The Myth of the Latin Woman (also known under the title Just Met a Girl Named Maria) is a non-fiction essay written by Puerto Rican author Judith Ortiz Cofer.
Stating "that it became quickly obvious that to the Puerto Rican girls 'dressing up' meant wearing their mother's ornate jewelry and clothing" (231-232).
She confides how years later she was informed by a friend (an Italian American) at the business school she was attending the Latino girls stood out for wearing "everything at once" (232).
This man continues his intrusion by reciting a crude version of the song "La Bamba" revised to reinforce this promiscuous stereotype.
Cofer continues to reveal the "myth of the Latino woman" as being the menial housemaid or domestic by going on to share, how when at a speaking engagement she was confused by one of the attendees as one of the service staff.
She was the featured speaker and the woman who had called upon her for a cup of coffee would soon find herself plagued by her stereotypical presumptions.