You are an attractive, intelligent, confident businesswoman, I say to myself in the mirror.
Various members of the Latine community consider “Ugly Betty” as an icon for first-generation Latinas. But why would someone who has the word “ugly” in front of their name be representative of millions of women who have overcome educational barriers, have unwavering empathy for those around them, and are determined to leave an impact on corporate America?
Because “Ugly Betty” did that.
“Ugly Betty” is an American dramedy television series starring America Ferrera, aired on ABC from 2006 to 2010, with timeless anecdotes that are still relatable to today’s Latinas.
I, a first-generation Latina, felt that the show paralleled my personal life. It got to a point where I would refer back to the show as a blueprint to figure out what to do next when encountering a dilemma or life problem.
The series follows the life of Betty Suárez, a kind, thoughtful woman fresh out of college who dreams of working in the fashion world at Meade Publications. Due to her unflattering appearance of glasses, braces, and bad fashion sense, she was turned down for the position at the fashion magazine. However, she eventually gets the role later on in the show.
Throughout the series, Suarez is a go-getter but also wants to please the people around her, therefore keeping a work-life balance wasn’t easy, considering her job would often interfere with her family life.
In the first two seasons of the show, Suárez’s dad, Ignacio, faces health issues involving his heart. It’s no secret that American healthcare is expensive, so when Suárez tries to buy her dad’s medication in Season 1 Episode 11, “Swag,” the pharmacist refuses to give Betty the pills unless she has the money to afford them. She managed to get 15 bottles worth of pills after exchanging an expensive bag she was gifted by her best friend. Betty loved the bag but was more willing to exchange it for her dad’s medication.
Such sacrifices remind us that in Latine culture we often want what’s best for those close to us, even if it costs us our own happiness.
Season 3 Episode 11, “Dress for Success,” took a whole other turn. Betty’s dad had a heart attack while she was at a networking social for her internship. Suarez received the news regarding her father’s heart attack from her sister after several attempts to contact her, leaving her feeling immense guilt for not being there for her family. The immense guilt that Suárez felt when getting the news can be felt through the screen.
I also have a sick parent at home and I feel represented seeing Betty balancing work and family while wanting to make both parties happy.
When a child gets older, there is an expectation that the child is meant to take care of their parents, especially in Latine culture. Leaving your older parents alone or in a retirement home is often frowned upon. When caretaking clashes with the child’s schedule many of those children feel immense guilt for not doing enough for their families. Moreover, it’s no surprise that the child’s social life may suffer due to the importance of putting family first.
Teresa Delfín, a doctor of anthropology, has found that putting a family member’s needs before one’s own is especially common among Latina daughters who are frequently raised without healthy boundaries. “These ‘dutiful daughters’ often mistakenly believe that the desires of their family members are their own desires,” said Delfín.
It can be difficult to embrace individuality in a culture that embraces collectivism, but once it is beginning to be embraced, there are challenges that lie ahead in their careers.
The one challenge that Latinas and other people of color have thought about at some point in their careers is imposter syndrome. In Season 3 Episode 9, Betty was fed up with being an assistant and wanted to be an editor. A great way for her to level up is by getting into a competitive internship program offering only one spot per magazine. This was a problem because Marc, her frenemy, applied and spent time curating the best sample magazine he could over three months. Betty heard about this opportunity at the last minute, she only had 48 hours to create a magazine. To everyone’s surprise, Betty got the internship instead of Marc and he became bitter. Betty tried to comfort him, but the conversation turned south:
Marc: “You’re really going to make me say it?”
Betty: “Say what?”
Marc: “You helped them meet their quota.”
Betty: “What are you talking about?”
Marc: “I mean, they picked you, Betty Suárez, of Queens, because you’re Latina. You’re the token ethnic girl.”
Ouch. The psychological damage of imposter syndrome amongst Latinas in the workspace is real. According to Delfín, Latinas often pursue their dreams at the expense of family approval.
“Educational and professional success is often seen as an outright act of defiance. When the messaging from home so often reinforces ideas of where Latina daughters do and don’t belong, it is no surprise that they are especially vulnerable to feelings of imposter syndrome,” said Delfín, “And the psychological impact of imposter syndrome is such that Latinas who do ‘make it’ are often waiting for a chilling reminder that they don’t belong after all.”
The impact of Ugly Betty transcends the television screen, as this series aired at a time when even more people of color didn’t feel represented in mainstream media. Recent data has shown that only 7% of workers in the media identify as Latine, and that statistic includes individuals being in front of the camera or working behind the scenes. Betty embraced her true self, and as she embraced self-love, she became more confident on the outside as well.
There are constant barriers people of color face in corporate America and many others would not be able to relate to our issues. Does it mean we need to conform to our environment so that our colleagues can better perceive us? Absolutely not. Betty’s best friend at work, Christina, taught us that there will always be someone who will appreciate the way we are.
“Ugly Betty” serves as a reminder that “ugly,” in the series’ context, does not always mean unattractive, but rather unique. In a society where representation is more imperative than ever, Suárez serves as an inspiration for future generations of Latinas to embrace their roots, chase their dreams, and challenge the work environment for the better.
So yeah, Betty Suárez is an icon for first-generation Latinas because she accomplished what most Latinas yearn to do in corporate America – and that is simply being themselves in a space where people often conform to the superficial mold of the workspace. “Ugly Betty” proves that while self-authenticity may reveal other people’s true colors, it can also attract the people who will mean the most to you.