Preview

Free

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
481 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Free
“It is estimated about eleven million immigrant living in the United States, in which six million are Mexican” (Passel, 2005). Many Mexican will sacrifice their family culture and traditions to move to a foreign country for a better way of life. The change of life is difficult for traditional family, having to change their culture traditions and even having to add new ones can have a huge impact on families. Family is a very important factor for Mexican families, having that strong bond and respect for one another is what keeps them united. Families who migrate to the United States take along their culture and their language to maintain and promote it to their children. Families try to preserve the culture, by celebrating cultural traditions and rituals to make them feel closer to their Mexican roots. Having to obtain different traditions was not a negative experience for Mexican families; it was a way to come together and celebrate holidays from their new country. A traditional Mexican family lived by fathers rules the breadwinner, having mother at home caring for children and home. The changes in the home start to occur when both parents are out working, this take a toll on the children attitude and the stress with having to learn a new language. Maintaining the culture in their everyday life was important for immigrant parents, so their children can pass down to the next generation and know their background. But around the second generation of Mexican-American the culture tends to fade because parents do not maintain the culture their parents have taught them. The cost of getting ahead is having to change family cultures and traditions, “Parents chose to relocate to the United States for their families’ economic security and to get their children ahead with bilingual skills and a U.S. education.” (Bacallao and Smokowski, 2007). From all the change and sacrifices made to get ahead, La Familia is what keeps Mexican family united and strong.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Cultures are the roots that allow a person to remain grounded and stable, providing a group identity while allowing them to flower into an individual. But what happens when mixtures of opposing cultures come in conflict with imposing societal standards? What form will the culture take? In her book Borderlands/ La Frontera, Gloria Anzaldua uses poetic prose to relate her many years of anger from trying to integrate the clashing morals of her Mexican, American, and Indian cultures. Anzaldua ultimately concludes that for people caught in this clash, decolonization from both Mexican and American society, in order to create a new “borderland” culture, it is a productive and positive step toward psychological health.…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Enrique's Journey

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages

    uses Enrique’s story to present the negative long term effect immigration has on family. For…

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In particular, she explains her family’s inability to interact freely with individuals in Mexico due to their cultural transformation. The religion significantly helps Diana’s family conserve their customs and cope with the new culture by building new associations and assimilating into the American culture. Anzaldua renders hatred, exploitations, and anger as borderland features. Also, she emphasizes that the riposte to the challenges between natives and non-natives lies in culminating the differences in their languages, cultures, backgrounds, and thoughts. Takaki also asserts that without the principle of unity, the cultural multiplicity will tear America’s social fabrics (3).…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Culture and Richard

    • 1827 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Take a glance of what is cultural tradition. There are two types of cultural influences: Traditional culture and Non-traditional culture. The first one is a cultural construct rooted in traditions, rules, symbols, and principles established predominantly in the past. The other one which is often called modern is based on new principles, ideas, and practices. While the traditional tends to be conservative and intolerant to innovations, the non-cultural tradition tends to be absorbing and dynamic (Eric Shivaev & David Levy, 2007). Assimilation is a main subject in the Pocho and religion and gender are two other aspects that we focus on to see the problems. Jose Antonio Villareal, in his novel Pocho, pictured of assimilation as it applies to the experiences of Richard Rubio and his family. The Rubios are Mexicans attempting to start a new life in the United States, and the book records the difficulties they…

    • 1827 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    For decades Mexican people in the United States struggled to realize the 'American Dream.' And some--a few--have. But the cost, the ultimate cost of assimilation, required turning away from el barrio and la colonia. In the meantime, due to the racist structure of this society, to our essentially different life style, and to the socio-economic functions assigned to our community by Anglo-American society--as suppliers of cheap labor and a dumping ground for the small-time capitalist entrepreneur--the barrio and colonia remained exploited, impoverished, and marginal.…

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Final Ethnography Paper

    • 1437 Words
    • 5 Pages

    My analysis of the data retrieved from my observations began with the question: “In what ways does the environment of a border ‘society’ intensify or affect Mexican/American culture?” The Mexican and American culture are both extremely distinct, and when…

    • 1437 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some significant traditional values commonly shared by Latino would be in conflict with dominant-culture perspective and practices are their customs, values, religion, traditions and language (Spradlin, Parsons 2008, p. 115). A strong support system, a duty to care for immediate and extended family members, loyalty, and a belief that a child’s behavior reflects the honor of the family (Spradlin, Parsons, 2008, p. 116).…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One that participates in a culture provides them with a sense of belonging (Chávez, 1983). “With the process of learning is absorbed from a social environment, in the rituals, symbols, and actions that are communicated directly.” The social aspect of the Quinceañera has the purpose to teach and reinforce the important cultural values of the Hispanic culture. In the preparation for a Quinceañera, one is building, maintaining, and activating social networks. These networks are extended family members and people from the outside community. Many extended family members will help out with expenses (Lombardo, 2014). With this teachable moment, one learns how important communication is with one’s family and makes it different from other cultures. The cultural distinctiveness is the difference in the aspects of language, social organization, religion, and values that are a part of the Hispanic culture shown in the preparation, festivities, and purpose of the…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    For this assignment I interviewed Omar Bretado. He is a 25-year-old male who migrated to the United States with his family at the age of twelve. He and his family, like most immigrant families, came to the United States in hopes of a better future. Omar and his family migrated from Zacatecas, Mexico to Dallas, Texas. Omar tells me that he is glad that he was given such a wonderful opportunity when he came here. In Mexico, he lived with his three siblings, parents, grandparents, and a few aunts and uncles. The house was divided into three areas so that everyone could have a bit of privacy. I decided to interview Omar because he was able to shed some light on the differences he experienced between Mexico and the United States. Only having been here half of his life he has accomplished many things. He has finished his education, gotten a well-paid job, and has become a citizen of the United States. Although Omar had fun living in Mexico, he says that he would not change anything in his life. He is grateful for the time he was able to be in his home country and for the cultural that was instilled upon him all of his life.…

    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    The year is 1776. In an act of defiance of the oppressive rule of the powerful nation of Great Britain, the political leaders of the British-American colonies sign into existence the United States of America. Even before this inception of the United States, North America had been seen as a place where one could move to start a new life and reap the full rewards for one’s work. These opportunities combined with the new United States government founded on the ideals of freedom and equity have attracted countless families from all over the world, making the United States truly a country of immigrants. Immigrants from European nations coming to America both assimilated and helped to shape the culture of the nation. Others, either immigrants or those forced to come to the United States, were marked with distinguishable differences from the European majority. The Africans and Asians are examples of some of these minorities, but, in my belief, one of the groups that has had the most unique struggle to become part of the ‘great melting pot’ of America is the Latino culture. For many different reasons Latin Americans have struggled to assimilate with the American culture for hundreds of years.…

    • 1291 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    I grew up in a Mexican household filled with family, love, and warm greetings. We had many traditions within our family. I didn’t always feel like I belonged sometimes or that I was missing something. It could have been that I don’t speak Spanish as well as the rest of my family does or maybe I haven’t visited Mexico as much as they have. The traditions and culture are what brought us close together. We had family get togethers what seemed like every weekend, In reality it is more like every month. They didn’t have to be very formal at all, events like birthdays, weddings, quinceañeras, Christmas, and other holidays are all things that bring families together. And we definitely went all out.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cultural Interview

    • 1430 Words
    • 6 Pages

    My cultural interview was with a coworker, 28 years of age and of Hispanic descent. While conducting the interview I learned a lot about the Hispanic culture. Many Hispanics like to be called Latino (a). Some do not like to be referred to as Mexican when they are from other countries other than Mexico. Hispanics also use slang within their culture just like African Americans. Within the culture the male is the dominant figure in the household. All the decisions that affect the family go through the father. If there is no father in the house, the oldest son fulfills that role. The older son may drop out of school so that they may assist the mother at the house in the absence of the father. Many Hispanics usually marry fairly young and start to raise a family. When they get older they usually do not marry, but live together like husband and wife. The average number of members within the family is 7 including the mother and father. The mother is usually the caregiver and stays home to look after the children. The oldest daughter steps in and helps the mother out whenever she can. The grandparents are considered the second mom and dad. Their cousins are regarded as an extension of their siblings. My interviewee has 2 brothers who she is very close to. If her brothers tell her to do something even at age 28 she really makes sure she follows their directives. Her mother is divorced from her father, but he still plays an active part in her and her brothers’ life. The relationship between the mother and father is still very close even though they are not married. The relationship between the mother’s new boyfriend and ex- husband is very cordial and respectful in an attempt to maintain a loving and positive environment for their family.…

    • 1430 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mexican Migration

    • 1315 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Mexican communities exist in all states of the America but stresses its presence in California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York and Washington. “Living and working in Spanish-speaking communities does not differ fundamentally from the social patterns followed by German, Dutch, Italian and Polish immigrants in earlier US history.” (Masterson, Daniel M., and George J. Borjas, 214)…

    • 1315 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    First, the Hispanic traditions from my family have taught me important life lessons. Since I was a kid, people who really care for my progress and me have always surrounded me. These people are my family. I’m convinced that my Hispanic heritage has been an imperative factor while determining the importance…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Specifically, he explores the complexities of the feeling of belonging in Mexican immigrant populations who are unsure where to call ‘home’. This article is important to me because it reminds me how my parents experienced when they migrated to the US mainland from Puerto Rico. They moved in hopes of providing a better life for me the rest of extended family in Puerto Rico. Since I grew up in a semi-Hispanic culture, I know how family is very important and central to our culture. Thus, while reading Striffler’s article, I was able to relate to Mexican immigrants who left to work in the US and collect money to sustain their families back in Mexico. Similar to how Mexican immigrants who were exploited by US food industries, my parents are experiencing similar exploitations from the government and their jobs. Although the level of severity for economic stability probably not the same, my parents are bound to live in low-income housing similar to how Mexican immigrants were forced to shift to permanent residence in the US. Additionally, my parents raised in a predominantly American culture with a little bit of Hispanic culture. Although I was not born in Puerto Rico, a part of me still feels that “home” is there because Puerto Rico is where my family is. This is similar to how the decedents of Mexican immigrants visit their “home” in Santo…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays