The Representation of Immigrant Women in Spain Through Cinema and Spanish Literature of the 21st Century

Abstract

This article discusses the female immigrant of the 21st century in Spain from a cinematographic and literary point of view. After explaining what immigration is and which are the factors that influence this growing phenomena, several films cinema and literaty works dealing with immigration are presented: the movies A mi madre le gustan las mujeres (2001) by Daniela Féjerman, Canciones de amor en Lolita’s Club (2007) by Vicente Aranda, Evelyn (2012) by Isabel de Ocampo, and the novels La patera (2000) by Mahi Binebine, Las voces del Estrecho (2016) by Andrés Sorel, Deshojando alcachofas (2005) by Esther Bendahan. On one hand the selected films and books give an overview of the immigrant women focusing on stereotypes and prejudices shared by Western societies. On the other hand, they give a realistic and objective representation, showing the inferior position and the exploitation that the immigrant women have to endure.