Lifetime's DEVIOUS MAIDS Criticized for Latina Stereotyping

TVGuide.com reports that Lifetime's upcoming drama series Devious Maids is already facing harsh criticism for what many believe to be a promotion of Latina stereotypes. 'Desparate Housewives creator Marc Cherry and actress Eva Longoria are behind the show which centers on five Latina maids, played by Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sanchez, Edy Ganem and Judy Reyes, who work for the rich and famous.

In May, writer Tanisha L. Ramirez called the series "a wasted opportunity" in an op-ed piece for The Huffington Post, accusing the show of portraying Latinas as "hypersexual, nosy, scheming and, at times, totally invisible domestic servants."

"The series is the first mainstream, English-language television drama featuring five Latina main characters, which is - for better or for worse - a novel concept even in this day and age," wrote Ramirez. "Not novel, however, is the fact that all - count 'em, all! - of the main characters play 'devious' maids. It just all seems like a missed opportunity to diversify the roles played by Latinas."

Longoria defended the series, citing that although maids might be "a realistic reflection of Latinas in America today... they are not a reflection of every Latina." She continued, "As an executive producer, I choose to break the cycle of ignorance by bringing to light something we have not seen before, a deeper, more complex side to the women who live beyond the box that some choose to put them in. The only way to break a stereotype is to not ignore it. The stereotype we are grappling with here is that as Latinas, all we are is maids. And yet, this is a show that deconstructs the stereotype by showing us that maids are so much more."

Read the full story here.

Devious Maids premieres this Sunday, June 23rd on Lifetime.

To post a comment, you must register and login.