Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina

by Rosie Molinary

In Hijas Americanas , author Rosie Molinary sheds new light on what it means to grow up Latina. Drawing upon her own experiences, as well as interviews and surveys collected from more than 500 Latina women, Molinary provides a powerful understanding of the inner conflicts and powerful triumphs of Latinas. The women profiled in this book are Caribbean, Mexican, Central American, and South American. These first, second and third-generation Latinas have all grappled with the experience of coming of age within not one but two that of the United States, and that of their familial homelands. Hijas Americanas addresses experiences that are uniquely female and Latin, focusing on themes of body image, standards of beauty, ethnic identity, and sexuality. In doing so, Molinary gives voice to the struggles and successes of Latinas across racial, sexual, and cultural identities, emphasizing that the challenges inherent in growing up between two cultures can positively shape Latinas' lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Latinx, Essays, Journalism, Gender

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Author, speaker, and teacher, Rosie Molinary, MFA, had earlier careers as a high school teacher, coach, and college administrator. Her poetry and non-fiction have been published in various literary magazines and books, and she has contributed to various magazines and websites.

Rosie’s second book, Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self Acceptance, will be published in October 2010 by Seal Press. Hijas Americanas, her book on Latina body image in America, was published by Seal Press in June 2007. In addition to writing, she teaches at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and speaks on body image, diversity, self-awareness, social justice and writing around the country.

In her free time, Rosie paints, enjoys the outdoors, obsesses over NFL football, and works on social justice issues in her community. She helped found HAMMERS, a non-profit initiative to provide emergency home repair for low income families in her community, and Circle de Luz, a non-profit that radically empowers young Latinas by supporting and inspiring them in the pursuit of their possibilities through extensive mentoring, programming and scholarship funds for further education. Rosie lives in North Carolina.

Reviews

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hijas Americanas presents the results of the author's survey of hundreds of Latina women about straddling US and their various Latina cultural backgrounds, from how ethnicity informed their relationships with their families and discrimination they faced to body image problems they encountered coming of age in a culture where there are few Latina role models.

It was interesting reading for me, since I'm not very familiar with Latina perspectives..and the discussion of body and appearance issues was certainly interesting, since eating disorders are almost always presented as the exclusive domain of upperclass white women. (For example, Greg Critser criticizes Americans' concern about eating disorders, telling us that it's a rich white girl problem while poor women, especially poor Latina and Black women, are mostly killing themselves gorging on baby-flavored donuts.) Perhaps, this book made me realize, it isn't that women in other subcultures don't suffer from eating disorders as much as that we're slow to recognize them as such?

In any case, it's a terrific exploration of the unique challenges Latina girls and women face, and very thought provoking. The book is mostly anecdotal, and the beginning and ending chapters are mostly filled with heartwarming platitudes about demanding that internal beauty be valued over external (good luck with that!), but reading the various women's stories was an interesting, enlightening view of the assorted cultures from which the women hailed.

[Jennifer Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book by a Borricua(Puerto Rican) gurl about the Latina experience!!
I luv every single page of this book so far!
Based on her own experience of being a Latina in a sea of blonde gurls styled after Rachel of TV show FRIENDS,Rosie ends up in academics,here she finds herself exotic as perceived by others,but she refuses being exotic.
But this makes her think,how other Latinas feel about themselves,now she conducts a massive survey of Latinas and this book is a result of that massive effort!
She derives so much volume of this 336 pages book from her own experience of being a Puerto Rican gurl(I spell love and girl as Luv and Gurl,I just do for no reason coz I find it cute to spell these words this way!)and other information comes from her survey of total 500 Hispanic/Latina women,most of them 20-40 years.
My GF,roommate and actually wifey(in the future) is a Puerto Rican Borricua so this book is so informative for me,I luv it!
This book has so many many stories about Latina experience in the US,acculturation and bilingualism etc,it's massive and has like 400 stories!
must read book!5star

[John Gurney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explores women growing up Latina, based on an in-depth survey, Growing Up Latina [the extensive questionnaire is shown in an appendix]. The book is a little longer than necesssary since the author often repeats the same points, but it is still a fascinating look at how Latinas bridge two cultures: gringa y Latina. Pressures from family, Anglo society and the media are explored with quotes and anecdotes from real American Latinas.

There is much focus on American beauty standards and what they do for the self-esteem of Latina women with different skin tones, hair color and body shapes. We are confronted with the depressing facts about plastic surgery (surprisingly common for Hispanics with nose jobs being the most common). Family roles, sexuality and the influence of Catholism are also reviewed.

All in all, a recommended read.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing that's great about this book is that it is based on the experiences of young Latinas in the U.S. The concern for this particular demographic has been getting a lot of attention lately, and I think this is definitely a book people should read to better understand what it's like.

I give it only 4 stars simply because, for me anyway, it was nothing new. I live this and my peers live this, but I guess a lot of people out there really don't understand.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read this to perhaps give me more insight into my Latina students, but it was aimed much more for 20- to 3--somethings. That said, the book was thoughtful and organized about stereotypes and difficulties that Latinas run into while participating in American culture, though not ground-breaking for me at this point -- I've seen so much of this already. I would recommend it for older Latinas who are searching for some personal narratives that might be similar to their own.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't even come close to an objective review of this book. There's something really wonderful about reading a book by someone you know and deeply admire. Although I couldn't directly relate to many of the experiences cited in the book, I enjoyed the array of perspectives the book captured. On a more personal level, it was interesting to hear stories and experiences that shaped the person I now know.

[Sarah]

Overall, I really enjoyed this book - the subject matter was really important and the author blends her lived experiences well with the experiences of other Latinas in her study. This book has deepened my understanding of what my Latina teens are going through. My one criticism is that it could have used a stronger editorial hand because sometimes the chapters just covered too much and sometimes the examples were repetitive.

["Stars" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of interviews helps to highlight the struggles of Latinas growing up in the US, but it speaks to the broader category of all biracial/bicultural women. Many of the conversations on internal versus external identity resonate with me and my own Asian American experience. It is refreshing to hear this perspective voiced.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really had a book really 'get' me and my experiences, but this is the one. There were times when I had to put it down because I was so overwhelmed with the discovery of not being alone in my experiences. The only issue I had with Hijas Americanas was the general exclusion of Brazilians, as usual.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read! it supplies a lot of information in a witty intelligent read. the author supplies great stories to further her point that come from real people and the book is told from a perspective that anyone can relate to, latina or not.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie creates a collective voice that communicates the experiences of Latinas in the U.S. But this book is about more than being Latina--it's about knowing and loving yourself and living with a purpose and vision. Written with passion, empathy, and grace.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got to finishing this, and I'm so happy that I did. This ended up being a lot more like memoir or just a one-sided story of what it means to grow up Latina. It's not as informational as one might like, but it does give a really colorful and strong expression of the author's experience.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited for Rosie's first book to come out! The last date I heard was June 1st, and Julia Alvarez "blurbed" it!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to read this book!

[Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait to read this. Congrats.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent book!! I highly recommend it to anyone who has an ounce of latin/hispanic blood in them. A very eye opening experience for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting memoir/review of a really extensive study into body image and related issues for latinas in the US. Helpful context for anyone who is, knows or works with latina girls.

[Shelleyd]

A little repetitIve, but an amazing topic that I could def RelAte to.

[Gregoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Latina woman there as so many complexities that this book discusses that come with a culture so unique. This book is very reassuring and inspiring to me.

[Monique Mena · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit dry for me...didn't hold my interest for too long.

[Ṁëmzz Āl mousã]

it's a good book.

[Gabrielac · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "Hijas americanas" talks about beauty and the way they feel about growing up Hispanic(latinas). "Hijas americanas" has a strong voice that can have an effect on how latinas may feel and how strong, beautiful latina women can be.
It shows much diversity of Latina women and how they may feel and how they get judged either because of looks and body shape.

[Glendalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great reminder to be proud of where you or your parents and from and to always remember that the way the media portrays beautiful is not the only definition that we should adhere by.

I’m so glad I read this book because I saw myself through the narratives of many of the latinas that participated in this project

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as much new information as I thought there would be. A lot of redundancy.

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. More vague and anecdotal than I expected.

[☆BooksofA☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't hate it but I don't love it either it eh okay could be better

[Fran C C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hijas Americans, can be best described as evidence based, research on American Latinas in today's society. Rosie Molinary did a great job composing different Hispanic heritage and meshing how similar yet different we all are. Within each chapter is a focus of how our heritage can hurt us while at the same time empower ourselves as Hijas Americans.

I picked up this book when it first came out, and it was so good, that I did not want to finish it right away. I took my time reading each chapter attempting to gain insight on my self as a Mexican American.

I really enjoyed how the book was sectioned off. I also liked that these are real Latina Women who share their thoughts and emotions, making me feel not alone in this journey. I was sad when I got the end. I really thought that was a great book only because I struggle to fit in as Latina in America and also in my parents home country. My identity feels very divided -- I am empowered by other women in America, while back in a rural setting, it's a total different expectation in women hood. I would be seen as a radical feminist women. It's complicated.

I am not sure if there anything that I disliked, I would probably have to re-read it again! Ha!

This book was finished at a perfect timing in my life and would most likely read it again as I continue to get older. The women represented in this book are from mid-twenties to late 30's, I believe.

I would recommend this book to other Latina's or readers who want to understand the complexities of being of Hispanic heritage and living in America.

I rate this book a 4 star out of 5. I tend to rate my books very hardly, so anything above a 4 is pretty good for me. I rarely give out 5 stars.

Read this book on my NOOK. Easy to highlight and add notes to come back to it.

reviewed book 3/8/2017

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good exploration of Latina identity. I wouldn't have picked it up because I'd have thought it doesn't affect me, but I read it because I know the author (Hi Rosie!). Turns out it does affect me, and all of us, because as I see it everyone has some sort of layers in their background and identity. For some people it is not difficult to reconcile these and examine how they work together, but for most of us it is hard and important work. The women in this book talk about all the parts of them that make them who they are, in a way that is meaningful for any reader.