Taming the Wild Woman in Twenty-First-Century Mexican Telenovelas

Abstract:A genre within the genre of Mexican telenovelas is the rurally set production that establishes a feudal-like context for characters whose attitudes and behaviors are anachronistic and might best be described as a rejection of modernity. One aspect of this rejection is seen in the treatment of women who do not conform to traditional, that is, Marianist, standards of womanhood. The "wild woman" of these telenovelas initially pushes the boundaries of gender roles, but before the final chapter, romantic love and motherhood tame her. Because telenovelas have been shown to have a didactic effect on the viewing audience, the investigation at hand not only analyzes the representation of these women and their eventual taming but also considers the potential impact of such portrayals on the viewing audience. The telenovelas that I point to in this study aired on Mexico's national channel, Televisa, and later on Univisión: Apuesta por un amor (Gambling on Love) (2004–2005), Fuego en la sangre (Burning for Revenge) (2008), Soy tu dueña (A Woman of Steel) (2010), and La que no podía amar (The One Who Couldn't Love) (2011–2012).