Latinx stereotypes: Myths and realities in the twenty-first century.

The history of Latinx populations in the United States is complex and reflects the United States' ambivalent relationship with Latin America broadly. On the one hand, Latin American countries are our close neighbors, and Mexico in particular has been a political and economic ally for generations. On the other hand, the United States has engaged in various armed conflicts throughout Latin America, either overtly, or covertly. The United States' complex relationship with Latin America often mirrors ambivalent perceptions of people of Latin American descent. This chapter reviews stereotypes of Latinxs in America and how these beliefs lead to intrapersonal stress, as well as intergroup discord. It examines the media's role in progressing and maintaining certain stereotypes and their consequences both historically and in modern times. The chapter broadens the understanding of Latinx stereotypes. It reviews the three prevailing stereotypes about Latinxs in America (i.e., Latinxs as foreign, criminals, and low-skill laborers), examines the gendered nature of Latinx stereotypes, and addresses some of the consequences of these stereotypes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)