La Tóxica: A Gender Role Stereotype for Latinas and Its Perceived Influence on Intimate Partner Violence Behaviors

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among Latinx college students. Gender role stereotypes influence the ways IPV is perceived and sometimes tolerated within the Latinx culture. In addition, social media can shape the messages individuals receive about what is healthy and unhealthy in romantic relationships. La tóxica (the toxic woman) is a Latinx gender stereotype often used to describe controlling and demanding women. However, as the term has become more common, its colloquial meaning and the associated behaviors have expanded. The purpose of this study was to explore an emerging gender role stereotype of the label la tóxica among Latinxs. This study included 19 undergraduate Latinx college students. We used a conventional qualitative analysis approach to analyze the data. The participants were interviewed in English and responded to questions related to the concept of la tóxica. Interviews lasted an average of 93 minutes. Specifically, we sought to fill a gap in the literature regarding how the la tóxica label operates as a culturally embedded term that draws on feminine stereotypes and power, while reframing women's behavior in relationships. The qualitative data analysis yielded three themes: vernacular reframing and memetic spread, gendered scripts of power in intimate relationships, and love as leverage: normalizing control in relationships. These results are discussed in the context of intimate partner violence, gender roles, and the media's influence on the dissemination of gender role stereotypes.