Between Stereotypes & Specificity 
​Latino Representation in Popular Television

Read the Press Release

The Wrap
Lear Center Launches New Initiative to Research  Representation on TV | Exclusive

Decades of research show that scripted entertainment shapes public attitudes toward historically marginalized communities, making nuanced Latino representation especially critical amid rising anti-Latino rhetoric. Yet Latinos remain persistently underrepresented and misrepresented on TV, with limited progress over time.
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To assess the current landscape, the we analyzed Latino characters across top U.S. broadcast series and conducted a deep dive into Latino-led and Latino-created shows. We found that Latino characters are often reduced to race-agnostic or stereotypical roles, with little cultural specificity and a disproportionate association with criminality. In contrast, Latino-led — particularly Latino-created — series delivered richer, more authentic storytelling, pointing to a clear opportunity for the industry to strengthen creative impact and audience connection by investing in Latino talent both on screen and behind the camera.

Read the report.

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The ¡Pa’lante! Latino Representation Initiative has three goals:

• To become a resource hub for organizations and individuals working to improve Latino representation across the entertainment industry and bring these parties together.
• To disaggregate data around Latino communities— which encompass over 20 countries with diverse ethnicities, racial identities, languages, and cultures.
• And to leverage research and evaluation capacities to identify what’s working, what’s not, and best practices for moving forward.

“This initiative builds on the existing advocacy of so many individuals and organizations, and we want to build community, not competition,” said Senior Researcher Soraya Giaccardi Vargas, who spearheads this initiative. 

Individuals, organizations, or funders interested in learning more should contact us here.

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