University of Illinois Press In Search of Belonging: Latinas, Media, and Citizenship (Latinos in Chicago and Midwest)

In Search of Belonging explores the ways Latina/o audiences in general, and women in particular, make sense of and engage both mainstream and Spanish-language media. Jillian M. Báez’s eye-opening ethnographic analysis draws on the experiences of a diverse group of Latinas in Chicago. In-depth interviews reveal Latinas viewing media images through a lens of citizenship. These women search for nothing less than recognition―and belonging―through representations of Latinas in films, advertising, telenovelas, and TV shows like Ugly Betty and Modern Family. Báez's personal interactions and research merge to create a fascinating portrait, one that privileges the perspectives of the women themselves as they consume media in complex, unpredictable ways. Innovative and informed by a wealth of new evidence, In Search of Belonging answers important questions about the ways Latinas perform citizenship in today’s America. Review Bonnie Ritter Outstanding Feminist Book Award, Feminist & Women Studies Division of the National Communication Association, 2019― the National Communication Association From the Author Jillian M. Báez is an assistant professor in the Department of Media Culture at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York. About the Author Jillian M. Báez is an assistant professor in the Department of Media Culture at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York.