In “Intersectionality,” Dr. Vivian May includes leading feminist scholars’ definitions of the term intersectionality, as well as her interpretations of what the word signifies. May refers to intersectionality as a “consideration of marginalization regarding lived experience and social structure” (81). While, in a TED Talk, Dr. Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw describes intersectionality as “oppressive institutions (like sexism and racism) overlapping and creating multiple levels of social injustice” (2016). Furthermore, Dr. Williams Crenshaw interprets intersectionality, in regards to Emma DeGraffenreid, an African American woman who experienced race and gender discrimination in a local car manufacturing plant, as a “crossroad” in which race and
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The preferred “look” for an actress is Ladina (a combination of Indigenous and Spaniard attributes) or Anglo-Saxon characteristics. Because of the industry’s fascination with whiteness, Afro-Latina and Indigenous actresses are overlooked and remain confined to cliché roles throughout their career. For example, both Julia Marichal, an Afro-Latina actress who is now deceased, and Monica Miguel, an Indigenous actress have had careers that spanned decades; however, due to the racial bias and discrimination in Telenovelas, these women were restricted to servitude portrayals (maid, nanny, cook, etc). Marichal and Miguel are victims of the racism that lies within the Telenovela …show more content…
Consider, Walter Diaz, an Afro-Latino actor who landed the lead role in a Columbian Telenovela, Adrián está de visita (Adrian is Visiting). Diaz portrayed a man seeking vengeance towards his white family. However, as he learns his family’s secrets, Diaz ceased revenge and learns forgiveness which ultimately teaches him strength. Mexican actors with indigenous attributes like Fernando Colunga and Eduardo Palomo (now deceased) have starred in multiple lead roles and even won prestigious awards. The hierarchy present in Telenovelas exemplified Cicely Tyson’s quote in an American television show. Tyson is a well-known African American actress in the American movie industry who described black women’s struggle as, “white men are at the top of the chain, next are white women, following are black men, and black women complete the bottom of the chain” (Oprah’s Master Class). Tyson’s statement explicitly depicts the struggle of Afro-Latina and Indigenous women seeking recognition in the Telenovela
The preferred “look” for an actress is Ladina (a combination of Indigenous and Spaniard attributes) or Anglo-Saxon characteristics. Because of the industry’s fascination with whiteness, Afro-Latina and Indigenous actresses are overlooked and remain confined to cliché roles throughout their career. For example, both Julia Marichal, an Afro-Latina actress who is now deceased, and Monica Miguel, an Indigenous actress have had careers that spanned decades; however, due to the racial bias and discrimination in Telenovelas, these women were restricted to servitude portrayals (maid, nanny, cook, etc). Marichal and Miguel are victims of the racism that lies within the Telenovela …show more content…
Consider, Walter Diaz, an Afro-Latino actor who landed the lead role in a Columbian Telenovela, Adrián está de visita (Adrian is Visiting). Diaz portrayed a man seeking vengeance towards his white family. However, as he learns his family’s secrets, Diaz ceased revenge and learns forgiveness which ultimately teaches him strength. Mexican actors with indigenous attributes like Fernando Colunga and Eduardo Palomo (now deceased) have starred in multiple lead roles and even won prestigious awards. The hierarchy present in Telenovelas exemplified Cicely Tyson’s quote in an American television show. Tyson is a well-known African American actress in the American movie industry who described black women’s struggle as, “white men are at the top of the chain, next are white women, following are black men, and black women complete the bottom of the chain” (Oprah’s Master Class). Tyson’s statement explicitly depicts the struggle of Afro-Latina and Indigenous women seeking recognition in the Telenovela