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The Famous Cactus Stereotype in Mexican Culture

Writer's picture: Elide Carbajal-PerezElide Carbajal-Perez

At Cal State San Bernardino, a painting hangs on the wall. The plaque underneath it reads, “Nopal” by Cinthia Gomez. There is no description that explains the meaning behind the painting, so I am assuming that it is up for interpretation.


For those who don’t know, the word “nopal” means “cactus” and there is a famous saying among us Mexicans, “con el nopal en la frente,” which translates to “with the cactus on the forehead.”


When I first saw the painting, my initial thought was about stereotypes or the pressure of being part of a stereotype. The phrase “with the cactus on your forehead” is usually said to Mexicans who “look Mexican” (Mexicans who have brown skin), and is sometimes used to invalidate Mexicans who don’t act the way they’re “supposed to act.”


As a person with brown skin, there are certain expectations that need to be met. Speak Spanish, read Spanish, write Spanish, and be a good representation of the people.


I have heard that phrase a lot, even from my own family. “Con el nopal en la frente y que no sepa hablar en español,” which means, “they can’t speak Spanish but they have the cactus on their forehead.”


When I look at this beautiful art piece, I see all of that. I see these words written on the painting. “I am not a disgrace and my skin doesn’t define if I am or not.”


I see how the painting speaks for many people who are tired of being judged based on their skin color.


White skinned Mexicans get praised for being able to speak Spanish but brown skinned Mexicans are expected to be able to speak Spanish and this painting screams for that to stop.



7 comentarios


Sabrina Picont
Sabrina Picont
04 mar 2022

In her article, "The Famous Cactus Stereotype in Mexican Culture," Elide Carbajal argues about how brown skinned Mexicans are being stereotyped by the way they might not meet a certain level of expectation. I agree with Elide, Knowing the phrase "con el nopal en la frente," shows how it's used mainly to brown skinned Mexicans who their spanish isn't well talked, written or read fluently. I feel like the way someone looks shouldn't be assumed, just because they come from a Mexican decent. Having this stereotype should be eliminated since it doesn't define who they are. Its a current of judgement and people think they have left behind their culture just by not speaking spanish.

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Ashley Carrillo
Ashley Carrillo
04 mar 2022

In her article, "The Famous Cactus Stereotype in Mexican Culture", Elide Carbajal-Perez argues how Mexicans are stereotyped by their outside looks. I agree with the writer because this stereotyped should be eliminated. Stereotype in general is wrong in every way as well. Mexicans get stereotyped because of the "high standards." For example like the writer said about being able to write in Spanish, speak it, to read it, and mainly understand it as well. Meaning that if you don't met the standards, you are less. Also we expect less from white skinned Mexicans and more from dark skinned ones, and that's not fair. We are the same race and have the same cultures as well meaning if we don't met…

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In her article, "The Famous Cactus Stereotype in Mexican Culture", Elide Carbajal-Perez argues how some individuals have certain expectations to meet mainly due to the way they look. I agree since the way we look shouldn't determine the way we should act. We should be free to act in ways that others may think to be contradictory to our appearance.

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In her article, "The Famous Cactus Stereotype in Mexican Culture," Elide Carbajal emphasizes the stereotype placed on Mexicans due to their appearance. And elide is right that the stereotype should be eliminated. Because it is not just that darker skinned Mexicans are set higher standards like be able to speak, write, and read fluently in Spanish, while lighter/white skinned Mexicans are not expected to do so at all.

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Juan Flores
Juan Flores
04 mar 2022

In her article, "The Famous Cactus Stereotype in Mexican Culture", Elide Carbajal argues that some Mexicans are still getting unfair expectations based on their skin color. I agree with Elide because there is always someone judging people based on their looks, including in my own family. We expect less from white skinned Mexicans and more from dark skinned ones, and that's not fair, even though they are the same race.

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