Growing up can be challenging when you don’t know what direction life will take you. Or maybe you do have an idea of the direction based on societal expectations, but you know it’s something you won’t be happy with. That’s how the character of Ana García (played by America Ferrera) feels in HBO’s Real Women Have Curves where this 18-year-old Latina deals with the struggles of her body image and dealing with her overbearing mother’s constant criticisms. With the help of her teacher, she’s inspired to reach great heights. High schools, universities, and libraries teaching film through women’s study courses can add this comedy-drama coming-of-age movie to their film archive to inspire them to have pride in being a Hispanic woman.
In the spirit of National Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s time to learn about Real Women Have Curves that you can add to your film collection. The main character, Ana García, is a role model that many young girls and women can look up to. She’s a young woman who speaks her mind about the strength women have. Throughout the movie, Ana tends to clash with her mother on what should be considered important for a woman.
Mexican-American Women Promote Traditional Gender Roles
According to a Macaulay Honors College article, Mexican women are encouraged early on to be respectful, obedient, and work hard. Ana’s mother, Carmen, vents to her husband about how she worked ever since she was a teenager and never stopped. She expects Ana to do the same thing by working hard in their family-owned factory business, and not go to college despite how smart she is.
While wives are encouraged to work outside of the home, they still have to maintain traditional domestic roles. Carmen would like nothing more than for her daughter to get married and have a family since she’s lost hope on her eldest daughter, Estela, in fulfilling that dream for her. Estela takes on the traditional role of working hard for her family to make sure Bloomingdale's dresses are done on time and that her workers are paid accordingly.
However, Carmen is disappointed in Estela for not being married and a mother. It’s almost like you need to be the entire picture of what a Hispanic woman is expected to be instead of accepting a person for exactly who they are and what they bring to the table. Ana tries to dispute her mother’s old-fashioned theories by constantly reminding her that a woman has thoughts and ideas of her own that should be expressed. Yet, Carmen bashes that idea and just prefers to take on the roles that she was taught growing up. This shows how complicated it gets when different generations are in the same room with each other.
The Impact of Body Image Issues on Mexican-American Girls
Another challenge faced by Hispanic women is body image issues. A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Research said that Mexican-American girls living in Central California look to the media for beauty ideals. They were turned off by European American women with unnaturally thin body types and preferred women in pop culture who had curves. There should be more media education about diverse body types and support for those with curvier frames.
Ana would agree with loving your body for what it is. Her mother is always telling her that she looks awful for being overweight. The irony in all of this is that Carmen is overweight too, but feels that she can get away with it because she’s married. You can’t help but feel Ana’s pain and frustration in trying to love herself only for her own mother to tell her otherwise.
In one of the most important scenes of the movie, Ana encourages her and the other women of the factory to strip themselves bare because of how hot the factory is. She motivates these women to love their bodies exactly the way they are and to embrace every flabby stomach and stretch mark they’ve got. Ana proudly tells her mother that she likes herself and that she doesn’t want society to tell her how to look. It’s her confidence and endearing personality that attracts a boy in her class to want to go on a date with her and eventually lose her virginity.
Use This Film in Your Library or Classroom
This is an educational film for the Hispanic community as well as feminists. Library shelves and schools should include this film as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month and as part of a women’s studies curriculum to show women how to be proud of who they are. Ana fights against her helicopter mother engraving her old-age beliefs onto her. Luckily, Ana’s independent mind and the help of her teacher give her the courage to be herself—despite what her mother or society tells her to be. If you plan a public screening and acquire a public viewing license, you can find Real Women Got Curves on your HBO Max subscription and at your local library.