The portrayal of Hispanic males and females in Spanish foreign language textbooks used by eight major American universities for instruction of first year students

Abstract

This study was designed to analyze the portrayal of Hispanic males and females in Spanish foreign language textbooks used by eight major American universities for instruction of first year Spanish. This was possible by addressing the following questions: (1) How are Hispanics portrayed specifically in misrepresentations, cultural distortions, stereotypes, and traditional roles in Spanish foreign language textbooks used in colleges? (2) Is there a gender balance between Hispanic males and females in Spanish foreign language textbooks used in colleges? (3) How is the social cultural status of Hispanic males and females portrayed in Spanish foreign language textbooks? A general finding of this study is that the textbooks analyzed misrepresent and stereotype Hispanics. They were also portrayed in traditional roles and some cultural distortions were found. Females were most often observed in less prestigious jobs than males. The illustrations analysis instrument indicated that the majority of Hispanics were portrayed in realistic roles. However, a significant number of Hispanics occupied traditional roles, and some incidences of stereotyping were found. The Illustrations Analysis Instrument also indicated a disparity in gender. The Readings Analysis Instrument demonstrated that the variable stereotyped had the highest frequency. Misrepresentation was second in size followed by traditional. Cultural distortions appeared less often than the other variables. The Dialogues Analysis Instrument demonstrated that the traditional role was the most numerous. The second highest was stereotyped. Misrepresentations was the third. Hispanics continue to be placed in unacceptable conditions. The social cultural status applied to the illustrations, readings, and dialogues presented Hispanics in a variety of realistic occupations. However, when comparing individuals by gender, females were presented in less prestigious jobs, and in some instances males were presented more than 80% and females less than 20%. When the data is divided by gender, the social cultural status analysis indicated that only women appear in the lowest occupations, thus females represent 100% of the Hispanics in the lowest jobs. Males appear in the highest quintile more than twice as much than females.