Deconstructing Stereotypes: The Impact of Representations of Black Women in Ecuadorian Literature

Abstract

The representation of Black women in Ecuadorian literature is a crucial topic for understanding the construction of social, cultural, and political identities throughout the history of Ecuador. This study focused on how Ecuadorian writers, particularly those from the Guayaquil Group and Esmeraldan Black literati, have portrayed Black women from the 1930s to the present. The aim of the research is to analyze the literary representations of these women, exploring both stereotypical images and narratives that challenge colonial and racial power structures and discrimination, using a qualitative methodology based on content analysis of selected works, with a particular emphasis on the representations of Black women and their relationship with social stereotypes. Through the review of novels, short stories, and essays, narrative characteristics and symbols were identified that reflect Black women's struggles for their identity and rights. Among the conclusions, it was found that, although the representations of Black women have historically been marked by colonialist stereotypes, there are also representations that subvert these constructions, presenting them as figures of struggle, resistance, and empowerment. These literary representations not only make racial and gender discrimination visible but also serve as a strategic tool for affirming ethnic-racial identity and social transformation in contemporary Ecuador.