Join Gabrielle Sierra as she interviews leaders and thinkers tackling these questions head on. Recent research indicates that negative media depictions of Latinos can have detrimental repercussions for communities as a whole and also impact how Latinos vote in elections. 1. Representation in the Media Recent research conducted at UCLA by Ana-Christina Ramon revealed that Latinos remain underrepresented in the media industry despite being an outsized percentage of America. According to Ana-Christina, only five percent of speaking roles taken up by Latinos on television and film are held by them compared with 10% back in 2006. This is a significant decrease from when 10% were held by them back then. Castro cautions that inaccurate representation in media can have a devastating impact on Americans' understanding and relationships with people from other cultures, according to Castro. He notes that inaccurate portrayals of Latinos can contribute to tensions within race relations as well as prompt politicians to exploit stereotypes for political gain; it could even result in violence like the shooting in El Paso which took 23 lives last year. Representation in media forms such as newspapers, TV and radio plays an essential role in shaping how individuals think and behave. Representing others accurately also reduces misrepresentation risks such as tokenism or other forms of bias. There has long been debate regarding how best to represent ethnic groups without harming or undermining cultural identities. This is an intricate issue requiring careful deliberation among experts, media producers and philanthropists. As media is driven by market forces, media companies often utilize similar advertising tactics as non-media businesses in order to reach specific demographics and sell advertising directly to them. They do this by tailoring content specifically to these audiences based on their tastes and interests. This trend translates into an array of products and services tailored specifically for middle-class consumers - movies and television shows to magazines and advertisements are among many products designed to cater to middle-class shoppers. These commercials often depict an individual, typically white and male, who promotes the product being advertised. It's an approach used frequently and successfully by advertisers. Latinos may find it challenging to navigate the same media landscape that whites are familiar with. Therefore, media companies have come under heavy fire for not providing equal access to resources within these industries for Latinos. 2. Representation in Politics Mexican political representation can have various effects. First, it can help shift the focus of American political discussions. Second, Mexican representation increases Latino participation in politics activities - something essential for advancing an effective and inclusive national policy agenda. Second, Latino engagement in government can promote the growth of Latino-led social services and civic institutions - an integral component of an effective political order. Thirdly, it can improve government's capacity to meet all citizens' needs. Due to these reasons, it is crucial that we fully comprehend the impact Mexican representation has on American politics. Our analysis begins by looking at Latino politics more generally - this can be traced back to 19th-century incorporation of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans into American empire while early state efforts attempted to exclude them from local and national political institutions. These historical factors led to an incompletely socialized political process in which Latinos were less involved with political communities and participation rates were lower compared to their non-Hispanic peers. But the 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) to Hispanic populations provided institutions in American politics with new incentives that enabled them to reach out successfully to Latinos. One such institution was the federal electoral commission, which made an intensive effort in the 1970s to engage Latino electorate through programs of voter registration, education and training, as well as creating a new national organization specifically dedicated to Latinos. Their programs helped revive Hispanic political culture. As immigration increased and Hispanics increasingly integrated into American society, this effort grew stronger and deeper. It culminated with the creation of NALEO (National Association of Hispanic Elected Officials), which works to promote Latino-led local civic and political organizations. Hispanics have demonstrated impressive dedication to political participation over time despite initial challenges associated with initial efforts. Particularly, Hispanics have sought to mobilize their communities so as to win elections for state office or federal office. This effort has been supported by gender parity electoral laws and an aggressive feminist movement, which has made women more prominent in Mexican politics. Although its full realization remains to be seen, this movement represents a critical step toward achieving gender equality and equity. 3. Representation in the Arts Art is one of the main ways people express their ideas and beliefs, as well as having an effectful effect on those who witness it. Mexican representation in arts is particularly significant. In the 19th century, many artists from Mexico and Latin America came to America, becoming heavily influenced by its culture and political events - which eventually manifested themselves in their paintings and styles of painting. Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera are renowned Mexican muralists. These artists used art to raise awareness of social problems in Mexico and beyond through works that focused less on realistic imagery but instead captured emotions associated with their subjects. Frida Kahlo also used her work to raise awareness of social issues through painting. Her portraits often included personal memories that were difficult to interpret due to painful details within them. Other influential Mexican artists include Fortunato Arriola and Xavier Martinez, two precursors to today's Mexican American visual culture. Both were born in Mexico before moving to California. These artists were able to bring their stories and change people's perspectives of the world with their artworks, becoming successful professionals who went on to lead important movements within art history. Chicano art movements had a tremendous effect on American culture. These movements emerged as a response to discrimination that Mexican-Americans faced and sought to build communities and unity while also developing new cultures and societies. Mexican artists played an integral role in the Civil Rights movement during the 20th century, which sought to protect Mexican-Americans from discrimination and violence. Key activists such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Gil Padilla played vital roles in shaping Chicano art movements across the nation. Mexican representation in the arts has had an immense influence on American art world, leading to more Mexican art being produced and more understanding of Latin American experience. Their impact can still be felt today; therefore it's vital that their work and history be promoted further. 4. Representation in Business Latinos face particular obstacles when it comes to advancement in business due to representation issues. Being part of an emerging minority group, they struggle with an ingrained culture that favors white males over modesty - making it hard for them to break through in leadership positions. Although Hispanics represent 19% of the U.S. population, they remain underrepresented in corporate leadership and in boardrooms despite holding $2.7 trillion worth of spending power and being an ever-expanding sector of the economy. According to IBV research, 88% of Hispanic business leaders surveyed agree with at least some level of discrimination being experienced against them - far higher than other groups like Asian-Americans or African-Americans. As a result, Hispanic employees may not receive equal opportunities to succeed that other Americans take for granted, limiting their potential. That is why the IBV believes it's imperative for companies to engage Hispanic employees at every level within their company. Companies can achieve their goal of hiring and retaining Hispanic employees by offering mentoring programs and other forms of assistance, which will allow them to overcome barriers that prevent advancement, such as lack of training or career-enhancing experiences. Another effective tool in promoting diversity is providing access to apprenticeship opportunities that develop skills required for emerging jobs created by technology and an evolving workforce. Such opportunities can give Hispanics an advantage in their careers while providing a competitive edge for companies. Not only should one consider the impact of representation on business, but personal relationships also play a pivotal role. High-context cultures like Mexico require long-term personal relationships in order to effectively communicate and gain trust from people they deal with on a regular basis. Mexico, for instance, is well known for meeting business partners in restaurants or coffee shops rather than meeting rooms. Furthermore, communication in Mexico tends to be less formal; business conversations often last longer than expected and focus more on sharing ideas than on solving disputes.