Latino Representation and Stereotypes in Media

As humans, we connect through stories. When we share them, we can relate to our shared experiences. It's important to see yourself on the big screen or small screen. It reminds you that you're not alone. Social media posts often focus on positivity and highlight good memorable moments. However, life isn't always perfect and that is ok. With an increasing number of people having mental health issues, we must address reality in the content we share. 

As storytellers, creators, and media makers, we must create content that resonates with audiences and moves society forward. Media has various uses. As a former film school student, I studied the different perceptions and usage of film. Some believe that film is meant for entertainment to distract us from reality. We go to the movies to get lost in a different world. Others believe it's a tool that comments about our human experience. I remember being asked what I believed films were meant to do. I believe this is not a black-and-white situation. Media and storytelling are powerful and can be used as a powerful tool to communicate, connect, and even manipulate. It is very dangerous when used with malicious intent.

Therefore, as media creators, we have a responsibility to produce honest media. That is a media that highlights true authentic experiences that accurately reflect the subject. Representation is a complex topic because when we talk about representation we talk about seeing a story that represents our human experiences. A story and characters that we can see ourselves in their shoes. As humans, we all have individuality which makes our story different from others. We can relate to common struggles and experiences but not everyone believes the same things or acts the same way. For example, we cannot encapsulate our stories and say that this is what it means to be Mexican. There is no one type of Mexican and there is no one type of Latino.

Stereotypes of Latinos in American-made media content have often represented us as blue-collar workers. We are represented as the Gardeners, Maids, Farmworkers, Waiters, etc. Google defines stereotypes as, "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing". It's understandable that as Latinos we want a change in how our stories are represented. We are more than a simple and common image that the media has created. Future generations need to be shown that they can be more than what others perceive of them.

So why did we make a film, This Side of the Fence, that portrays a character who is representing those stereotypes? We asked ourselves the same question and thought about it long and hard. We believe that it was important to showcase reality. We did portray a young man who was a gardener and a waiter, but he was also a student, a son, and a friend. Immigrant parents aspire for their children to be successful and to not have to go through the same struggles they've endured. They value education and job security as a key to a successful life.

As a Mexican-American, a child of immigrants, and a first-generation college graduate, I can say that we face difficult identity challenges as we go on to pursue higher education and enter the job market. We struggle everywhere we go because we are told that we are not American enough in the US and in Mexico we are not Mexican. We will never satisfy a category or fit into people's expectations and that is ok. We aren't meant to fit in boxes and my story may be different from my neighbors. We believe it is important to show that where you are today is not your final destination. You should be proud of what you have accomplished and  keep fighting however that looks like. After making this film, I realized that this story was not too different from other successful Hollywood films released after. A Million Miles Away (2023) tells the story of Mexican-American Astronaut José M. Hernandez who went from the farm fields to space. Flamming Hot (2023) tells the story of Ricardo Montañez who went from janitor to executive. Our short story takes our protagonist from being a waiter and gardener to being a Pediatric Doctor.

OUR SHORT FILM

In This Side of the Fence, Miguel is a DREAMER; he is an undocumented college student. He's faced with common immigrant struggles as he faces the deportation of his ill mother. Miguel is left alone in the US fighting to fulfill the American dream. He's a student, but he still has to work to get through school. He doesn't have the same opportunities as others, so he works hard as a gardener and waiter. It was important to show that where you are today is not your final destination. It is a part of the journey and we shouldn't be ashamed of it. In a world of altered realities on social media where it seems like everyone is happy and has life figured out, we must present real life and remind ourselves that we are not alone. If we are bold to share our story and put our content out people will watch it and support it. Latinos have a large impact on the US economy. We need authentic representations of our Latino stories in media that do not feed stereotypes, but instead make us proud of our identity.

Watch the Short Film HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-AcPpmAC80