Mainstreaming Contribution of the Media in the Disintegration of the Hispanic Community

Hispanic identity is a spectrum. There are numerous cultures and ethnicities that compose the Latin American identity. Representations of Latinos and Hispanics on American television are limited and reflect cultural bias. There are rarely depictions of successful Hispanic business owners or as government agents/employees. Only in the past few decades has attention be formally paid to the quality and quantity of Latino representations in American media. Representations of this group have increased since the late 20th century, yet there are still relatively scarce representations of Latinos, and many of the ones that are present are stereotypical. Stereotypical depictions of Latin Americans on television impact non-Latinos' perceptions and attitudes toward Hispanics. Hispanics are affected by media representations of their heritage that results in a reshaping of the cultural identity and potentially harming the self-esteem of Hispanic people. Other Hispanics, unable to relate or enjoy the limited and denigrating representations of their people refrain from consuming media in large portions or altogether. The American media contributes to the erosion of the Hispanic community and the Hispanic identity.

As a Latino, it is important for me to examine and consider representations of my culture in popular forms of media. While of course each person has the power to make his/her own decisions,...

This is a reason why the representations of Hispanics in the media are a concern.
Evidence accumulated over the past 3 decades indicates that television exposure has a far-reaching impact on young audiences. With its appealing visual images, dynamic character portrayals, and provocative messages, television has emerged as a powerful agent of socialization, shaping adolescent's knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the world. Its social lessons are not always benevolent, however. Indeed, a growing body of research indicates that frequent exposure to television is associated with increased aggression and tolerance of aggression…stereotypical attitudes about gender and sexuality…distorted perceptions of real world roles…and poor body image…Moreover, because television teaches not only by what it shows, but also by what it does not show…concern is frequently expressed that the lack of representation of various social groups, such as ethnic minorities, might negatively affect young viewers. (Ward et al., Distorted Reflections, Page 262 -- 263)

This is an important reason to examine cultural media representations as well as media representations gender, especially in America. Americans have demonstrated a distinct and prominent habit of acting and thinking based on the media representations of cultures they do not belong to (depending on…