La Patrona Character Analysis

The ways in which the female and male protagonists are portrayed within a certain telenovela are representative of the gender roles present in that society. In many telenovelas, the traditional female protagonists are naive, innocent, and pure in many ways. While the male protagonists, on the other hand, are very machismo and overflowing with testosterone. In Mexico, the country in which this telenovela was made, women are expected to be amas de la casa (homemakers), caring for the home and the children while men work outside of the home (“Women” 2). There is also a hierarchal power structure in which a woman is often relegated to the demands and desires of her husband (Hirsch 2003). Despite these traditional roles, La Patrona has characters

Gabriella Suarez is the female protagonist in the telenovela La Patrona. She is an atypical heroine in that she does not have many of the characteristics of the quintessential female telenovela protagonist. She is not naive in her ways or thoughts, does not kneel to others in submission or shame, and is fiercely independent. For example, in episode 10 when Fransisca, her stepmother, states that “women are meant to be taken care of,” right away Gabriella retorts that “[she] can take care of herself.” In order to provide for her young son David, she works hard as a single-mother in an occupation that is dominated by the male demographic. As a result, she suffers through countless incidents of sexism and is on the receiving end of many accounts of disrespect from her peers. Though she tries to defend herself from such actions, the men don’t respect her wishes and continue to harass her. In episode 9, Gabriella returned to work and was once again, inappropriately touched and had demeaning remarks thrown at her. Despite her

However, Alejandro then appeared on the scene and threatened the man who disrespected her. He displayed his superiority over the other man through rank and power and stated that because Gabriella was now going to be his wife, no man would ever disrespect her like that again. At first glance, this might seem like a wonderful scene where the Knight in Shining Armor is coming to rescue his woman. However, one should realize that if Gabriella is never disrespected in the mine again, it would not be because that is what is right and just, or because of who she is, but simply because of who she is connected and married to. It would be because she is now presumably the fiancee of Alejandro, and because they respect him, but not her. This is a fundamental problem that is not acknowledged in many societies and other forms of entertainment. A woman should not be respected because of who she is associated with, but rather for