"... you can leave the Island, master the English language, travel as far as you, but if you are a Latina, especially on like me who so obviously belongs to Rita Moreno's gene pool, the Island travels with you. Stereotypes follow us throughout our lives whether they pertain to us or not just because of our race, class, gender,sexuality and age. Author Cofer, speaks of her experiences as a Latin women. She explains how the Latin women's attire, and actions are influenced by cultural practices enforced by their mothers. At a certain age they are to dress a certain way because the goal is to find a husband. She speaks about a statement made by her friend about how in high school the Puerta Rican girls stood out for wearing too many accessories at once. 

            Cofer stated that it became evident too her that their culture created a stigma, one that would be misinterpreted in the real world. (161) Another stereotype that follows Latin women is that they work well as domestics, waitresses and  as factory workers. (163) What interest me most is that feminist Hispanic scholars blame the media-engendered image of Latin women for the lack of opportunities for upward mobility among Latina's in the professional world. Judith Cofer's parents, just like the parents of the black women who took part in the study conducted in "The Culture of Black Femininity and School Success", encouraged education to acquire a stronger position in the mainstream culture. 

              Black people have raised their girls to be assertive and independent, not only to take on roles of the wife and/or the mother, but that of a worker. Generally black girls seem to have higher self-esteem than White or Latino girls. The researchers in "The Culture of Black Femininity and School Success" see this as result of black families raising their daughters in ways to facilitate their girls to assume responsibility for their own financial survival upon becoming women. It becomes an issue when the most assertive low-income and minority girls who are either forced to leave or are pushed out of school, or lack strong and consistent efforts in school. Black communities often dictate how black women should look, behave, and the roles they should  assume or hope for. Black women not only have the education institutions unfairness to deal with, but often times have family members or members of their community encouraging them to suppress their educational ambitions just because of their gender. Many rely on informal social networks to access information and to seek positive encouragement towards college attendance. The women in this study came to know and/or emulate the voice and power of black women. (191) Black parents want their daughters to seek college so that they can be self sufficient not having to rely on anyone especially not men!