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Stereotypes of Mexicans and Illegal Immigrants

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Stereotypes of Mexicans and Illegal Immigrants
Stereotypes of Mexicans and Illegal Immigrants
All Mexicans are landscapers or construction workers and all Mexican women are housekeepers and maids.
There are lots of different stereotypes associated with Mexicans. These stereotypes originated when Mexicans began to illegally cross the border from Mexico into the United States. Mexicans wanted to come to this country and live the “American Dream”. Unfortunately when they arrived here they found it nearly impossible to find a high paying, steady job because no company would hire an illegal immigrant which led them to work into manual labor.
Since the majority of Mexicans coming to the United States at that time were illegal immigrants working in manual labor, this is where the stereotype that all Mexicans are landscapers or construction workers came from. Also, that all Mexican women are housekeepers and maids.
I was born here in the United States, however my mom is from Guatemala and my dad is from Mexico. Hearing these kinds of stereotypes can be offensive and sometimes even hurtful to me coming from a Mexican background. Years ago my parents had illegally crossed the border from Mexico into the United States by trying to escape from all of the drug trafficking and terrible living conditions that were going on in their countries. It wasn’t easy for them to find a job here since hardly any company would hire an illegal immigrant. After a long time of searching, my dad finally found a job working as a painter at some fancy apartments, and my mom as a housekeeper. Both my parents work hard for what little they earn. Sadly neither of them finished graduating high school due to lack of money. Now it is up to me to make a difference and be the first in my family’s generation to graduate high school and college and live a successful life.
I think society has taken a major downturn because of the way stereotypes affect people and how people react to being grouped into one stereotype or another. Today we are very

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