Stereotypes Essay - Grade: A PDF

Preview

Summary

Detailed ...

Description

English 101 Is the Media Really Worth it Mass media play a significant role in a modern world, by broadcasting information in fast pace and giving entertainment to vast audiences. They consist of press, television, radio, books and the Internet. The latter is now the most developing medium, however, TV also has a wide field of influence. By creating a certain type of message, media can manipulate people’s attitude and opinions. People organize their knowledge about the world around them by sorting and simplifying received information. What they witness on the media about stereotypes around the “The Myth of the Latin Woman” shows stereotypes and small acts of racism that still permeate society. Cofer is singled-out in public by perfect strangers simply because of her appearance. As a teenager, her culturally typical dress is leading people to call her a “Hot Tamale”, a common stereotype popularized by the media. Meaning no matter how someone dress even if it's in a cultural wear it's always going to lead to some suspicion as to why is this individual dress this way? Or Who is this individual and what are he/she doing here? Interestingly, these stereotypes of Latina women seem to not only be limited to the United States. Cofer’s experience on the bus in Britain proves that these negative stereotypes are held in other countries as well. Which shows that the negativity of stereotypes can be seen in every countries displaying different actions.

Samaroo 2

The way society characterized a Latin woman as a “Hot Tamale” I feel that I’m characterized differently but in a more worst way as just a Hot Tamale. As Cofer stated the

young lady was just dressed in cultural clothing as was misinterpreted as a “Hot Talama” whereas In today’s society if I decided to dress in my entire religious attire i would be misinterpreted as a “Terrorist” because of recent activities that have been occurring. So knowing that it can easily be stated that ever Middle Eastern or Ever Male in an Islamic sitter or Ever Woman with have her head tied up can be labeled as a “Muslim” which will lead society to think that he/she is a “terrorist” even if some individual do not think this way about other races it all comes down to the mentality and thinking of people to not believe everything that is being show on the media.

Samaroo 3 Works Cited Cofer, Judith Ortiz. “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria.” Many voices, Many Lives. 203-207. Web. Hurston, Zora Neale. “How It Feels to Be Colored Me.” 1-3. Web.

McBride, James. The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother . Riverhead, 2006....