The Myth of the Latin Woman Essay

In The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met A Girl Named Maria, Judith Ortiz Cofer addresses the problem of racial discrimination. Cofer was grown up with two different cultures. As a Latin Woman, she tries hard to fit in American culture. Cofer discusses how she has been treated due to her identity during her childhood and become an adult. And when facing those embarrassing situations, Cofer treats them with proper manner. Though demonstrating some examples, it is noticed that the Latin Woman were stereotyped as those who can only do simple work.

The concept of identity is usually described as self-image the person we thing we are and self-esteem or self worth, which is concerned with the worth we attach to that

Throughout history, people have been criticized and judged based upon their gender, race, and ethnicity. Till this day people still get looked down upon for these reasons. Many people around the world have shared experiences in which they have been stereotyped. For example, in essay, “ Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples discusses how he is able to alter space because of his gender and race. On the other hand, in her essay,” The Myth of the Latin Woman,” Judith Ortiz discusses an event where she was discriminated against based upon her gender and ethnicity. Both authors discuss personal experiences dealing with gender, race, and ethnicity, however, they do so in different ways. Both authors use very similar techniques

The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria is an essay by Judith Ortiz Cofer. In this essay she writes about her experiences to demonstrate the stereotypes of Latin woman and the struggles they face in America. In Puerto Rican culture it is normal for a girl’s mother to encourage her to look and act like a woman and dress in clothes too “mature” for her age. This is a conflicting message for these young women because they are also kept under scrupulous surveillance, since virtue and modesty are equivalent to their family’s honor. Two Ways to Belong in America tells about how there are two ways to belong in America; legally and to feel you belong. It exhibits this by telling of two sisters who used to think alike, but now share opposing views on their lifestyles. The author, Bharati Mukherjee, is an American citizen who married outside of her Indian culture and has lived all over the United States. Her sister Mira has a green card and does not wish to become an American citizen, even though she has become successful in her contributions in the fields of pre-school education and parent teacher relationships. Mira married an Indian student and they have plans to move back to India when she retires. Out of these two essays, The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria is more effective.

Her parents, first-generation immigrants from Puerto Rico, try to guide her and give her advice, but ultimately the difference in cultures could not be reconciled. What was acceptable and expected in Puerto Rico was not the same as in America, and it showed. Cofer’s mother, when giving Cofer clothing advice, did not realize how different American girls dressed compared to the Puerto Rican girls. The bright lipstick and more revealing clothes that Cofer was encouraged to wear on a day to day basis were not commonplace for American girls. Cofer also did not dress correctly when it came to formal events. Often not knowing what to wear, she would mix and match pieces of clothing and accessories until she found something she thought looked presentable. However, this still was not right. In fact, a friend of hers pointed out that you could always tell Puerto Rican girls apart from the rest of a group because they tended to “wear everything at once.”

The article “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer is about the hardships that Latin women have to go through due to many stereotypes portrayed by the media. Cofer starts out be reliving an experience with a drunk man who re-enacted “Maria” from West Side Story and even though she was aggravated, she tried to keep her cool even though everyone around her was laughing and applauding. She states that growing up in New Jersey, she suffered from “cultural schizophrenia” which meant she had to kept true to her heritage while her friends got to act and dress the way they wanted. Cofer continues by explaining some of the stereotypes, such as the “hot tamale”, that she had to put up with and how men

I do believe that an education can change the view of a latin woman. In a society where your ethnic groups and gender declares your chances in life, an education could be the major differences between being a blue-collar worker or a white and even gold collar worker. The author of “The Myth of the Latin Woman” Judith Ortiz is one of the lucky few that made it out of the vicious cycle that surrounds the uneducated latin women. Since young education is fiercely encourage by the elders of the family no matter the gender but somehow females are pushed a little harder. One grows up knowing the few options that one is left with if one fall behind on the grade scale. Stay at home moms, maids, or any even worse being downgraded to a sex object.

Identity is defined as the characteristics that distinguish a particular person or group of people from others. Most people do not find their identities, until they have become older and more experienced in life. However, there are a few who discover themselves in a shorter amount of time. During life, humans will face some difficult decisions or situations that will help shape them into the individuals they are today, whether these difficulties be beneficial or harmful in the end. For example, death, guilt, love, anger, misunderstanding and many other emotions can contribute to the process of self-discovery.

When people hear the world prejudice, he thinks that refers to racial prejudice among those who have fair skin and those with dark skin. However, prejudice is more than skin color. Prejudice is among gender, religion, culture, geographic origin and race. Prejudice has become a complex problem in our society. In the story "The Myth of the Latin Woman" written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, she discusses how people impose the identity of Latinas as terms of social stereotype. Judith Ortiz is a Latin woman suffering from stereotypes. Although it is an educated woman, prejudice and stereotypes they have followed throughout his career, and aims to prove them wrong. In the documentary ¨Straight Man in a Gay World¨ by the 30 Days serie, it shows us how at the beginning Ryan a heterosexual man prejudiced homosexual people. Ryan is an American boy with a strong religion who must live for 30 days in the homosexual culture. The point of view of Ryan about homosexual is negative because he knows that in the bible says that being a homosexual is wrong. So, he has many prejuice against homosexaul

“The Myth of the Latin Women” was writing by Judith Ortiz Cofer, a women born in Puerto Rico. Ortiz is a person who seems really Passionate about this specific subject. “The Myth of the Latin Women” points out the many stereotypes Latin women go through in their day to day lives. The things that upsets Ortiz is that there are so many people who are not a Latin background that don’t realize the importance of this issue. The main purpose of “The Myth of the Latin Women” is to get people to understand that their words will hurt someone and Ortiz convey this throughout the essay with the use of logos, ethos and pathos.

When people hear the word prejudice, they think that refers to it as a racial prejudice among those who have fair skin and those with dark skin. However, prejudice is more than skin color. Prejudice is among gender, religion, culture, geographic origin and race. Prejudice has become a complex problem in our society. In the story "The Myth of the Latin Woman" written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, she discusses how people impose the identity of Latinas as terms of social stereotype.

Being stereotyped is used in many races, however Judith Ortiz Cofer, a Latin woman, was going to take a stand for the Latin women. Cofer describes her personal experience throughout her lifetime dealing with racial slurs. She also shows the important events and she uses pathos which took place when she was being stereotyped on many different occasions.

“To believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same” is one of many definitions for a stereotype. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary makes it seem like it’s nothing at a;l and something small and innocent when, in all honestly stereotypes are cruel and wrong. Using stereotypes in our daily lives should not be allowed because it causes people to think less of themselves and limit themselves from one 's full potential. Having these stereotypes in our minds really limits our thoughts and opinions about certain things or people. Both essayist Judith Ortiz Cofer, and Brent Staples have personally experienced stereotyping and people thinking wrongly of them. In Cofer’s essay “ The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” and Staples “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Spaces”, they talk about what they have been through with racial stereotyping and what affects it has them, personally. But even with those stereotypes in play they both prove that stereotypes do not determines someone 's future and people are able to prove stereotypes wrong.

After reading “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the reader is able to see that her essay focusses on personal appearance choices which she has compared and contrasted with her own early-life experiences. Based on how an individual appears at first sight, it dictates how others socially judge and stereotype us beyond the “beauty” dimension. For example, an individual may think about what he or she is going to wear when going out to eat at a restaurant. If the individual is going to go Buffalo Wild Wings to dine, obviously he or she is going to wear an outfit that fits them in society’s social norms which is a basic t-shirt, jeans, and shoes. However, if he or she shows up dressed up

1. Identity is people's concepts of who they are, of what sort of people they are, and how