Real Women Have Curves

Director: Patricia Cardoso
Producer: Effie Brown, George LaVoo
Screenwriter: George LaVoo, Josefina Lopez
Stars: America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros, Ingrid Oliu, George Lopez, Brian Sites
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Year of Release: 2002
Released on Video: 04/22/2003

“Curvy” Ana Garcia is the daughter of Mexican immigrants living in Los Angeles. Focusing on her academic skills, she is so successful that one of her teachers thinks that she has a good chance of making it into Columbia University. Society’s standards of beauty and the fact that her family does not want Ana to attempt such lofty goals undermine her positive self-image. When she has to work in her sister’s dingy little seamstress shop, Ana stands proudly in the middle of her cohorts and proclaims her independence of society's vision.

Ask Yourself:

- How did you feel when you observed Ana accepting herself?
- How and where in your life could you adopt this behavior to focus on your true capacities?
- How would this make you feel?
- How would it affect your self-esteem?