Cristina Saralegui's Roots Are Showing: Are Güeras Less Latina?
Talk show host Cristina Saralegui recently had stars Laura Flores, Erika Buenfil and Gaby Spanic on her show, along with the entire population of the Village of the Damned. Of the group, one blog observed:
No matter how much you hear about “brown power” this and that, Hispanic television is here to remind you that those who hold the celebrity power are always the güeritos.
Which, you know: Hahahaha, yeah. As evidenced on People en Español’s “15 Most Influential Latinos” list, Latinos who enjoy the most visibility and acclaim in the U.S. and abroad seem to be light-skinned, mostly all across the board - and especially when it comes to women. It’s a form of discrimination that is as prevalent in Latino media as it is in more mainstream U.S. outlets.
Having noted this, though, and while very aware of the need to change these standards of beauty or the idea that white skin = success, power, intelligence, etc, we have to admit that the notion of “brown power” has ever sat well with us. We understand the intent behind it. We understand that, being a light-skinned Latina (As in, white. As in, our skin does not tan - it goes from white to painfully after about 10 minutes in the sun), we’re not going to face the same amount of blatant discrimination those with darker skin are going to face. People aren’t going to make the same stupid assumptions when we walk by. Even when it comes to more benign forms of discrimination, we’re safe: If we babysit for a friend’s 8-year-old, people aren’t going to readily assume its our kid that we had at 15. If we walk onto a bus with a person who has the same complexion, people aren’t going to automatically assume we’re related.
…But does that make us less Latina? A lot of people might answer, “Yes. Actually, you have no idea what it’s like to be Latina in the U.S.” And maybe that’s valid, to an extent. But is the Latino experience monolithic? Can’t our experience definitely be “Latino,” too? Or is it through facing discrimination that someone is given their “Minority” card?
What do you guys think? When we’re all together and hispanicking, are all the güeras going to be left out?
Scandinavian Latinas Land on El Show de Cristina [Laura Martinez]
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- Managing Editor
Daniel Mauser
- Editor
Cindy Casares
- Associate Editor
Alex Alvarez
- Contributing Editors
Gabriel Caro - Camilla Rowan
- Video Editor
Marcelo Cunning
Really there seems to be a struggle with both sides of the fence. On one hand you have the issue on being Latino/Latina and any discrimination that stems from that. Then, and I might be totally off base here, you have the issue of not being Latin enough according to other Latinos. Its there that you have a problem that seems to have no resolution. Because you aren’t white but not latin enough. Definitely you are viewed differently than other latinos by non-latins and this extends to our darker skinned brothers and sisters who also view us differently than they view themselves.
Its like being told “You’re like a white person” by someone else who is latino, and its a way of putting you down. Then you have caucasian friends who might make some comments concerning latinos that aren’t very kosher but then tell you “Oh but not you, you’re not like that.” as if they forget that you fall into the latino catergory.
You just cant win.
rambling over
Posted by Fredo | October 03, 2008
Along those same lines, I always wondered what “La Raza” referred to. Latinos as a race? Or just mestizos or people of Native American origin? I find it weird that its often conflated with Latinos in general, because I don’t share that particular heritage.
Posted by La Linda | October 03, 2008
I am light skinned and it is always assumed that I am actually white. I don’t mind anymore I guess, if someone is going to base judgement on me because they think I’m white, then I’d rather not try to convince them otherwise, what’s the point? If they’re really going to respect me or view me that differently if they knew, they are not worth it.
Posted by Neecha | October 05, 2008
calm down, it was a C-O-I-N-C-I-D-E-N-C-E, AND YES THERE ARE BLOND LATINOS . OLD NEWS . GET OVER IT GUANABEE, WE DON’T ALL FIT INTO YOUR STEREOTYPICAL WAYS.
Posted by pessoa | October 06, 2008
Re: Pessoa.
It looks like someone’s up for a spot in the Genius Squad
http://guanabee.com/2008/10/guanabee-commenter-shoutout-me-1.php
Did you even read the article, Pessoa?
Posted by piruli | October 06, 2008
I’m always getting the “You don’t look Mexican” because i’m tall, thin and pale. I always feel the need to educate people that latins come in all colors, shapes and sizes but I think because of my outward appearance (a pesar de tener un nopal en la frente) I do get better chances at jobs, more opportunities and better treatment that my fellow latinos who are very much latino looking. It’s a stupidly unfair world. And the latin media doesn’t help matters by putting all the fair european looking latins in title roles of soaps and putting the rest in smaller, criminal or servant roles. Latin media has to step up but, then again, we see this over and over again with any ethnic group (African American or even standard American TV - we only see beautful, skinny white people - where are the other people that live on the planet?!?) and the small group of tastemakers control the general public taste. Until people are truly viewed equally, equal representation will never happen.
Posted by lorena | October 06, 2008
they are not gueras,they are mexicanas that dye their hair blond n put contacts in their eyes.they are not europeans,they just try to look like us.why do all of the mexicanas morenas try to look white?they should try being proud of their race instead of being something they’re not.cristina,gaby spanic,laura bozzo,laura flores,alicia villarreal,thalia,monica…just to name a few.
Posted by MELISSA | November 18, 2008
i do think that the darker skinned latinas are much more beautful than the “fake white-wannabe” latinas.because the morenas are proud of their latina-ness.
Posted by MELISSA | November 19, 2008
Melissa, you’re an idiot, there are Latinas and Latinos that ARE white, look at Argentina, there a lot of people of Italian, German, French, and even Welch decent, last time I checked “Latino” was not a race, mestizo is not a race; it’s a hybrid of two ethnic groups, Europeans and the indigenous people of Latina America. Why the hell would Christina or any of those actresses “pretend” to be white, yes some may dye there hair blonde, but there are a ton of white women that do the same. Are you going to say that those women aren’t white because they dye their hair? No, it’s just prejudice and ignorance on your part. I know for a fact that Christina and these women do not wear contacts, Christina has green eyes; she’s always had them there is no way she is wearing contacts. You’re just a jealous bigoted idiot, that wants to pigeon hole ever Latino on earth, well you can’t we come from various different ethnic backgrounds. I’m part, French, Irish, and Spanish, and even though I am white, I grew up in a Spanish speaking home, and I consider myself to be Latino, and who are you to tell me I’m not? I happen to have blue eyes, and they sure as hell aren’t contacts…there are people in Latin American countries that have no Hispanic blood at all, I have a friend who was born in Argentina, and is of 100% German heritage, but he still considers himself to be Latino…
Posted by Jason | December 05, 2008