Judith Ortíz Cofer
Judith, the writer and narrator of the essay, describes her personal experiences of discrimination as a Latina woman and the historical and sociological origins of stereotypes of Latina women. As a child, Judith immigrates…
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The Man at the Hotel
An older white man in a tuxedo encounters Judith at a professional conference. He repeatedly exclaims at her, shouting “Evita!” and singing multiple songs about Latina women, including one that is profane. His performance prompts…
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Minor Characters
The Man on the Bus
A drunken Irish man sings “María” to Judith on a bus in England. He reminds Judith that stereotypes of Latina women exist not only in the U.S., but also throughout the whole Anglo-American world.
The Boy at the Dance
A boy at Judith’s first formal dance makes her feel stereotyped as hypersexual for the first time. When he kisses Judith and she seems unenthusiastic, he expresses surprise because he believes that Latina girls are supposed to be promiscuous from a young age.
