MORE THAN BIBI, SELENA, JUAN, AND VICENTE: MEDIA’S RACIAL FORMATION OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS’ GENDER IDENTITY A Dissertation by ARLETT SOPHIA LOMELI Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Rogelio Saenz Co-Committee Chair, Joseph Jewell Committee Members, Holly Foster Sarah Gatson Antonio La Pastina Head of Department, Jane Sell May 2015 Major Subject: Sociology Copyright 2015 Arlett Sophia Lomeli ABSTRACT This dissertation analyzes the gendered racialization of identities of Mexican immigrants in the media and focuses on how newspapers in particular provide a significant platform in which to reinforce, transform and/or challenge historic depictions of immigrant identities. Through the use of the Ethnographic Content Analysis protocol, Critical Discourse Analysis, and the intersectional theories composited by Omi and Winant’s Racial formation theory with Patricia Collin’s family social hierarchies, this dissertation provides a connection of racialization from individual gender depictions and family gender-roles to group generalizations. Selecting three Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas newspapers, this dissertation examines how urban/rural locations along the U.S. and Mexico border portray Mexican immigrants and immigration policy during the 2012 presidential election. This dissertation recognizes Mexican immigrants’ identity is primarily gender neutral, but once further data is reviewed, women have gained visibility. However, such gendered depictions of both, Mexican immigrant men and women have continued to reinforce the racialized portrayal through their discussed gendered-family and occupational roles. This dissertation explains while men and women are depicted differently, media continues to define Mexican immigrant identity under late capitalism through multi-layered writing techniques (frames, metaphors, and stereotypes), which establish a singular and often one-dimensional identity of minority groups through individual news stories. ii DEDICATION I dedicate my dissertation to my family and friends in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Mexico who have been there each step of the way during the good, the bad, the ups, and definitely the downs. A special dedication to God, whom without the light provided, I could not shine. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A very sincere thank you to my committee co-chairs and members, both past and present: Dr. Saenz, Dr. Jewell, Dr. Foster, Dr. Gatson, Dr. La Pastina, Dr. McIntosh, Dr. Portales, and Dr. Ramasubramarian, for their support and encouragement. I am grateful to have been able to work with you during this journey. I would like to say a special thanks to my committee co-chairs; Dr. Saenz, thank you for the inspiration to shoot higher than I would have ever dreamed of by beginning and completing the doctoral program, and Dr. Jewell, a resounding thank you for believing in my abilities and challenging me to grow as a scholar and an academic. Dr. Sell, many thanks for each and every moment of your time and blessings, words cannot express my gratitude. Thank you to Christi Ramirez for always going above and beyond the call of duty. A warm thanks to my colleagues, department faculty, and university staff for allowing me the privilege to be apart of such a strong, guiding family away from home at Texas A&M University. To the Lechner Grant, thank you for your support, which allowed me to complete my data collection. To my friends, Rob Carley, Jennifer Guillen, Hilario Molina, Daniel Delgado, and Claudia Rocha, thank you for your guidance and encouragement through this journey. To my friends in the various writing groups who met at the coffee shops, the libraries, and that famous blue spot, thank you for working with me through every 45- minute pomodoro session. To my life-long friends, Mai Lee, Christina, Edith, Maggie, Janie, Paula, Cindy, Samuel, Lupe, Randy, Alfonzo, and all of their families, thank you iv for your words, inspiration, and loving reminders of staying in la lucha. My people los quiero mucho. To all of my teachers and professors along the way, I could not do what I do now, if it wasn’t for your dedication to teaching and your belief in my abilities to grow as a student. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but you all allowed me the ability to improve and excel above any of my expectations. A special thank you to Mr. Meissner, Mrs. Meissner, Mr. Demo, Mr. Gill, Ms. Pachecho, Ms. Davis, Ms. Power, Ms. Metke, Ms. Harwell, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Arredondo, Mr. Chapman, Dr. Richardson, Dr. Su, Dr. Wang, Dr. Bastida, Dr. Himmel, Dr. Hinojosa, Dr. Rajapoot, and Dr. Selber. Before the start of my doctoral program, these teachers and professors gave me the best environments for learning I could ask for. Thank you to Ms. Chamberlin who mentored me in my final semester at UT-PA and especially Mr. Jesse Medina who would go beyond his job duties to help students and staff, as was the case with me too, with guidance and a friendly word. An overwhelming thank you to all of my family whom are near, far, and no longer with us. Especially, my dearly departed, Tía Abuelita Agustina, Abuelito Marin, Abuelito Toño, Tío Benito, Tío Felipen, mí primo Alex, mí gran amigo Javier, and our Bestie, Belinda. This process has meant the world to me, but especially because of the love and support I have received from each and every one of you during each step of the way. Thank you to my father, Antonio Lomelí for believing in me and always challenging me to keep growing into the impossible. The most sincere Gracias to my mother, Sofia, and siblings, Ayisha, and Ascary, as well as their significant others, Ron v and Sandra, I could not ask for a more loving family who has been there for me at each and every moment. Finally, to all of my nieces and nephews, Kyara, Kayllie, Tanner, Jariath, and Aluma, thank you corazones for your loving words, the best hugs, and wonderful smiles. Words can never be enough to explain how grateful I am for each one of you and the wonderful gifts of knowledge and support you shared with me. Thank you to all, WE did it. Si se pudo! vi NOMENCLATURE LRGV Lower Rio Grande Valley CDA Critical Discourse Analysis ECA Ethnographic Content Analysis vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv NOMENCLATURE .......................................................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ xi LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Border Experience: Mexico to U.S.A ..................................................................... 1 Chapter Overview .................................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 11 Introducing Race ................................................................................................... 11 Media: Site of Racial Formation ........................................................................... 17 Racialization of Mexican Immigrants ................................................................... 18 Newspaper’s Involvement with Racialization of Mexican Immigrants .... 19 Understanding the Newspaper’s Dynamics .......................................................... 20 Frames ....................................................................................................... 20 Stereotypes ................................................................................................ 21 Metaphors .................................................................................................. 22 Intersectionality of Gender and Race in Racial Formation within Media Images of Immigration and Immigrants ................................................................ 25 Immigration and Citizenship ..................................................................... 25 Media Discussion of Immigration and Class ............................................ 27 Criminalization of Immigration ................................................................. 30 Media and Immigration Gender Discussions ............................................ 32 Men ................................................................................................ 35 Fatherhood, Sexuality, and Changes ................................. 36 Women .......................................................................................... 38 Historical Images ............................................................... 38 Pelonas y Pachucas ............................................................ 42 viii Contemporary Identity .....................................................