Cultural Identity Interview and Analysis
Cultural Identity Interview and Analysis
Student
Axia College of University of Phoenix
INS 205 Introduction to World Cultures and Social Environments
Instructor
Date
Cultural Identity Interview and Analysis An interview with a member of the Mexican American community was conducted on December 1st, 2007. This research will provide a summary of that interview; particularly, it will include a description of the rules, norms, traditions, and values of Mexican American culture. The research will also discuss: a) how the assumptions regarding cultural norms affect the interviewee’s behavior in his daily life; b) any disadvantages related to his culture being outside “the norm” and how he reacts to that; c) any advantages related to being assimilated to the “normative” culture and how he reacts; d) his sources of strength or support; e) an analysis of the four dimension theory and how it relates to the interviewee’s life. Finally, the research will provide some insight on how one can effectively communicate with people of other cultures. In fact, communication with various members that belong to other ethnic groups (i.e. Arab Americans, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, etc) may be difficult some at times because of the cultural difference that exists between the groups. Jose Luis Aguilar was born in Tijuana, Mexico on January 7th, 1972. Mexican is the ethnic group he belongs. He lived in Mexico for 29 years. In 2001, he immigrated in Los Angeles, California. Job opportunities, presence of family members, and the presence of a massive Mexican community were the factors that brought him to immigrate into the United States. Mexican Americans are the largest Hispanic or Latino ethnic group in the United States. According to the 2000 Census, approximately 20 million Hispanic or Latinos of the 35 million in the United States are Mexican Americans (U.S. Census, 2000). Mr. Aguilar’s native language is Spanish. However, during the past years spent in
Student
Axia College of University of Phoenix
INS 205 Introduction to World Cultures and Social Environments
Instructor
Date
Cultural Identity Interview and Analysis An interview with a member of the Mexican American community was conducted on December 1st, 2007. This research will provide a summary of that interview; particularly, it will include a description of the rules, norms, traditions, and values of Mexican American culture. The research will also discuss: a) how the assumptions regarding cultural norms affect the interviewee’s behavior in his daily life; b) any disadvantages related to his culture being outside “the norm” and how he reacts to that; c) any advantages related to being assimilated to the “normative” culture and how he reacts; d) his sources of strength or support; e) an analysis of the four dimension theory and how it relates to the interviewee’s life. Finally, the research will provide some insight on how one can effectively communicate with people of other cultures. In fact, communication with various members that belong to other ethnic groups (i.e. Arab Americans, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, etc) may be difficult some at times because of the cultural difference that exists between the groups. Jose Luis Aguilar was born in Tijuana, Mexico on January 7th, 1972. Mexican is the ethnic group he belongs. He lived in Mexico for 29 years. In 2001, he immigrated in Los Angeles, California. Job opportunities, presence of family members, and the presence of a massive Mexican community were the factors that brought him to immigrate into the United States. Mexican Americans are the largest Hispanic or Latino ethnic group in the United States. According to the 2000 Census, approximately 20 million Hispanic or Latinos of the 35 million in the United States are Mexican Americans (U.S. Census, 2000). Mr. Aguilar’s native language is Spanish. However, during the past years spent in
References: Jandt, F. E. (2007). An introduction to intercultural communication (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Mattel Inc Murray, B. (2006, January). Latino Religion in the U.S.: Demographic Shifts and Trends. Retrieved on August 19, 2007 from http://www.facsnet.org/issues/faith/espinosa.php Niska, K Perspective. Retrieved on August 19, 2007 from http://nsq.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/14/4/322 NC Times.com (2008, January). For Latino Catholics, Quinceanera ritual provides lessons on faith, family ---- and sex. Retrieved on January 11, 2008 from http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/01/05/faith/17_56_271_3_08.txt Schaefer, R.T Spener D. (2000). Mexican labor at the center of North American economic integration. Retrieved on August 19, 2007 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3688/is_200007/ai_n8892489 U.S on August 19, 2007 from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&- geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U