America's view on Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans in the Census
- White racial status but rarely treated as White
- second-class citizens, low-status positions as laborers
- the Mexican origin population includes many persons born in the United States
- still: perception of all Mexican Americans as low status immigrants
- disadvantages, viewed as alien and low status
- 1980s: legal entry to the US by Mexicans almost impossible
- forced to enter without proper documentation
- in the eyes of many White Americans, all Mexicans are “illegal” and all “illegals” are Mexican
- 1930 census: Mexican listed as a racial category
- definitions for Mexican people have shifted significantly over the years
- Mexican as a race, to Mexicans as White, to Mexicans as any race
- many Mexicans naming Mexican as their race
The term "Mexican"
- is Mexican a racial category?
- are Mexicans white or non white?
- popular understanding: Mexican is a racial category
- official definition: Mexican is an ethnic group and Mexicans can be of any race
- racial heritage of Mexicans is mixed
- https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/mexico,the-uk,the-usa/
- http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/03/28/speedy-gonzales-caged-by-cartoon-network.html
- Ortiz, V., & Telles, E. (2012). Racial Identity and Racial Treatment of Mexican Americans. Race and Social Problems, 4(1), 41-56.
- http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2015/12/03/truth-about-mexican-americans/
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/donald-trump-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-blame-islamophobic-anti-muslim-ban-hate-crime-numbers-southern-poverty-law-center-a7582846.html
Hofstede Comparison
figure: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/mexico,the-usa/
Stereotypes of Mexicans in America
image: https://wallscover.com/speedy-gonzales.html#gal_post_2935_speedy-gonzales-wallpaper-11.jpg
Atika Bibi, Cecile Brochot, Natalie Hoernlein, Bekah Macmillan, Ann-Sophie Meinzer
- In 1999, Speedy was discontinued
- Networks have edited out scenes or simply refused to show animated movies with now-questionable gags or behavior like smoking or drinking since the 1980s.
- for Mexicans he was a hero
- most people didn't feel offended
- they are sad that it is not shown anymore, they felt connected
- it turned out, that he was very popular in the community
- many people want to resurrect Speedy
- they do not know why the character is taken off the air
- Americans are offended by the way how the mouse is shown
- "for children it is just a cartoon, they do not understand the background -> children only watch cartoons"
History of Mexicans in the USA
image:
https://drgrobsanimationreview.com/tag/drunken-mice/
image: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/warnerbroscartoons/images/a/ad/Newspeedyclip-1-.gif/revision/latest?cb=20110319092509
- Mexican Americans make 11.2% of the US population (2015)
- US is the second largest community in the world where Mexicans reside
- 60% stay in Texas and California
- Mexicans are used for cheap labour
- Employers have developed a ‘don’t as don’t tell’ culture
- cartoon character
- the fastest mouse in all of Mexico
- large yellow sombrero, white shirt, trousers
- small red scarf tied around his neck
- steals cheese from the rich to give to the poor (video)
- has a stereotyped Mexican accent, exaggerated
- first appearance : on August 29, 1953
- In 2006, Volkswagen used Speedy Gonzales for the Volkswagen Golf in a Spanish advertisement (video)
- ultimate ethnocentrism
- live in relative isolation from other cultures
- Either they do not perceive cultural differences at all, or they can conceive only of broad categories such as “foreigner”, “people of colour” or “Westerners”.
- … unconsciously dehumanise others
- Recognition of difference and perception of threat.
- Negative stereotyping and undesirable characteristics attributed to every member of a culturally distinct group.
- Defence is characterised by the polarisation of a denigrated “them” with a superior “us”.
image: https://uncouthmarie.wordpress.com/author/uncouthmarie/page/2/