Why not both : Latina intersectionality and bilingualism in Jane the Virgin

The underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Latina/os on U.S. English-language television dates back several decades to the beginning of TV programming, and has been documented by media scholars. As television series become more culturally diverse, the images of Latina/o families are gradually becoming more multidimensional to reflect their bicultural, and often bilingual, lifestyle with a greater sense of authenticity. However, the degree to which Latina/o Americans choose to interact with Latina/o culture or with the Spanish language varies depending on their generation and how assimilated they are into American culture. This is very relevant to the success of the hit CW show Jane the Virgin. The series presents viewers with contrasting Latina perspectives in its depiction of the Villanueva women. While they are all part of the same bicultural, bilingual family, the women represent different views on topics like religion, immigration, gender norms, and sexuality, which influence the way that they act in certain situations. Through a textual analysis of select episodes from seasons 1 and 2 of the show, this thesis report illustrates the highly intersectional nature of Latina gender and cultural identity in Jane the Virgin and for U.S. Latinas more generally. An exploration of this topic through discourse analysis also demonstrates how the show is unique in its treatment of a Latina/o multigenerational family that allows for both Latina/o and non-Latina/o viewers to identify with its characters.