“The Myth of the Latin Woman” recounts Judith Ortíz Cofer’s experiences of stereotypes of Latina women in the United States, from her childhood as a Puerto Rican immigrant in New Jersey to her later life as a successful writer and professor. The narrative shifts back and forth from earlier memories to Judith’s contemporary reflections.
While Judith is a graduate student in England, a man serenades her with a rendition of “María” from West Side Story, making her feel stereotyped and uncomfortable but unable to express her unhappiness. As a child in New Jersey and Puerto Rico, Judith recalls learning conflicting cultural messages about femininity and self-expression. Behavior that was considered appropriate in Puerto Rico was interpreted as sexual promiscuity in the United States; clothing considered formal by her family was considered excessive by her white peers.
Cultural stereotypes perpetuated by Anglo-American media create and reinforce an image of Latina women as fiery and hypersexual. As a result, Latina women in the United States often experience harassment and unwanted sexual advances. Another common stereotype is that Latina women are best suited to work as domestic servants or other menial jobs. This stereotype reflects the limited opportunities for advancement for immigrants with restricted skills and language abilities and prevents Latina women from advancing.
While experiences of discrimination and stereotyping are less severe for educated or professionally successful Latina women, Judith still faces discrimination as an adult because of these stereotypes. At a conference, another man sings lewd songs about Latina women to her, and at her first poetry reading, a woman in the audience assumes she is a waitress. These experiences inspire Judith’s work as a writer, motivating her to change stereotypes of Latina women by depicting the complexities of their lives.
