Through her written work in The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria, Judith Ortiz Cofer expresses her experiences thus far in America as a Puerto Rican immigrant. She shares how the differences between her traditions and culture and those of Americans caus her to not feel a sense of belonging among others in the United States. The differences provoke stereotypes that Cofer is not able to escape, no matter what she accomplishes in life. These stereotypes are a direct result of how Latin women are portrayed in the media, books, and movies. However, these sources are not always culturally and traditionally correct and often create a false image and interpretation of the Puerto Rican or Latin Culture. Cofer also makes a
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She illustrates that a typical everyday outfit consists of “tight skirts and jingling bracelets”(105) which men usually interpret as a come-on. She also describes that the American’s dress in “tailored skirts and silky blouses.”(105) These images allow the reader to better visualize the differences between common apparel amongst Americans and Puerto Ricans. Cofer emphasizes the image placed on Puerto Rican women to be that of “smoldering”, “sizzling”, and “Hot Tamales”(105). The author strategically chooses to use these adjectives to encourage the reader to picture a sexually appealing image in their head when referring to Puerto Rican women. Furthermore, to solidify the idea that she will always be stereotyped no matter what, Cofer writes “a middle-aged man in a tuxedo, a young girl in satin and lace on his arm...With his champagne glass extended toward me, he exclaimed, “Evita!””(107). The reference to the tuxedo, satin and lace, and champagne glass allows the reader to visualize wealthy and privileged people approaching Cofer to fetch them another drink, thinking that she is a waitress rather and a guest at the
She illustrates that a typical everyday outfit consists of “tight skirts and jingling bracelets”(105) which men usually interpret as a come-on. She also describes that the American’s dress in “tailored skirts and silky blouses.”(105) These images allow the reader to better visualize the differences between common apparel amongst Americans and Puerto Ricans. Cofer emphasizes the image placed on Puerto Rican women to be that of “smoldering”, “sizzling”, and “Hot Tamales”(105). The author strategically chooses to use these adjectives to encourage the reader to picture a sexually appealing image in their head when referring to Puerto Rican women. Furthermore, to solidify the idea that she will always be stereotyped no matter what, Cofer writes “a middle-aged man in a tuxedo, a young girl in satin and lace on his arm...With his champagne glass extended toward me, he exclaimed, “Evita!””(107). The reference to the tuxedo, satin and lace, and champagne glass allows the reader to visualize wealthy and privileged people approaching Cofer to fetch them another drink, thinking that she is a waitress rather and a guest at the