Gender Influence On Latino Culture

2110 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Topics about gender roles in latin american societies

Ethnicity influence gender in many ways culturally, behaviorally and sexually. Women in a Latino society are more influenced to follow their cultural beliefs and what its consider the norms, while as for men they are more free from the norms and culture. Ethnicity may influence the gender to have sexual intercourse at a different time depending on their cultural traditions or based on demand the culture requires, like in many culture a woman should enter marriage as pure meaning a virgin. What can be the effect of not talking to adolescence about sexual intercourse because of their culture, well the adolescent will become curious and will want to experiment everything at once, they may risk getting affected …show more content…

Most of the ethnic and cultural value in Latino community surround it self by a patriarchy society Donna Castañeda argues that “There is no question, of course, that patriarchy and gender oppression exist in Latina/o families and societies.” I agree with what she said in a Latino culture men are always supposed to be this “macho men” figure meaning superior to women, strong in character and to be tough sometime this is taught at a very young age. Girl are often taught that they need to learn house work like cooking and cleaning so they will be ready for marriage (2008, p. 254). Even though men are expected to create a family and have a job, women expectation are much more because there expected to marry around 24 to 26 so that they can have children early. Women are also expected when there married to take good care of their husband even though it an agreement between two people not just one, it should be an equal treatment toward each other. I agree with Castañeda when she mention the study that was made of Latino in the United States in both genders, that mention that the Latino family structures are changing over time, both men and women of second to third generation Latino rejected the inequality between women and men (2008, p. 255). Which I agree, in the United State we interact with so many different culture that it makes us reflect and question are own cultures …show more content…

The first question I asked was how do you feel ethnicity has influences your gender, the first female I interview who is a Latina, specifically from the Caribbean. Her family is very religious and follow old tradition she said that machismo has a lot to do with the gender difference, girls are considered inferior to guys and that ever since she was little she saw each gender had their roles, as being a Latina Women or women of the Caribbean. The second question I asked was how do you feel being a Latina female in this society based on your ethnicity, she said that she felt restricted to her highest potential and limited to her possibilities as a female in this society. Her second response really made me think about myself and what I feel I am limited to as a female, the expectation my family has over me creating a family, instead of think at what level of education can my potential reach. She continued by saying that the expectations of her family seeing her as one day becoming the women of the house and of her not being something more because in her culture or ethnic group that expects her to have a family and take care of her husband. But that being a Latina and growing up in a Latino society here in the United State has thought her to be stronger, to not support abuse and to respect others, but to also be respected

Show More
Related

  • Social Issues In The Latino Community

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social problems include difficulties with family relationships, isolation, interpersonal conflicts, and pressures of social roles. The Latino culture tends to place a higher premium on the well-being of the family unit over that of any one family member, a concept termed familialism (Smith & Montilla, 2006). In general, familialism emphasizes interdependence and connectedness in the family, and often extends familial ties beyond the nuclear family (Falicov, 1998). Given these values, Latinos often describe depression in terms of social withdrawal and isolation (Letamendi, et al., 2013). Social roles also play an important role in mental health, traditional gender roles in particular are strongly enforced and can be a source of distress. In Latino culture, men and women are expected to fulfill the roles outlined in the traditions of Machismo and Marianismo respectively. Machismo indicates that the man is supposed to be strong and authoritative, while Marianismo designates the woman as the heart of the family both morally and emotionally (Dreby, 2006). Although there is little research on causal factors, adherence to these traditional gender roles can pose a psychological burden and has been found to be strong predictor of depression (Nuñez, et al., 2015). The centrality of social problems in the conceptualization of depression for Latinos may be reflective of the collectivistic values that are characteristic of the group. Although these values have the potential to contribute to depression, they also have the potential to serve as protective factors and promote mental health (Holleran & Waller, 2003). Therefore, it is imperative that the counselor carefully consider cultural values, both in terms of potential benefits and drawbacks, to provide appropriate counseling to the Latino

    Read More

  • Latino American Stereotypes Essay

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s society, a huge issue that resonates across cultures is the idea of racially stereotyping an individual or a culture as a whole. Some might join in and take these stereotypes as a joke, and others might believe that these “jokes” are entirely offensive and inappropriate. Although Americans insist on pursuing negative stereotypes associated with Hispanics; because a lot of Latinos are not able to speak fluent English, so they are labeled as “uneducated.” Another common stereotype for Hispanics is that they are all extremely poor and living in poverty because images are constantly seen of them in large groups piling into small vehicles and residences; Hispanics argue that these stereotypes are demeaning and unfair to their culture, because not every Latino is uneducated and living in poverty.

    Read More

  • Junot Diaz's Drown Summary

    445 Words  | 1 Pages

    At birth there are no fixed characteristics given to boys within the Latino community that automatically transform them into true men

    Read More

  • Latino Dual Identity

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    Latinos who were raised in the United States of America have a dual identity. They were influenced by both their parents' ancestry and culture in addition to the American culture in which they live. Growing up in between two very different cultures creates a great problem, because they cannot identify completely with either culture and are also caught between the Spanish and English languages. Further more they struggle to connect with their roots. The duality in Latino identity and their search for their own personal identity is strongly represented in their writing. The following is a quote that expresses this idea in the words of Lucha Corpi, a Latina writer: "We Chicanos are like the abandoned children of divorced cultures. We are forever longing to be loved by an absent neglectful parent - Mexico - and also to be truly accepted by the other parent - the United States. We want bicultural harmony. We need it to survive. We struggle to achieve it. That struggle keeps us alive" ( Griwold ).

    Read More

  • Hispanic American Culture Essay

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    The increase and changing demography in the United State today, with the disparities in the health status of people from different cultural backgrounds has been a challenge for health care professionals to consider cultural diversity as a priority. It is impossible for nurses and other healthcare professionals to learn and understand theses diversity in culture, but using other approaches like an interpreter is very helpful for both nurses and patients. In this paper of a culturally appropriate care planning, I will be discussing on the Hispanic American culture because, I had come across a lot of them in my career as a nurse. The Hispanic are very diverse in terms of communication and communities and include countries like Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, South and Central America, and some of them speak and write English very well, some speaks but can’t write while some can’t communicate in English at all but Spanish.

    Read More

  • Hispanic Culture

    982 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cultural value orientations are the, “basic and core beliefs of a culture; that have to deal with one’s relationship with one another and the world” (McCarty & Hattwick, 1992). All cultures may encounter challenges with the media and society of how their beliefs and values are represented. There are several factors that resemble how cultural values influence a culture, more specifically the Hispanic culture in Yuma, AZ. Some of those factors are, the expression of their individual and collective identity through communication, cultures identity expressed though the mass media channels, examples of the value orientations that influence the groups communications behaviors, and one of the major events that challenged Hispanics identities.

    Read More

  • Mexican Family Essay

    1592 Words  | 4 Pages

    We tend to be like those around us that have the same values and beliefs. So we also tend to do the same things and are raised the same way. Marrying into an Anglo family, this family does not have the close family relations that my Mexican family has. Some Anglo families may, although not to the extent of Mexican households. If you have ever seen My Big Greek Fat Wedding, well this is how Mexican families tend to live their lives, always in each other’s business. I don’t see much of this in my husband’s family and for me, it was a huge adjustment. There almost seems to be a distance and lives are not shared. Where Mexican women think family is most important, Anglo women think family is important, but so is the status. Anglo women seek it all; they want family and career; although not an impossible task, it can take away from family time. “Since prestige, power, and self-esteem are not derived from achieved status to as great an extent among Mexicans, employment is more crucial to psychological well-being for Anglo women than form Mexican” (Ross et al. 1983). Inequality among races shows that Mexicans take immense pride in the household chores while Anglos take great pride in status. By tradition, Mexican women are praised and revered for their roles as homemakers. This view is a status of prestige that is very respected in the Hispanic community. “Ministering mothers are respected revered and recognized important figures despite their alleged low status in the family” (Mirande, 1977:752). On the other hand, “Anglo women are not in traditional homes where the wife receives prestige for her role in family, yet they are not in nontraditional homes where the husband and wife share the work (both outside and inside the home) equally” (Ross et al. 1983). As stated earlier Mexican women in the roles of homemakers in their home are viewed as pillars of strength and respect in their homes and

    Read More

  • Hispanic Cultures, Culture, And Diversity In The United States

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    The term Hispanic is used to describe Spanish speaking natives. Spanish is one of the fastest expanding languages in the world and accounts for 21 different countries as their official language. About half of Hispanics originate in Mexico, and there is a lot diversity within the 21 Hispanics countries, therefore even their own traditions and heritages will be specific to them. It is also important to remember that most Hispanics do not like to be referred to as Hispanic but instead from where they reside; for example, Mexican American and Puerto Rican. Hispanics are very family oriented and they consider the oldest male to be the figure of authority, although when it comes to important decisions, the whole family contributes. Other important

    Read More

  • The Latino Culture in America

    1081 Words  | 3 Pages

    Latinos have struggled to discover their place inside of a white America for too many years. Past stereotypes and across racism they have fought to belong. Still America is unwilling to open her arms to them. Instead she demands assimilation. With her pot full of stew she asks, "What flavor will you add to this brew?" Some question, some rebel, and others climb in. I argue that it is not the Latino who willingly agreed to partake in this stew. It is America who forced her ideals upon them through mass media and stale history. However her effort has failed, for they have refused to melt.

    Read More

  • Bad Boys And Good Girls: The Implications Of Gender Ideology For Child Health In Jamaica

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    Growing up in a Latino base community there were numerous instances that metaphor,“si me voy con la Luna o el Sol”, which means either you choose the Sun (Dad) or Moon (Mother), was used just to see who the kids prefered .Therefore creating, the environment that children would be repeatedly asked to choose the ultimatum between parents. In the reading “Mamitis and the Traumas of Development in a Colonia Popular of Mexico City” by Matthew C. Gutmann and “Bad Boys and Good Girls: The Implications of Gender Ideology for Child Health in Jamaica” by Carolyn Sargent and Michael Harris correlations between class in their countries and how it impacts family developments. The Essay will focus on Gutmann’s reading on mamitis gender expectation, secondly how Sargent’s reading tackles the issue of

    Read More

  • Mexican American Culture: The Film Selena

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...an-American culture has differences from American. Mexican-Americans are very family-orientated so much that they identify themselves as familial instead of individualized or spiritual as other cultures do. The culture has changed over time and is receiving less opposition from Americans as they have in the past. Immigration demographics can be used to see how America is becoming more homogenous accepting Mexican-Americans and eliminating discrimination because of ethnicity. Selena gave great insight into her culture and created some understanding on the differences between Mexican-American and my culture. Knowing these differences will create a more successful interaction any potential person from a Mexican-American culture and myself.

    Read More

  • The Old Gringo Gender Roles

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Within The Old Gringo, an elderly American writer, who lost both his sons due to suicide, decides to leave his old life behind to seek death in the middle of the Mexican revolution. He comes across the army of Pancho Villa which is led by General Arroyo. General Arroyo and his group had just freed land from the wealthy Miranda family. At the hacienda, the old man meets Harriet Winslow, who is hired to tutor the young Miranda children. However, when she arrives, the family had already fled with their parents from Arroyo's army. As the book continues, Harriett appreciates the Mexican culture she finds around her. By the end of the novel, she decides that instead of changing Mexico, she wants to learn to live with Mexico. Harriet illustrates

    Read More

  • Mexican American Culture Essay

    2010 Words  | 5 Pages

    This puts an enormous amount of pressure immediately on a child in this culture. Children are filled with the belief that everything they do is being watched by the Lord; who is keeping a list of all good and bad deeds done by the children. This is something that is instilled in all children. We go to mass every Sunday. There are three facets to a child growing up in the Mexican-American culture. The first is a child gets baptized at about 8 months. It is typical for the first male child born to be named after their father. The baptism is done to welcome the child into the Catholic religion. Children then take Catechism classes so that they could do their First Communion. After the First Communion, children go to school in order to do their Confirmation. In our culture, these three are needed in order to be able to one day get married through the Catholic Church. Children are taught that marriage is between and man and a woman only, and same sex relationships are against the Roman Catholic religion. Our religious beliefs affect who you are as a person greatly. As stated before, we are taught that marriage is between male and female only. If a person in our culture is in a homosexual relationship, they are going against God’s word, and are guaranteeing themselves a spot in

    Read More

  • Positive Masculinity Among Latino Men

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Hispanic population has been bashed and looked down upon for many generations. The act of masculinity is a way in which these men can express themselves and survive in society. In Positive Masculinity Among Latino Men and the Direct and Indirect Effects on Well-Being, Fernando Estrada calls out two independent factors, traditional machismo and caballero. Machismo is just hypermasculine ideals and caballero (which is being a gentleman) is focus on family, responsibility and emotional support (Estrada 192). These factors are looked as positive traits for Latino men.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in Latin American Societies

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    The idea that a woman’s job is to be a wife and mother is old-fashioned, but not completely out of style. Though these roles require a great deal of talent, resilience, patience, love, and strength, to name a few, they are often underestimated or depicted as simple. Especially in modern times, many women in the United States who stay home to raise a family are viewed as anti-feminists, whereas women in Latin America are not criticized for similar actions. In recent decades, more Latin American women have started to break the mold, daring to be both sexy, and successful in the workforce, while remaining pillars of domestic life.

    Read More

More about Gender Influence On Latino Culture

Open Document