...Chapter 2. Overview of Mexican Culture This chapter provides an overview of Mexican culture in terms of social structure, family, gender, religion, language, literacy, communication styles, socioeconomic position, traditional health beliefs and practices, and health care-seeking behaviors. Readers are cautioned to avoid stereotyping Mexicans on the basis of these broad generalizations. Also note that Mexican culture, as all others, is dynamic and expressed in various ways, owing to individual life experience and personality. Some Mexicans living in the United States may be more or less acculturated to mainstream U.S. culture. Social Structure, Family, and Gender Typically, Mexican households in the United States consist of five or more people (Therrien & Ramirez, 2001). The traditional patriarchal structure grants the father or oldest male relative the greatest power, whereas women are expected to show submission (Kemp & Rasbridge, 2004). Though a matriarch often determines when a family member needs medical care, the male head still gives permission to seek treatment (Smith, 2000). The entire family, however, may be involved in the decision-making process (Galanti, 2004). Religion Christianity is the most common religion. Most Mexicans (89%) identify themselves as Catholic, while a smaller percentage (6%) identify themselves as Protestant (U.S. Department of State, 2004). Faith and church are often central to family and community...
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...ENGL 1301 April 29, 2014 American and Mexican Culture Thesis: It is very important to know how México’s and United States’ culture make their principles valued and how they have been influenced through time. ENGL 1301 April 29, 2014 American and Mexican Culture History through the years has changed the development of cultures around the world. Culture is the distinguishing aspects of a specific group of people, defined by everything within it. México and United States share some characteristics and the following are examples: arts, foods, holidays, and religions. It is very important to know how México’s and United States’ culture make their principles valued and how they have been influenced through time. México is a distinctive country that is differentiated by its porcelain, cotton fabrics clothes, and wool scarfs. Their traditional creations of art produced a sense of pride. Artistic legacy has played an important role in Mexican patrimony. “Current research on hybridity in the visual arts helps to tease out Euro-Christian and Mesoamerican forms and meanings in the ritual objects that nuns wore on their bodies” (Cordova 449). Traditional origins with colonial inspirations have continued to influence Mexico’s music. In the United States art involves the history of painting and visual drawings. “German painter Otto Dix reproduced the nightmare of World War I in works so disturbing they were banned from exhibition and destroyed by the Nazis” (Lifson 9). Artists painted...
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...There are many different amazing cultures in this world and many of them live within just a couple miles from my home. Islamic, African American, Hispanic, and Indian all live right here in West Virginia. Each culture is different in so many ways and it is very important to be able to distinguish the differences between them, especially when it comes to healthcare. A person’s culture can affect their healthcare in so many ways. Some cultures prefer no treatment for illnesses and others prefer not to have a male nurse taking care of their wife and vis versa. Every culture is unique and as a healthcare provider, it is very important to know. Literature Review Nurses are taught to respect different cultures when it comes to care and support the patient with their decisions. A nurse is who listens to the patient’s needs when it comes to physical, emotional, religious, or spiritual needs. Each person is unique with their culture and it is important for the nurse to realize that and respect it. They are taught to look at the culture from the patient’s perspective and respect it in order to give culturally competent care. Diversity has many definitions, although most are put into categories such as gender, physical, environmental, spiritual, and culture,...
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...A culture is created by a group of people who share the same beliefs and values. Whether it is a new group of people or an existing group, a culture is shaped by people uniting and sticking together toward a common objective. Some examples of cultures are Asian, African, Italian, Middle Eastern, and Hawaiian cultures each with its own customs, traditions, and practices that are shaped by historical and social factors. In shaping a culture, history plays a huge role in the traditions and heritage that are passed down for generations. Giving thought to Mexican American culture Zoot Suits, farm workers, and many other movements have helped shape what we know as Mexican American culture today. To fully understand the Mexican-American culture, we...
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...During the plane ride to our vacation destination, I found myself wondering how different Mexican culture would be compared to American culture. Is Cancun, Mexico rich in traditional culture or now too Americanized to experience the true meaning of their culture? Traveling to Cancun was the most eye opening experience of my life. Traditional customs and family values of the Mexican people changed my perspective on how I viewed my own traditional American family values. Never traveling out of the United States before I couldn’t hide my excitement and nervousness as the small plane began to descend onto the runway. Dan, my husband having been out of the country a few times before found my excitement to be quite amusing. Grabbing our luggage, my husband and I made our way through customs and headed towards the big glass doors into a seemingly different world. My first thought was how hot and humid the air was in this tropical paradise filled with sweeping palm trees and the salty smell of the ocean breeze. We exchanged our US dollars for Mexican pesos and jumped into a cab headed for the resort we would be vacationing at for the next five days. The cab driver let us out at the entrance to the resort and politely said...
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...Culturally Competent Care for Mexican-Americans Terry A. Stevens Grand Canyon University: NUR 502- Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles and Practice January 13, 2016 Culturally Competent Care for Mexican-Americans For centuries nursing has been a dynamic, this is constantly evolving and adapting in response to a wide range of stimuli. A recent circumstance that has influenced nursing considerably is the consumer mandate for culturally competent care in an increasingly diverse, multicultural society. Although Euro-American culture has reign superior in the United States, the nation has shifted to a conviction where various ethnic, racial, and religious groups thrive in a single society. As a result, the importance of culturally competent care and understanding cultural differences is crucial for the nursing profession. This manuscript focuses on the Mexican-American culture. This particular culture was selected because Mexican-Americans represent the largest and fastest-growing minority population in the United States (Eggenberger, S.K., Grassley, J. & Restrepo E., 2006). Furthermore, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the United States. The prevalence of the Mexican-American population suggests the need for nurses to become more accustomed with Mexican-American culture and values. The purpose of this document is to promote nurses’ awareness of culturally constructed concepts of the Mexican-American culture in order to provide culturally competent...
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...Hispanic American Diversity NAME CLASS DATE TEACHER Hispanic American Diversity When we look at people's it's interesting to see that they are different in some ways yet alike in other ways. The people may be from different parts of the world, however, they share the same language, religious beliefs and even skin color. Some people are very protective of their cultures and become offended if you mistake their culture for a similar culture. Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans and Latinos are four groups that fit into this category. This research paper will give us an in-depth look at each group identifying their similarities and their differences. Mexico is a Latin country with a complex culture that spans different times in history. The Mexicans are proud of their country, culture and lifestyle and try to preserve it as much as possible even when they are living anywhere other than Mexico. Out of the 26.4 million Hispanics that live in America, 64% of them are Mexican Americans (Thinkquest.org). The Mexican American culture is a mixture of the Mexican culture and the American culture and often causes them to stand out. The primary influence comes from Spain while the secondary influence comes from America. Mexican Americans have strong ties to their families loving each other and taking care of each other. Honor within the family connects all the members together and loyalty without question is expected. They work hard, strive to live in...
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...minorities and a person who did not speak Spanish was often made fun of. The barrios, or neighborhoods, were home to thousands of Mexican immigrants who’d come to the United Sates in hopes of better lives for their children. The chavalitos, or children, of these people were first generation American and were Chicanos, that is, American children born of full-blooded Mexican parents. I always considered myself a Chicana; I never called myself Mexican or American. To me, this was normal because I had never been around people who were different. When I left my hometown, I realized that most people outside of the Mexican-American community did not fully understand what it meant to be a Chicano or had no idea what the word meant. The word Chicano traces back to the pre-Columbian era, when Mexico was still Meshico. It stems from Meshicano, an ancient Nahuatl word used by the Aztecs meaning “native.” The natives referred to themselves as Meshicanos, and even Shicanos, thus giving birth to the term “Chicano”. The term made its appearance in America, and was used to identify children born on American soil of Mexican descent. Our forefathers came to America seeking better lives and new opportunities for their children. With them, they brought their culture: music, food, customs and traditions. The combination of this with mainstream American culture is where we Chicanos get our way of life. An example of this is Spanglish, our own language. Spanglish is a combination of Spanish...
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...Mexican Americans There are many ethnicity cultures and race in the world. One of such ethnic groups is Hispanics. Hispanics can be identified or categorized in such ethnic groups. Hispanic Americans are Mexican with origin in a country of Latin American and countries in Europe such as Portugal and Spain. Under the Hispanic sub group we do find Mexican American who are Americans with Mexican decent. The median age of Mexican American is 24 years, which makes them the youngest Hispanic groups. In fact, 71 percent of the Mexican- Americans population is under 35. (U.S Bureau of the Census. , March 1989). The average size of the Mexican- American household is at 4.1 persons is the largest among the Hispanic groups. Through the early 1900’s Mexican Americans were mainly in rural and agricultural people, but today 90% of the populations is estimated to live in metropolitan areas. 73% of them lived in California and Texas in the 1980’s. Mexican American are the least well educated group among both major Hispanic groups and among the total U.S population. The dropout rate among Mexican American students is estimated at 40 percent or more. (Valdiveso, 1988). Lack of education probably contributes to the fact that as a group, Mexican Americans have lower status occupations than does the U.S populations as a whole. They concentrate on farm work and service occupations. Lower status jobs translate into lower income and higher poverty rates. The median family income of Mexican Americans...
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...Hispanic American Diversity The United States has always been a country that has many diverse racial and ethnic groups. The United States has the highest and fastest growing minority group, the Hispanics. The population of Hispanics continues to grow every year and they have become a big part of the United States. I believe Hispanics play a major role in the United States and they have a lot to offer. The Hispanic population helps to support the economy and the work force. Hispanic groups have always played an important part in the growth of the United States. The first Hispanic group that I will be talking about is the Puerto Rican group. The Jones Act of 1917 made Puerto Ricans living in the island of Puerto Rico and the mainland American citizens. Puerto Ricans are a Spanish speaking group that maintains a close relationship with their ethnicity. Puerto Ricans consider themselves to be Americans, but they are still proud of their culture and where they come from. Puerto Ricans are very nice people and they always make one feel at home. Puerto Ricans usually greet people with a hug and kiss on the cheeks (Schaefer, 2006). Family life and the amount of time they spend with their family are very important to the Puerto Rican society as well as other Hispanic groups. Puerto Ricans usually call themselves Boricuas. Puerto Ricans usually live close to family members and attend activities such as going to church, which is a very important part of...
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...significance and neighbors the United States of America. The United States of America is traditional and within the country, many cultures exist. The work ethic and language, within intercultural communication in Mexico and the United States of America, are similar. The population of the United States exceeds 313 million people and this statistic results in America as the third largest country in the world. The diverse population of the United States is 64 percent Caucasian, 16 percent Hispanic, 13 percent Black, five percent Asian and Pacific Islander, and one percent Native American. One could state that the United States of America consists of a plethora of cultures. The population of Mexico is 113.7 million people and increasing 1.10 percent annually (Huntington, 2005). Mexico’s population is an estimated 60 percent mixture of with indigenous heritage and Spanish. The multiple indigenous groups are approximately 30 percent, and the European ancestry is approximately nine percent. The largest city in Mexico is Mexico City and New York is the largest city in the United States of America. The two cities are over 17 million, another similarity between the two countries (Rosenberg, 2013). The United States of America and Mexico differ in values, patterns in language, beliefs, and values. The average American generally speaks English and the average Mexican generally speaks Spanish. Throughout areas in both countries, various individuals speak both English and Spanish. The knowledge...
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...Hispanic-Americans make up a large ethnic group in the United States. Many Americans believe Hispanics are much the same and group them together (panethnicity) but, in fact, the groups are very diverse. Hispanics come from a variety of different cultures and include Mexican-Americans, Puerto Rican-Americans, Cuban-Americans, and Central Americans. Each of these groups vary in their customs, religious beliefs, political views, family views, and other conventions that make them similar in some ways, and very different in others (Franklin, 2009). This paper will discuss the various cultures of Mexican-Americans, Puerto Rican-Americans, Cuban-Americans, and Venezuelan-Americans in America. Mexican-Americans As a result of the Mexican-American war, about 80,000 Mexicans resided in the United States due to the accumulation of New Mexico and California. Even though many returned to Mexico, the majority stayed in the United States and gained their citizenship after two years (Englekirk and Martin, 2009). Since then, Mexican immigration to the United States has grown significantly and for various reasons. Today, Mexican-Americans make up about two thirds of the Hispanic population in the United States (Schaefer, 2006). The first indigenous Mexican people were various Indians such as Mixtec, Aztec, Mayan, Olmec, Toltec, Zapotec, and Teotihuacan who assimilated with Spaniards after Spain invaded Mexico. Mexican families were typically male dominated but close-knit due to respect...
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...in the national political arena before the 1960s. That changed when John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960, this established Latinos as a significant voting bloc. After Kennedy was sworn into office, he appointed Hispanics to posts in his administration but he also considered the concerns of the Hispanic community. Mexican Americans began demanding that reforms be made in labor, education, and other sectors to meet their needs. Chicano radicals began demanding that the land is given to Mexican Americans during the civil rights era. They believed that it constituted...
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...Cuban Americans Cuban Americans started forming communities in the United States during the late nineteenth century. Most people when you mention the word Cuban first though may be Cuban cigars, Cigar manufacturers started coming into the United States in the 1860’s looking to avoid the political issues in Cuba. By the mid 1980’s Cuban Americans served in the state legislature, in 1981 the Cuban American National Founded was founded and was based in Washington, D.C., they voiced anti Castro views and had an influence on United States policy toward Cuba. Cubans dominant religious beliefs follow Catholicism; you will also find protestant, Muslim, Jewish and Santeria (a mixture of Catholic religion with the traditional African religion). The median household income for Cubans is higher than that of other Hispanic Americans, the average Cuban American income is around $38,000, native born Cuban Americans have a higher median income than that of non-Hispanic whites ($50,000 vs. $48,000). Cubans living outside of Florida have a higher median income then those living in Florida. The family values have changed for many Cuban households those that came into the country first focused more on educating their children then teaching them family beliefs, many elderly Cubans prefer to living in Miami prefer to live alone. The family lives have changed over the last 30 years, part of this is from acculturation between generations. Mexican Americans Mexican-Americans have been...
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...(Betancourt, Green, Carrillo, 2002). As a consequence, care providers need cultural assessment tools that will enable them to elicit sensitive racial and ethnic information. The Heritage Assessment Tool provides care givers with such a tool. This paper examines the application of this tool on three different cultures and discusses its usefulness in planning for the maintenance, protection, and restoration of the health of diverse cultures. Three families of Mexican American, European American, and African American heritages were assessed using the Heritage Assessment Tool. The tool consists of 29 questions that determine how deeply an individual identifies with a certain tradition and answers to the questions provide cues on patients’ health traditions. The tool is based on the understanding that all patients are unique cultural beings, with personal health traditions and affected by cultural phenomena (Spector, 2013). The tool reveals an individual’s traditional health and illness beliefs and practices, and is important in deciding the suitable community care resources (p. 376-378). After performing a heritage assessment on the Mexican American, European American, and African American families, common health traditions based on cultural were...
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