ds believe that being smart is a flaw, that intellect shouldnt be flaunted but instead buried. To take a nonconformist perspective and break this mold is social suicide that most do not have courage to face so they continue to live on content with what little society has offered them. This must end, and for it to end it the solution must be implemented beginning with schools. Teachers must encourage Latinas to work harder, to study more, to break the mold and reach their full potential. Latinas should be encouraged to use their bilingualism to their advantage. They must be shown that intellect is something to be cherished and should be exhibited at all times. As Fuentes suggested, more Latin-American teachers should be hired. People with a closer background to these students, who can relate with them, should work with them. Once the schools have changed, the elite few will follow. With enough of these students following these ambitious pursuits, the stereotypes will fall and societys expectations will rise.Stereotypes are a part of human nature. We associate future and present experiences with previous experiences whether or not they are our own. Intellectual-deficiency and failure are stereotypes that have always hovered above the heads of Latinas. These stereotypes may hinder our ability to treat everybody equally and I have seen this happen many times to many people. A teacher will be more condescending towards a Latina than another ethnic group, he will be more prone to suspect cheating when a Latina gets an A on a test than another ethnic group, and it will be harder for that student to succeed in the class because of the teacher. Although teachers do not mean to do this, it is, after all, human nature; they need to be more aware of this so it can be more easily prevented. I, myself, have found that I too am stereotyping many Latinas before ever knowing them. I have caught myself many times being surprised when a Latina got a highe...
