The Myth of the Latin Woman

by

Judith Ortiz Cofer

Themes and Colors
Gender and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Belonging, Assimilation, and Cultural Heritage Theme Icon
Immigration, Education, and Upward Mobility Theme Icon
Culture, Translation, and Universalism Theme Icon
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Myth of the Latin Woman, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Gender and Stereotypes Theme Icon

In “The Myth of the Latin Woman,” Judith Ortíz Cofer argues that stereotypes of Latina women as hypersexual, uneducated, and submissive perpetuate their marginalization in Anglo-American society. These narratives, Cofer argues, originate in cultural customs from Latin American countries, but they become powerful—and oppressive—cultural tropes that are manipulated and promoted by the Anglo-American media. Cofer describes experiencing throughout her life instances of people with power (particularly those who are male, white, wealthy, or educated) making assumptions about her class and sexual desire because of her race, Puerto Rican heritage, and traditional style of clothing. These stereotypes are so pervasive that they persist across decades, national borders, and cultural environments. For example, Cofer mentions being serenaded with famous songs about Latina women both in England as a graduate student and later in her life and career at a professional event in the United States. Cofer details how, from a young age, Anglo-American men have harassed her, verbally and physically, because they make assumptions about her sexual availability. These stereotypes are not limited to sexualization by men, however: Cofer also recounts a story in which a woman assumes her to be a waitress at Cofer’s own poetry reading, subjecting her to the stereotype that all Latina women work in menial service jobs—a stereotype that has developed because of the unfortunate reality that there are limited employment opportunities available to Spanish-speaking immigrant women. Ultimately, Cofer depicts how neither advanced education, nor perfect English, nor changes in appearance or clothing can protect Latina women from the stereotypes forced onto them when they leave their countries of origin.

Related Themes from Other Texts
Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme…

Gender and Stereotypes ThemeTracker

The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Gender and Stereotypes appears in each chapter of The Myth of the Latin Woman. Click or tap on any chapter to read its Summary & Analysis.
How often theme appears:
chapter length:
Get the entire The Myth of the Latin Woman LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Myth of the Latin Woman PDF

Gender and Stereotypes Quotes in The Myth of the Latin Woman

Below you will find the important quotes in The Myth of the Latin Woman related to the theme of Gender and Stereotypes.
The Myth of the Latin Woman Quotes

Maria had followed me to London, reminding me of a prime fact of my life: you can leave the Island, master the English language, and travel as far as you can, but if you are a Latina, especially one like me who so obviously belongs to Rita Moreno’s gene pool, the Island travels with you.

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker), The Man on the Bus
Related Symbols: María
Page Number: 148
Explanation and Analysis:

But it was painfully obvious to me that to the others, in their tailored skirts and silk blouses, we must have seemed “hopeless” and “vulgar.”

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker)
Page Number: 150
Explanation and Analysis:

It is custom, however, not chromosomes, that leads us to choose scarlet over pale pink.

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker)
Page Number: 150
Explanation and Analysis:

I do understand how things can be lost in translation. When a Puerto Rican girl dressed in her idea of what is attractive meets a man from the mainstream culture who has been trained to react to certain types of clothing as a sexual signal, a clash is likely to take place.

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker)
Page Number: 151
Explanation and Analysis:

[T]o him, I was just an Evita or a María: merely a character in his cartoon-populated universe.

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker), The Man at the Hotel
Related Symbols: María
Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis:

Since I do not wear my diplomas around my neck for all to see, I too have on occasion been sent to that “kitchen,” where some think I obviously belong.

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker)
Page Number: 153
Explanation and Analysis:

Every time I give a reading, I hope the stories I tell, the dreams and fears I examine in my work, can achieve some universal truth which will get my audience past the particulars of my skin color, my accent, or my clothes.

Related Characters: Judith Ortíz Cofer (speaker)
Page Number: 154
Explanation and Analysis: