalez was re-elected to the New York State Senate, representing Senate District 59 (SD-59).
- Jessica González-Rojas was re-elected to the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 34 (AD-34).
- Celia Israel was elected as Travis County Tax Assessor and Collector in Texas.
- Carlos Guillermo Smith won a seat in the Florida State Senate, representing Senate District 17 (SD-17).
- Adriano Espaillat was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 13th District (NY-13).
- Jonathan Rivera was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 149 (AD-149).
- Manny De Los Santos won a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing Assembly District 72 (AD-72).
- Emily Randall, an openly LGBTQ+ Latina, won the race for Washington's 6th Congressional District.
These victories highlight the growing political influence of the Latino community and represent a significant step toward more diverse and representative governance at all levels.
The combination of Trump’s re-election, shifts in Latino voter alignment, state-level abortion rights amendments, and historic wins for diverse representation collectively illustrate a transformative election year that will likely shape the U.S. political landscape for years to come.
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