Women In Cliché Telenovela Characters

From the mid-twentieth century to the present time, telenovelas have been a huge source of entertainment in Latino households. From comedies to melodramas, the purpose of telenovelas is to offer an escapade from the monotonous daily life. Most of the themes that are present are topics relevant to the Latino community. In the words of Cynthia Duncan, “... soap operas tend to promote and uphold traditional values and are generally conservative in nature.” (Duncan 84) Telenovelas focus on family life and how the character’s decisions affect the whole. Those so-called traditional and conservative values tend to imprison women in cliché telenovela characters. Women are always presented as selfless, at times evil, or as women whose sole purpose is

From an early age, many girls grow up thinking that the goal is to obtain a family, which is fine. However, it is implied that by forming a family a man is the one to fully provide. The place of women, therefore, turns into a lifetime of imprisonment in the house. “Although perceived as a fact of life, many women complain about the belittling, restricting and often abusive way they are treated by their husbands. The economic dependence of women on their husband keeps them from complaining too loud...” (Verheijen 31) Many women tend to overlook certain aspects of their lives in order to keep a passive lifestyle. The telenovela Victoria, which aired from 2007 to 2008, serves as the perfect example of a woman who dedicated herself entirely to her family. The telenovela is about a woman whose days consist of taking care of her plants, managing the house, taking care of her children, and especially taking care of her husband. Her oldest daughter looks down on her for having decided to stay a housewife for the rest of her life. Her husband grows tired of their monotonous life and has an affair for two years. When Victoria finds out about the affair, her husband decides to leave her and moves in with his lover, who is 20 years younger than Victoria. Victoria's mother and children blame her for the marriage's rupture and do not allow her to find new love. In this

Telenovelas, overuse this theme and implement it to every telenovela that airs. The issue with so much exposure is that it makes it seems as if it's a natural or normal thing. Telenovelas, like Victoria, show how miserable a woman's life can, but they still deem it as a normal way of life. Another great example is the telenovela La Que No Podía Amar (The One Who Couldn't Love). In La Que No Podía Amar Ana Paula, the protagonist, agrees to marry a man that promised to help her brother stay out of prison. Her now husband's name is Rogelio, he became paralytic after an accident and became bitter. Ana Paula grows tired of Rogelio and constantly says she will leave, but her aunt asks Rogelio for money in exchange for making Ana Paula stay. Not only is she selfless, but she is also incredibly naïve. She is also blinded by the love she feels for her family and does not realize how much they are damaging her. Ana Paula does not seem to understand that it is completely wrong for a man to force her to marry. She acknowledges the fact that is wrong, but decides to overlook it for her family's sake. With time, she learns to be happy with Rogelio, but this shows that she lacks self-respect. Staying in an abusive relationship is not the type of example that should be set by