1. Situational Pressures
The first type of discrimination is situational pressure. The previous explanation says that whether or not discrimination occurs depends on the social situation. This
type of discrimination occurs because there is a pressure from a powerful person or a group of people toward people with less power, so that the people with less power
will do exactly like what the powerful person wants. This type of discrimination can be clearly seen in Los Vendidos. It can be seen
from the Secretary’s characteristic. It has been explained before in the previous part, Secretary asks Sancho to give her a model which is hard working, has tanned skin,
and economical. These characteristics can be found in Farmworker, so Sancho introduces him to Secretary. It is supposed to be an ideal model for her, but when
Secretary knows the truth that Farmworker cannot speak English, she easily decides not to hire him for the administration office. From this point, it can be seen that
Secretary is under command of the powerful one, in this story it is the institution where Secretary works. She has to obey the command by finding a person who can
speak English. Even though Farmworker is an ideal model for Secretary, but she cannot choose him because of his disability in speaking English. The one who can
work in the administration should have the ability of speaking English. On the contrary, Farmworker can only speak Spanish. It shows that Farmworker does not get
proper education so he cannot speak English, it also represents that he has Mexican characteristics, it means that most of Mexican people speak Spanish instead of
English. Because of that, Secretary cannot choose Farmworker. She has to choose the one that appropriate with the administration office needs, who can speak English.
The same treatment is given to Johnny Pachuco. After rejecting Farmworker because he cannot speak English, she finds a sophisticated model.
SECRETARY: I hope so. What we need is something a little more sophisticated.
SECRETARY: An urban model. SANCHO: Ah, from the city Step right back. Over here in this corner of the
shop is exactly what you’re looking for. Introducing our new 1969 JOHNNY PACHUCO model Valdez, 2000: 1010
Secretary clearly stated that, “We need something a little more sophisticated.” Then Sancho introduces her to Johnny. At first, she does not know about Johnny’s
background. However, Johnny slowly reveals himself as a criminal. He is a former prisoner, he is impolite by saying the unmentionable word to Secretary, he consumes
drugs, and the last is he steals the Secretary’s purse. Johnny Pachuco is the only one who is stereotyped as a criminal. The first
reason is because of his appearance and the second is because of his behavior. The appearance which is very rare is considered as an uncommon style that is worn by
Mexican people. From the previous explanation, it can be known about the characteristics and the history of Pachuco itself. They got stereotyped as a criminal
because of the murder they did and many of them got arrested. This incident happened long time ago but the image of Pachucos is still negative. In the text, it is
told that Johnny always brings a knife because he knife fights Valdez, 2000: 1010.
This habit is misunderstood by the Secretary, she is afraid that Johnny will do a crime. However, it is for instance survival.
The image of Mexican people as a second class citizen makes them easily
accused as criminals by the society Castillo, 2008: 14. They are directly stereotyped
as gangster or criminals by the society. It makes Secretary rejects him, even though Johnny is a sophisticated model that Secretary wants. The situational pressure
discrimination also occurs here, Secretary cannot choose what she wants for herself, and she has to consider what the office needs.
Another unfair treatment from Secretary is given to Revolucionario. After she rejects Johnny Pachuco because he is not suitable with the criteria, she asks Sancho to
give her the one who is more traditional and more romantic. SECRETARY: Mr. Sancho, I don’t think you quite understand what we need.
What we need is something that will attract the women voters. Something more traditional, more romantic. Valdez, 2000: 1011
Afterward, Sancho introduces Revolucionario to the Secretary. Revolucionario can impress the Secretary with his abilities. From the previous part, it has been
discussed about the characteristics of Revolucionario that is well- built, strong, and courageous. He is the ideal model for Secretary, because he is also described as a
romantic person. However, after Secretary knows about the fact that Revolucionario is made in Mexico, Secretary refuses to hire him in administration.
The war experience created changes in women participation in the job place, after 1945 the rate of Mexican American women who entered white collar jobs was
increasing Castillo, 2008: 63. This quotation shows that Mexican American women tries to get white collar job, it is a kind of their movement from the war experience
they had. The economic problem and discrimination are the reasons why women were forced to work in some institution.
The situation of the war makes the role of women in the workplace very important.
There is a factual experience that describes Secretary, this girl named Maria. Maria decided to get a job as secretary. At that time Mexican girls are expected to be
maids not white collar workers. When she applied for the job, they questioned her citizenship, and she defined herself as an American of Mexican descent. She was
hired, but she felt like the contradiction of the double identity, the Mexican Americans were being called upon to be loyal to Americans and sacrifice for their
country Castillo, 2008: 58. At that time, there were not too many opportunities of having a job as a
secretary offered to Mexican women. Because of that, when a woman have a job as a secretary, she tries to define herself as an American to have security and social
acceptance. In this case, Secretary defines herself as an American by using English a lot in her conversation and also by pronouncing her name with American style.
The experience of being discriminated forces Secretary to survive in order she is not discriminated by other people. By discriminating Farmworker, Johnny
Pachuco, and Revolucionario and has a job a secretary, she would not be
discriminated. She sacrifices her own identity as a Mexican descent to be an American. She also refuses to hire the models with Mexican characteristics, because
she has to obey the command of the powerful one, in this text it is the institution where Secretary works.
The term “we” that Secretary usually use in every conversation is representing that it is not only her but also the whole company or someone who gave command to
her to find a model that is suitable for the administration. From the three models offered to her, there are similarities between them.
Farmworker is stereotyped as an uneducated person. The second is Johnny Pachuco, he is stereotyped as a criminal by the society. They represent the Mexican
characteristics. The three models are suitable with Secretary’s criteria, such as hardworking, durable, romantic, sophisticated, and well built. However, each of them
has inadequacies and has Mexican characteristics, so Secretary cannot choose them. She does not choose the model through the ability, but decides through the race.
This condition is called a situational pressure. The pressure is felt by Secretary when she has to buy someone who is appropriate with the office needs, someone who
does not have the Mexican characteristics. The criteria are given by the institution to find someone who comes from a high class, such as well educated and able to speak
English. At that time there are only a little Mexican citizen who have those criteria, so someone whose race is Mexican cannot work in the office, because people
considered them as under- developed race. This situation describes that discrimination toward Mexican citizen is exist.
2. Group Gains
Kategori