According to the experts, this trope’s harm is twofold. First, it doesn’t allow our non-Latine counterparts to see us as the complex individuals that we are. We’re reduced to these stereotypes, which puts the burden of proof on us. We have to prove that we’re more than a servant, martyr mother, struggling immigrant, or spicy Latina. Secondly, it might make us feel like we have to police our behavior. “You don’t want to be seen as that stereotype, and so you might not raise your voice to speak your mind, which is critical in any positions in the workspace or the educational space,” says Dr. Guevara-Flannigan.
