Latin American Films Produced in

the United States:Bilingual and Clinical Considerations

Jacob GrossMasters Candidate, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Clinical Counseling Program

“Selena”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14gyU53hMJk

- Story of a rising star in the music industry

- Everyday pressures of what it takes to “make it”

- Family stressors; father, siblings, intimate relationship;

family structure; hierarchy; familismo y machismo (“In a

community that is poor and often oppressed there is so much suffering that men are taught aguantar; to grin and

bear it. “aguantate” the men around him say. A macho does not show weakness. Grit your teeth, take the pain,

bear it alone and be touch (Anaya, 1996, p. 63)

- Goals as a child vs adult; playing outside vs gaining

appreciation for music and the industry

- What would therapy look like?

Bilingual/Cultural Considerations “Family and emotional matters may be most comfortably

expressed in one language while conversations about

work may be most fluently discussed in another”

(Chavez, 2014)

Switching based on “context and need” (Chavez, 2014)

“Usually one is the dominant language” (Chavez, 2014)

In “Selena” the “code switching” (alternancia de

códigos) is seen among the various relationships;

depending on who is conversing, and what emotion is

being portrayed (Gross, 2012 & Carra, 2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWIHGptRVzY

Bilingual/Cultural Considerations

“Bilingualism is used when an

individual wants to focus in on a

certain word or is unsure of a word

in the other language” (Gross,

2012)

Ex: “Estoy muy….excited..”

What does this say about Selena

and her fan base? Is this a bilingual

implication (unsure of the word

“excited” in Spanish), or wanting to

represent both sides of her fan

base? (Latinos and US-Americans)

Familismo displayed by

Selena’s father

When Selena (dressed in a

bustier) is first seen by her

father;

“¿Qué está pasando? What

is happening?!” (Pride of

culture from father’s

perspective)

Selena’s relationship with

Chris Perez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntV7DY2nLOo

Clinical Considerations

Awareness of the issues of

diversity in counseling session

(assumptions, biases, values)

(Segura-Herrera, 2014).

Family session; awareness of

family hierarchy; father as the voice

Knowledge of worldview of client

(Corvin & Wiggins, 1989)

Attitudes, opinions, how we think,

etc

Is the therapist ethnically similar? If

not, could pose problem (García &

Zea, 1997)

Importance of family/familismo

If no recognition of importance of

family, resistance may

develop/premature termination of

therapy (Gloria & Rodriguez, 2000)

Effectiveness of therapy; value of

the family and familial structure

(Gloria & Rodriguez, 2000)

***Selena’s meaning of the

world/future vs her fathers?

Develops into an agreement

between Selena and father over

time?

“Spanglish”

- The intertwining of 2 cultures (White, US-American

family, and Mexican mother and daughter)

- Language barriers

- Coping with adjusting to US-American lifestyle and

sticking to culture of origin at the same time

- Flor uses her daughter to interact with the family

(language barrier)

- What would therapy look like?

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXkSBXrdDxs

Bilingual/Cultural Considerations

- Initial moment when Flor is introduced to Deborah (the

mother of the wealthy family), there is a linguistic

component addressed with Flor’s name.

- As film progresses, Flor begins learning English, but still

implements “Spanglish”

- Flor’s reaction to the family she works for; all about

money, ignoring of daughter’s needs. (What do you think Flor’s values

were growing up vs the values of the Deborah? Familismo? Lack thereof?)

- Flor: “Just try it on”

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbAtkEm1D3o

Bilingual/Cultural Considerations

- When Flor gets angry, how does she express her anger

toward Deborah?

- How does Flor want her daughter to be brought up in the

US? Is Deborah influencing Flor’s daughter in a negative

way?

- The language barrier somewhat prevents Flor from truly

expressing her emotions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBKNMABdZwc

Clinical Implications

- Because of Flor’s experience in Deborah’s household,

will Flor express a need for a Latino/a therapist?

- A non-Latino therapist may not attend to Flor’s

psychosocial needs; adjusting to life in Deborah’s

home/acculturation, conveying true/raw emotions

(Kouyoumdjian, 2003)

- Flor’s worldview vs. Deborah’s?

- Flor’s belief in raising children; giving attention, love,

care, compassion; familismo , “buying” love versus

simply “loving”?