IJURCA: International Journal of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Volume 13 Article 3 APRIL 11, 2020 The Malleable Latina: The Construction of Hispanic Womanhood in Hollywood Eliana Colletti Pace University,
[email protected] Abstract This research studies how Latinas have been characterized in Hollywood movies and television in the past twenty years, questioning who is able to portray Hispanic women, who gets to be considered a Hispanic woman in Hollywood, and what productions look for when casting a “Latina” character. Data analysis includes analysis of films with Latinas as the central characters and the roles Hispanic women play in films. I aim to trace how the perception of Latinas has changed over the past twenty years in film and television in order to highlight the lack of diversity in films and television and to turn the spotlight onto the need for the creation of more realistic stories for Hispanic women. Keywords Latinas, Hollywood, Representation, Hispanic, Diversity Peer Review This work has undergone a double-blind review by a minimum of two faculty members from institutions of higher learning from around the world. The faculty reviewers have expertise in disciplines closely related to those represented by this work. If possible, the work was also reviewed by undergraduates in collaboration with the faculty reviewers. Acknowledgments Thank you so much to my professors, Dr. Emily Bent and Dr. Pamela J. Fuentes for all their support and assistance. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have realized I had the ability to accomplish this. IJURCA | i | Colletti Introduction We need more in art and entertainment that is reflective of the world that we live in.