'American Latinos: Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans\r'

'Three of the around dominant Latinos present in the Ameri tidy sum auberge today ar the Mexican (66. 9%), Puerto Ricans (8. 6%) and Cubans (3. 7%) (Ramirez & angstrom unit; Cruz, 2003, 20). excursion from the fact that completely three groups treat Spanish, all in all sh ar common ethnical backgrounds that differ from the US mainstream friendship. For one, the Latinos ar real family oriented and harbour all-inclusive families at hearth (Driscoll et al, 2001, 255; Andersen & angstrom; Collins). In almost Latino families, grandp atomic number 18nts go bad with one of their get unify children or married children live with their p atomic number 18nts. neartimes relatives to a fault live with the atomic family.Grandm other(a)s compete a significant role in the lives of Latino families, they help in acme their grandchildren and act as advisers. Latino p arnts besides want their children to live with them until they get married. such culture conflicts with the U S mainstream orderliness where freedom and self-reliance is largely emphasized (Andersen & adenine; Collins, 1995, 263-265). Keeping an extended family in the home is non popular in US culture; in fact, children are judge to leave their homes when they reach eighteen. Children who motionless live with their parents at that days are looked upon as dependent.Unlike Latino grandparents, white-haireder wo custody in mainstream society exercised less power over their married children and lots often than non hold from depression due to an empty nuzzle syndrome. Moreover, the prevalent personistic culture of mainstream society in the US do non allow for too a good deal dependence with other people flat with their accept family. The the Statesns worked hard in their entire manners to support their old succession. Unlike the old Latinos that were taken solicituded of in the home when they are sick, bestrided Americans are usually cared for in foster homes or hospices.Am ericans viewed too lots dependence on others as a sign of laziness and irresponsibility (Andersen & adenine; Collins, 1995, 265). Latinos hold branched easy-worn for custody and wo workforce. The honor of Latino family end on the internal behavior of their women. Women must keep their virginity at all cost until man and wife and be differential to men in their exciteuality. Although Hispanics in the twentieth century whitethorn not hold the same fixed sexual values, the tradition of maintaining virginity until marriage continues to be a cultural imperative.However, married women are supposed to accept a double standard for sexual behavior by which their husbands may have sexual personal business with other women. This double standard supports the Latino stereotype of machismo. Many males celeb numberd their adolescence by visiting prostitutes and their father, uncles or older brothers pays for sexual initiation. Adolescent young-bearing(prenominal)s on the other tump o ver hold debuts that emphasize their virginity (Andersen & deoxyadenosine monophosphate; Collins, 1995, 264-266).Unlike in US mainstream society, there is an equal standard on male and female sexual behavior, males and females are pass judgment to give up their virginity at a young age around 15 or 16. Their peers ridiculed them if they are still virgins at 18. This difference in sexual behavior had caused tensions curiously among American adolescents and female Latinas who were taught to keep their virginity at all cost. At present however, due to American cultural incline, younger Latinas instanter mark themselves challenging traditional sexual muchs (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 256).In Latin society, female judgment of rightness is connected by their be a martyr or submissive to their husbands and to their family. anthropoid superiority had its roots as well in machismo. Adult males, however, gave a higher(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) lever and reverence for their mothers. Moreover, in Latino families, women are traditionally regarded as homemakers, as much(prenominal) as possible they stay in the home to care for the family sequence the men provide for them. American cultural influence however changed the Latino culture especially as the Latinos become exposed to the autonomous and emancipate behaviors of the Americans (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 265-266).II. Mexicans and Mexican Americans callable to American conquest of Mexico and the granting of US citizenship in 1848 done the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexicans became a bulge out American society. In the years 1880’s and 1940’s, many of them migrated to America as laborers. due(p) to the proximity of America to Mexico, many entered the state as smuggled immigrants (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 249). corresponding most Latino cultures, Mexican families are patriarchal in nature. Patriarchal families are measurable instruments of comm symmetry susten ance and nuclear family units are linked in concert through an elaborate system of kinship and matinee idol parenting.Women are regarded as subordinates to men and are evaluate to take care of the family while the men work to provide for them. Machismo is to a fault a part of their culture, with men celebrating human race through the conquest of many women and playing as superior. Mexican families excessively cognise extended family network, particularly the system of compadrezo or godparenting. In Mexican society, godparents are an important factor that links family and comm angiotensin converting enzyme. Compadrezos are expected to act as guardians, provide financial supporter in times of train and to substitute in case of death.Because of their idolatry to catholic faith and machismo, Chicanos do not approve of homosexuality (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 254; Driscoll et al, 2001, 256) In spite of the influence of American culture, racism, sequestration and proximity to Mexico help the Chicanos (Mexican-American) to maintain some(a) traditional family practices although the imposition of American law of nature and custom ignored and ultimately undermined some aspects of the extended family. Wives are like a shot drill power over their husbands as they entered the workforce.Unfortunately, even though both work, most men do not help in household chores so that chicanas are inclined(predicate) to stress. . New extension Chicanos, on the other hand, demands emancipation like their US counterparts and most believably engaged in communication at a lower age (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 230; Spence, 2003). Since many of the Mexicans entered illegally in the US, many of them were not able o move freely in American mainstream society causing so much stress on their part. Like the rest of the Latinos, Chicanos are at risk for underdeveloped asthma, diabetes, and AIDS (Center for complaint Control, 2008).Illegal immigrants however, refuse to p rotrude a doctor when they got sick as they are afraid to be deported (Figueroa & Griffin, 2006, 2). II. Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans are the poorest group of all the Latinos and loosely are the most dark-skinned. Puerto Ricans first entered the arena in 1898 when the United States take monomania of Puerto Rico during the Spanish- American War (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 229). The family is patriarchal in nature, with men performing as providers and protectors and women as homemakers.Men do not take part actively in domestic chores and caring for their children although they are expected to be affectionate to them. Machismo is in like manner a part of thier culture, subordinating women to men and men perceived as having a higher sexual drive. Men enjoy more than freedom in public than women do and it is expected that they have many female conquest. Male dominance is met with a adult female’s submissiveness and in the belief that a char’s virtue is foster e nhanced by being diligent and forbearing toward their men although generally women scruple their men.Puerto Rican women however, in spite of the demands of being affected role and forbearing, do not see themselves as resigned females but as dynamic homemakers. Although intended of their subordinate status to their husbands, wives are also aware of their power and the demands they can make. They can choose to live with the man or leave him when he turns out to be abusive. Furthermore, Puerto Rican women regarded motherhood as a woman’s greatest satisfaction in life establish on their innovation of marianismo. Virgin Mary is seen as a woman’s role puzzle (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 255-260).Ideal family traffic are based on two interrelated themes, family unity and family interdependence. Family unity refers to the desirability of close and paint a picture kin ties, with members getting along well and keeping in frequent arrive at despite dispersal and gettin g together during holidays or celebrations. Family unity is viewed as alter to the strengthening of family interdependence. They believe that the greater the unity in the family, the greater the emphasis family members go out place on interdependence and familial obligation.Despite the adaptation to American life, Puerto Rican families are still defined by reciprocity among family members, especially those in the immediate family kinship group. Individuals in Puerto Rican families will expect and ask for assistance from certain people in their kindly networks without any derogatory implications of self-esteem. The older women expect to be taken cared of during old age by their adult children (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 255-260). Although aflame and physical closeness among women is encouraged by the culture, over acknowledgment of lesbianism is even more restricted than in mainstream American society.In fact, rejection of homosexuals appears to be the dominant attitude in the Puerto Rican confederation forcing homosexuals to lead a double life although the American concept of equality and individual rights threatens this belief (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 260). Concerning their health, Puerto Ricans have higher risk for AIDS since they least likely get married. They also have the highest rate of developing diabetes among the Latinos (Center for Disease Control, 2008). In young times, the culture of male dominance is being challenged in Puerto Rican families especially that women also now work.Daughters however are expected to care for the home while their brothers work. New generation Puerto Ricans also engages in sex at an earlier age as compared to their island counterparts. Children also demands more independence from parental go (Shaefer, 2006, 239; Andersen & Collins, 1995, 255). IV. Cubans The Cubans first entered America as political refugees during the Cuban revolution in 1959. They are the most successful of all the Latinos since most of them are professionals and the US giving medication assisted them (Schaefer, 2006, 247; Andersen & Collins, 1995, 229).The Cuban family is also patriarchal in nature and the concept of machismo is very much entrenched in their nature perhaps largely because they had been the brook Latin nation to be liberated from Spanish control and their lives had been dominated by military struggles. The ingrained machismo concept had caused much regression and assimilation conflict in Cuban males in America. Cubans in America are permitted to have sexual relations with American women as long as they do not forget to bind a Cuban girl.Men do not do household chores because it decreases their machismo. Women are regarded as subordinates although women are now asserting more authority in the Cuban American home as they entered the workforce. However, women still see male superiority and ask for their flattery when joining clubs or engaging in social activities. The importance of extend ed families also diminished; god parenting-role is lessened. Cuban Americans do not accept homosexuality and were repulsed by the fact that some men chose to reject their male power to act as women.However, unlike the Americans who regarded both persons of the same sex who engages in intercourse as homosexuals, the Cubans unless regarded homosexual the person who assumes the position of a woman in intercourse (Schaefer, 2006, 250; Andersen & Collins, 1995, 229). Many Cubans however publicly title that they would like to return to Cuba someday when Castro’s government is overturned and so they in demand(p) not to be all too adaptive to American culture (Schaefer, 2006, 250). V. ConclusionThe Latino culture of family dependence through extended families, male superiority, women chastity and homosexual distaste is being challenged in the American mainstream society. As they live in America, Latino family organize suffer changes in gender roles wherein women now asserts some form of authority , independence and sexual freedom. Parents and extended families also asseverate lesser power over the forward-looking generation. With regard to health issues, the Mexican illegal immigrants are at a damage in accessing health care while the Puerto Ricans are at a higher risk for contracting AIDS and diabetes.References Andersen, Margaret and Patricia Collins. (1995). hightail it, menage and Gender, 2nd ed. Belmont: Wadsworh Publishing Company. Center for Disease Control. (2008). wellness Disparities Affecting Minorities. Retrieved border district 14, 2008 from http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/hispanicamericanhealth. hypertext mark-up language Driscoll, Anne K. , M. Antonia Biggs, Claire D. Brindis, and Ekua Yankah. 2001. â€Å"Adolescent Latino Reproductive Health: A Review of the Literature. ” Hispanic ledger of Behavioral Sciences 23 (5): 255-326. Figueroa, Evelyn and Griffin Deborah.Understanding ethnic Influence On Health Behaviors of Latino Adolescent Parents. UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, 12(2006):pp. 1-4. Ramirez, Roberto O. and G. Patricia de la Cruz. (2003). â€Å"The Hispanic Population in the United States: March 2002. ” Population Characteristics. US Census Bureau. P20-545. Schaefer, Richard T. (2006). racial and Ethnic Groups, tenth ed. New York: Prentice-Hall. Spence, Naomi J. 2003. â€Å" mutation to First Sexual Intercourse: The fundamental interaction between Immigrant Generational Status and Race/Ethnicity. ” Paper presented at the Southern sociological Society.\r\n'