I recently read an article about the representation of the Latino community in the media. There is definitely an underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Latinos, especially in film and TV. According to the article, it said that the Media, Diversity, and Social Change Initiative's 2014 Report stated that Latinos made up only 4.9% of characters in film.
Latino women are more likely to be shown nude or partially unclothed. Latino women are portrayed very sensual in movies. For example, Salma Hayek's character in the film "From Dusk Till Dawn" (directed by Robert Rodriguez) is shown dancing erotically, with only her undergarments on.
Not only Latino women, but also Latino men. Latino men are also dressed in tight or revealing clothing to accentuate their bodies. Diego Luna in "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" (directed by Guy Ferland) plays a young man from Cuba, who dances exceptionally almost every time wearing a tight tank top.
Latino men and women are not only portrayed very sexually, but given negative portrayals as well. Latino characters are consistently given negative portrayals. Some are portrayed as gardeners like the character Sam in "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (directed by Raja Gosnell), played by Manolo Cardona. He also wears tight clothing.
Another stereotypically negative role, is the role of maids. Jennifer Lopez plays a young woman struck of the hardships of being a maid for a big top hotel in "Maid in Manhattan"(directed by Wayne Wang).
In addition, Latinos are mostly given criminal roles too. Al Pacino in "Scarface"(directed by Brian De Palma) depicts a Cuban immigrant who's trying to make it big in America by selling drugs and doing crime, becoming a huge drug lord.
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