Being born as a Latina in Europe was an honor. Yet, I never thought about the consequences that I would face until I was a teen. Boys began sexualizing my Latin side. It started with innocuous stereotypical comments such as how I danced. I was sixteen when the harmless comments transformed into objectifying comments about my body, in particular the sexualization of my backside, curvy hips or my “sensual and exotic” accent.
I understood that stereotypes like these were not just casual remarks. Rather, they were rooted in deeply ingrained stereotypes and biases about Latina women, and remain present in modern society. I realized that these were not isolated instances of ignorance but a continuation of the sexualization and racialization of my identity.
The idea of Latinas as promiscuous, desirable and hypersexualized is a symbolic violence deeply connected with colonization and patriarchy. Indeed, while European women were historically denied sexual freedom and constrained by the strict moral codes of patriarchal religion, in particular catholic, colonial powers arriving in Latin America encountered cultures where female sexuality was not bound by the same notions of sin or sanctity. In many Indigenous societies, virginity was not sacralized, and sexuality was approached with greater openness. This cultural difference led colonizers to view Indigenous and later Latina women as inherently more sexually available—an idea that has persisted across centuries. As a result, Latina women have been, and continue to be, hypersexualized and misrepresented, not because of who they are, but because of how their bodies and freedoms were interpreted through colonialism and patriarchal systems.
The media plays a constant role in sustaining the colonial and patriarchal gaze imposed on women. A research article, titled “Sexualization in the U.S. Latina and White Girls’ Preferred Children’s Television Programs,” states that: “Latina characters in mainstream media are often marginalized and sexualized in a centuries-old process of ‘exoticizing’ or ‘tropicalizing’ Latinas.” This portrayal, while to some seemingly flattering, reduces Latina women to mere objects of desire, denying them agency and individuality. Such representations are a product of a long history of racial and sexual exploitation, where the bodies of women of color, particularly those of Indigenous and African descent, have been commodified and objectified. These processes of objectification and sexualization not only impacts the way Latina women are perceived by society but also shapes their everyday lived experiences. . Sexualization of Latinas has real and dangerous consequences, such as high rates of gender-based violence.
According to the Pew Research Center, Hispanic women are more likely than Hispanic men to say sexism is a problem in the workplace, schools and the media.
The same study (based in the USA) concluded the following: :
- 52% of Hispanic women say sexism against women in the workplace is at least a somewhat big problem
- 48% of Hispanic women say sexism against women in schools is at least a somewhat big problem
- 50% of Hispanic women say sexism against women in English-language music is a problem
- 46% of Hispanic women say sexism against women in Spanish-language music is a problem
This study’s findings show that gender sexualization and discrimination are deeply rooted and on-going issues in our society. That’s why we need a decolonial feminist framework for the dismantling of dangerous narratives. Rejecting these stereotypes is a political act and the first step to take against colonial patriarchy and to create space for redefinition of Latinas identities.
In conclusion, the sexualization of Latina women is not merely a modern phenomenon but a continuation of colonial legacies that have been passed down through centuries. To address these issues, it is essential to understand the historical and cultural roots of these stereotypes and challenge the colonial mindset that perpetuates them. Only by decolonizing our understanding of gender and race can we begin to dismantle the harmful stereotypes that continue to define the lives of Latina girls, teens, and women today.
