Summer Fierro
Vanderpool/ Engel
11 Feb 2010
Stereotypes
5th hour
Pedro or Jorge?
Sonia Rodriguez is a 15 year old girl in an almost all white High School. She goes from
class to class, dragging her feet and chatting nonstop with her friends, just like any other kid her
age. She texts in class, blows off her homework, and even gossips. However, everyone sees her
differently than the other kids. Sonia acts, walks, and talks just like all of the other kids in her
class. Sonia is Mexican-American and because of this the people in her school have
predetermined opinions about her. They believe her to be an illegal immigrant, to know how to
speak and understand Spanish fluently, to be of the Catholic faith, and to have many brothers and
sisters. Sonia did nothing to make her classmates think these things about her. Her classmates
think these things simply because Sonia is Mexican-American. Why do her classmates think
these things of Mexican-Americans?
Victoria, Sonia’s best friend, and her classmates watch television all the time, are
constantly on the internet, and are immersed in the media daily. This media they are exposed to
tells them what to think about certain people, such as Mexican-Americans like Sonia. In the
media there are many stereotypes that are portrayed as right and even encouraged. The media
Fierro 2
promotes these stereotypes in many different ways: through cartoons, celebrities, comics,
television shows, and even movies.
When I was young I would watch cartoons practically all day long, especially on
Saturdays. One of the cartoons I would watch was called Speedy Gonzales. The main character,
Speedy Gonzales, was “the fastest mouse in all Mexico” (“Speedy Gonzales”). He wore an
oversized yellow sombrero, a white shirt and pants, and a red kerchief. Speedy could run
extremely fast and had an amusing Mexican accent. This was one of the first impressions I, like
many other young children exposed to the media, had of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
The media portrays Speedy as being a typical Mexican-American. Everything this mouse
does, and says, is what the media is saying Mexican-Americans do and say. One way is having
Speedy wear a gigantic yellow sombrero. This tells those subjected to this media that all
Mexicans, and Mexican-Americans alike, own and often wear sombreros. Another way
Mexican-American stereotypes are promoted through Speedy is his heavy Mexican accent.
Speedy Gonzales’ accent portrays to the public that all people of Mexican decent have this heavy
accent. The last way the media shows these stereotypes is through the way Speedy speaks. While
trying to outsmart Sylvester the cat Speedy will shout things like “¡Andale! ¡Andale! ¡Arriba!
¡Arriba!” (“Speedy Gonzales”). This shouting in Spanish tells the public to assume that all
people of Mexican decent can understand and fluently speak Spanish.
Many people look up to and admire celebrities in the spotlight. Some believe that
however these celebrities are is the way everyday people should be. These celebrities are subject
to the media by way of paparazzi, newspapers, and magazines. Media can say basically whatever
they want about these celebrities, regardless of the truth, because of freedom of speech and
Fierro 3
freedom of press. What is said about these celebrities is often twisted to make it seem as if
stereotypes about certain groups of people are true.
One way this is happening is with the New York Jets’ new quarterback, Mark Sanchez.
As a third generation Mexican-American, Mark was born in the Unites States. Yet still the media
insists on hounding Sanchez, along with his team, as to whether he is a legal citizen, and eligible
to play in the NFL. “But amid the accolades for rookie QB Mark Sanchez came vicious rumors
that he was not an American citizen and, therefore, was ineligible to work in the United States”
(Knoblockhead). The media continues to hound Mark Sanchez about his eligibility to work in the
United States. This media is pinning Sanchez with the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans, and
by doing it so, publicly promoting the idea that all Mexican-Americans are illegal immigrants.
Mark Sanchez has even gone to certain lengths to disprove these vicious rumors.
Hoping to dispel the rumors Sanchez agreed to send a copy of his birth
certificate to an unbiased third party. However, even though the wellrespected site declared the document to be valid, other television and
radio hosts have flocked to the issue (Knoblockhead).
Even though it has been proven Sanchez is a legal United States citizen these rumors
persist. This is how the media promotes stereotypes of Mexican-Americans.
Everyday people, with a few exceptions, do not necessarily think for themselves. They
watch television, surf the internet, watch the news, and read the paper for their information. The
problem is imbedded within all of these different sources for their daily updates on the world are
stereotypes. Dumb blondes, African-Americans living in “the ghetto”, and Mexican-Americans
always speaking Spanish are shown to them everyday in commercials, ads, and articles. “When I
Fierro 4
come across the popular media’s and marketer’s attempts to homogenize us as an ethnic group
and try to define that one voice for their own benefit and their own sense of feeling that they
have us figured out, I can only shake my head and laugh” (AlDesmadre). The media promotes
these kinds of stereotypes to the general public.
Figure 1
All over the internet any one person can find many different pictures. Be it via Google,
Yahoo, or Bing it is fairly easy to just type in the name of the type of picture that is wanted and
come up with many different versions of said picture. The media, via online search engines,
promotes many different stereotypes in this way. To prove my point I typed ‘Mexican’ into
Google to see what kind of a picture I would receive. After hitting the search button I came up
with many different versions of Mexicans. The picture found above in figure one however,
intrigued me the most.
Fierro 5
In the picture above a very stereotypical Mexican, and also mexican-american, is
depicted. Notice how this man has a sombrero on his head that is probably about three times the
size of his head (Cartoon). This shows the audience of this picture that all mexican-americans
wear and own huge sombreros. This man also has a very dark skin tone. His skin tone is
stereotyping all mexican-americans as having dark skin. Next this ‘Mexican’ is wearing sandals.
This is telling the audience that mexican-americans are poor and do not have enough money to
buy proper shoes to cover their feet. Even something as simple as a picture found on a search
engine can influence a stereotype. This is just one of the many ways the media uses to promote
the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans.
Figure 2
Fierro 6
One very effective way the media can promote stereotypes or views on specific topics is
political cartoons. The political cartoon above in figure two is called “Sanctuaries of North
America”. In this cartoon the artist is describing different mammals that can be found in North
America. First he/she shows black-footed ferrets, which are the least populous. Next the artist
shows gray wolves and then grizzly bears, the next two populous. Lastly, he/she shows a
mammal in which he/she believes to be the most populous of North America, illegal aliens.
This political cartoon is implying that Mexicans, and Mexican-Americans, are these
described illegal aliens. However, by implying that they are the illegal aliens depicted in this
political cartoon is also promoting a stereotype of Mexican-Americans. The stereotype this artist
is promoting in their cartoon is that all Mexican-Americans are illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Pictures and cartoons that portray and promote stereotypes, like this one, are plastered all over
the internet. This very popular source of media, the internet, is promoting the stereotypes of
Mexican-Americans.
While promoting Mexican-American stereotypes the media is not limited to the internet,
celebrities, and cartoons. Another vessel the media uses to portray these stereotypes is newspaper
articles. Sometimes these articles are not necessarily agreeing with Mexican-American
stereotypes. However, by mentioning these stereotypes and discussing them in detail, the media
actually ends up introducing to and promoting them to the somewhat otherwise ignorant public.
A particular example of this type of article is called “Satirical play lampoons MexicanAmerican stereotypes”. This article describes a play that can be seen performed on the streets of
Texas called “Los Vendidos”. In this play written by Luis Valdez there is a Used Mexican Lot
and Mexican Curio Shop which sells ‘mechanical Mexicans’. “Los Vendidos” stereotypes
Fierro 7
Mexican-Americans in this Used Mexican Lot. “In the sketch that follows, Valdez skewers
stereotypes and prejudices within and outside the Mexican-American community, addressing the
question of what, exactly, a Mexican-American is” (Elbein). In this article the author describes
how this play is showing the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans in order to discourage them. In
“Los Vendidos” the stereotype are shown in a way that makes the play amusing, yet informs the
audience of the hurt these types of stereotypes cause. While the idea for this article is honest, the
article itself ends up elevating these stereotypes of Mexican-Americans. The media, including
newspapers and their articles, promote the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans.
There are hundreds of sources for the media to use in the process of promoting
stereotypes. One very effective way the media uses to promote Mexican-Americans is popular
television shows. These shows, most of them for humor, show situations in which the characters
believe in or help in the promoting of major stereotypes. For instance they may show a blonde
being really dumb, a redneck with chewing tobacco in his mouth, or a Mexican jumping a fence
and/or a border.
One of these major shows that promotes many different stereotypes is Family Guy. This
show is an animated series in which the main character, Peter, gets himself in many random and
sometimes unbelievable situations. There are at least 15 to 20 stereotypes in every episode.
Family Guy uses these stereotypes as a main source for the humor in the show. Any type of
stereotype, from rednecks to African Americans to even the pope, can be found in an episode of
Family Guy.
In one episode Peter and a couple of his neighbors are hanging out at a bar. Him, Joe-a
paralyzed cop, Cleveland-the stereotypical African American, and Quagmire-a white sex-addict
are sitting around a table with nothing to do. At the beginning of this scene Peter suggests that
Fierro 8
they all play a game called “I never”. In the game a person tells something that they have never
done, and if anyone has done it, he has to take a drink of his alcohol. Near the end of the game
Quagmire is losing terribly and it is Joe’s turn. “I never picked up an illegal alien from Home
Depot...” (MacFarlane).
Joe Swanson is saying that all Mexican-Americans are illegal aliens who jumped the
border. Also in this same sentence Joe is saying that these ‘illegal alien’ Mexican-Americans
also stand outside of Home Depot in order to do anything for cheap. In putting this specific
phrase in their script Family Guy is promoting the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans. They are
basically telling their audience that it is ok to think these stereotypes are one-hundred percent
true. The media, in this case using television shows, is promoting Mexican-American
stereotypes.
The media is not entirely cartoons, television, celebrities, and the internet. Other forms of
media can be scholarly. These are things like research papers, dissertations, and scholarly reports
from people with degrees. All of these sources from the media can and are used to promote
stereotypes of Mexican-Americans. One of these research papers is Stereotypes, Emotions,
Behaviors, and Overall Attitudes towards Hispanics by Anglos (Jackson).
In this research report (her tenth) Linda A. Jackson describes the types of things that
Anglos, or white/Caucasian people, think and believe about Hispanics, and also MexicanAmericans. This group of people, as viewed by a general study of Anglos, is viewed as lazy,
cruel, and ignorant. Mexican-Americans are also perceived as very family-oriented. This is based
on a stereotype that Mexican-Americans have or will have large families with many children.
Fierro 9
The purpose of Linda Jackson’s research paper was to simply study the views that Anglos
have about Hispanics. To point out how their emotions about, behaviors, and behaviors towards
Hispanics are deeply rooted in stereotypes. Although in her paper Jackson does not directly
promote these stereotypes she does not discourage them either. While her scholarly research
paper was informational and exemplary in theory Jackson ends up promoting Mexican-American
stereotypes. Also through research papers, the media is promoting Mexican-American
stereotypes.
Blogs, much like posting a note on Facebook, are a popular way for some people to post
what they think or even sometimes their own personal work. These bloggers post things such as
short stories, articles, and sometimes poems. While these are everyday people posting these it is
all over the internet and is basically media. A poem that was posted that promotes MexicanAmerican stereotypes is called “A Mexican’s American Dream” (JorgeST).
There are multiple ways in which this poem promotes Mexican-American stereotypes.
Even before the poem is read, the bloggers screen name is very stereotypical. ‘Jorge’ is a very
typical name for a Mexican, and even a Mexican-American. With this bloggers screen name
being that it tells other internet frequenters that maybe the stereotype is in fact true. Also, once it
is read, the poem promotes Mexican-American stereotypes.
“Why am I being judge for crossing a country's border when the sun and moon do the same
and just like them I'm doing it to help that's why I carry no blame” (JorgeST). In his very
personal poem ‘JoregeST’ admits that he crossed the Mexican-United States border illegally.
While it is appreciated that this stranger would be so honest in his poem, it also promotes a
stereotype. ‘JorgeST’ probably really did come to this country illegally, but him telling the
whole internet this in his poem will also reinforce the stereotype that all Mexican-Americans
Fierro 10
are illegal aliens who crossed the border. Poetry, also acting as a source for the media,
promotes the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans.
Another very popular way the media promotes Mexican-American stereotypes is
through music. There are hundreds of thousands of millions of songs in the world and yet
there are a specific group related to Mexican-Americans. People related a couple of specific
songs to Mexican-Americans. These songs are: “La Cucaracha”, “La Bamba”, and “Feliz
Navidad” (“Mexican Music”). While some Mexican-Americans may love these songs and even
know them by heart not all of them do. Saying all Mexican-Americans know by heart and love
these songs is a stereotype that is promoted by the media. The media promotes MexicanAmerican stereotypes.
Movies are very popular in today’s world. Celebrities become famous from them,
millions of people go to see them, and some fanatics even live their life by them. Almost if not
all movies promote at least one stereotype. Mexican-American stereotypes are especially
promoted in the movies of nowadays. One movie in particular that heavily promotes the
stereotypes of Mexican-Americans is Napoleon Dynamite.
This movie is about a boy in High School named Napoleon, played by Jon Heder.
Throughout the movie Napoleon is shown in many situations. In one situation his friend Pedro, a
stereotypical Mexican-American, is thinking about running for class president. As an idea for a
campaign Pedro decides to make a piñata in the form of his running opponent, Summer.
Naturally Pedro gets in trouble at his school for making the piñata look like Summer. When he’s
speaking to his principal Pedro says “We do it all the time in my country...” (Napoleon
Dynamite). The first stereotype in this scene is the piñata. This movie is saying to the public that
all Mexican-Americans use piñatas for everything. Next when Pedro is speaking to his principal
Fierro 11
he has a very stereotypical accent. The media, in the form of movies promotes stereotypes about
Mexican-Americans.
The media is a major factor in most everyone’s life. Whether they are exposed to the
media via the internet, television, movies, newspapers, or music the general public is exposed to
the media nearly all of the time. The public believes just about everything they read, see, or hear
from the media. The public is very exposed to stereotypes because of this media. The media
promotes stereotypes of Mexican-Americans. By being exposed to this much media most of the
public believes in this stereotype. So the real question is what are most Mexican-Americans
named, Pedro or Jorge?
Fierro 12
Works Cited
AlDesmadre. "13 Common Myths, Misconceptions & Stereotypes About Mexican-Americans."
LA Eastside. 19 Sept. 2008. Web. 08 Feb. 2010. <http://laeastside.com/2008/09/13common-myths-misconceptions-stereotypes-about-mexican-americans/>.
Cartoon. Wordpress.com. Yuri S, 27 Feb. 2009. Web. 23 Feb. 2010.
Elbein, Saul. "Satirical play lampoons Mexican-American stereotypes." The Daily Texan. 11 Oct.
2007. Web. 8 Feb. 2010. <http://www.dailytexan.com/life-arts/satirical-play-lampoonsmexican-american-stereotypes-1.954099>.
Jackson, Linda A. Stereotypes, Emotions, Behavior, and Overall Attitudes Towards Hispanics by
Anglos. Rep. Jan. 1995. Web. 26 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.jsri.msu.edu/RandS/research/irr/rr10.pdf>.
JorgeST. "A Mexican's American Dream." Web log post. Allpoetry.com. All Poetry, 01 Apr. 2009.
Web. 27 Feb. 2010. <http://allpoetry.com/poem/4964839>.
Knoblockhead, Chuck. "Mark Sanchez: Illegal Immigrant?" Web log post. Stylepointsblog.com.
24 Sept. 2009. Web. 08 Feb. 2010. <http://stylepointsblog.com/2009/09/mark-sanchezillegal-immigrant/#more-4859>.
MacFarlane, Seth. "Family Guy." Family Guy. Fox. Television.
Fierro 13
"Mexican Music Ranchera | Un Chingo de Gringo Lingo from Mexico." Un chingo de gringo lingo
from Mexico. Web. 28 Feb. 2010. <http://chingodegringolingo.com/?p=254>.
Napoleon Dynamite. Dir. Jared Hess. Perf. Jon Heder. 2004. DVD.
"Sanctuaries of N. America." Cartoon. Cartoonstock.com. Web. 23 Feb. 2010.
"Speedy Gonzales." Wikipedia. 30 Jan. 2010. Web. 08 Feb. 2010.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedy_Gonzales>.