According to Clifford Geertz, culture is defined as "a web of
meaning." Thus we comprehend a people's identity by looking at
the many facets of culture which express that network of meaning.
In the Hispanic culture, the meaning comes through history and
language, art and music, customs, and literature, values and even
foods. The reader is cautioned, however, that we can only talk
about Hispanic culture in generalities, since each Spanish-speaking
country has its own unique culture albeit with some general similarities.
The following is an attempt to give as broad a picture of the
general Hispanic culture as feasible.
Hispanic/Latino Family
"La Familia" (the family) - The family is the primary social unit
in Hispanic/Latino culture and gives meaning to the individual's
life. Hispanics take pride in keeping family together, no matter
what occurs. The family includes not only the nuclear family of
parents and children but a large extended family composed of "abuelos"
grandparents, "compadres," godparents, "tios" uncles, "tias" aunts,
and "primos" cousins. The family unit strengthens in times of
crisis. It is a warm and nurturing environment. It is solidified
by age-old customs and traditions. Ancestors and elderly persons
are persons of worth, honor and respect and give are their rightful
place within the family. It is cultural practice and duty to care
for elderly parents. The family residence is the home for multi-generational
members. The number of grandparents, children and married children
living together may affect the family size. There is not an immediate
expectation that children will leave the parent's home after the
completion of their high school education. Family size affects
sharing and privacy issues. Many children grow up sharing space
and rooms with other family members. Sleeping in the same bed
with a relative is not uncommon.
In the family, ancestors are the link between the past, and are
the link to the present and future. Divorce is frowned upon -
there is a strong belief that marriage is for life. Sacrifice
to continue in marriage for the benefit of the family unit is
directly and indirectly encouraged by family members. In some
countries there is no legal divorce and men establish new households
even though they may have a legal wife. The complexities in these
relationships and the children involved have been reflected in
Hispanic literature, songs, and poetry.
American psychoanalytical studies of Hispanic families have been
the product of decades of stereotypical accounts examining "the
problem" of the Hispanic/Latino family. Hispanic/Latino families
have been viewed as authoritarian and macho-dominant, impeding
individual achievement and independence. However, both Hispanic
and American cultures have designated men as the main family wage
earners. In both cultures the male family members are given more
privileges than female members. Hispanic/Latino families do not
view themselves as a "tangle of pathology" but as a "close knit"
unit protective of their language, culture and values which are
passed down to younger generations.
Gender Roles
There are traditional gender roles and related behaviors for men
and women. This tends to be a stern parental discipline. Hispanics/Latinos
follow a generally matriarchal society. The male may have the
"authority" within the family, but the role of the mother is very
powerful. She can be the real power behind the scene, beseeching,
evoking trust. There may be more control than is officially recognized.
Mothers and women are often active in the roles of negotiation
with educational programs, and agencies, and in community activist
activities. When the family is presented with a person with a
disability, there is an acceptance with dignity; "God gave me
this suffering", "pobrecitos," "la sufrida syndrome," or "What
sin did I commit that now my offspring is paying for it?"
Roles of Fathers, Brothers, and Sons - The concept of "Machismo"
-protector of the family, is it reality or myth? It has different
meanings both positive and negative within the culture and is
not perceived the same as the outside culture. Machismo was not
so much a maladaptive response which solidified the male dominance,
but rather represented an appropriate mechanism to insure the
continuation of Mexican family pride and respect. The husband
is the provider of the family. Roles of Mothers, Sisters, and
Daughters - Mothers are seen as the pillars of la familia. They
educate children while the father provides a home. To the Hispanic/Latino
woman, the most important people in her life is the "family."
A woman's identity is generally defined through the relationship,
health, and happiness of her family. A woman's upbringing, behavioral
traits of the family and children, demonstrate the woman's role
as nurturer and life educator.
A woman's orientation to the United States was formed in the confines
of the family, not as a single independent immigrant alone. Once
established in the United States, the family strives to bring
her close relatives to the United States if possible. Hispanic/Latino
women rarely ventured into migration alone; this will occurred
only after some personal or family tragedy. Roles of Children
- Children are of utmost importance to the family. They are to
be reared and guided by the mother and financially supported by
the father. Children are dependent on parents, thus the child
will have a strong sense of identity and strong family ties. Interdependence
rather than independence is valued There is a hierarchal order
among siblings. |
Children are taught to request a blessing from parents, godparents,
grandparents and older members of the extended family. The denial
of the blessing can indicate disapproval by the one giving it
with a fear of bad luck or misfortune if the blessing is not given.
Common blessings are "Que Dios te bendiga" (may God bless you)
or "Que la Virgen te acompañe" (may the Virgin Mary be with you).
The first sibling is expected to excel. The success of one family
member represents the success of the family as a whole. One member
of the family may be put through college through the efforts of
the entire family and then the first to succeed in turn helps
with other siblings college expenses. The support and unity of
"la familia" is always there.
When a child is being born, frequently the entire family will
gather. When a child is born a bracelet with colored beads and
a small black bead is placed on the child to protect it from evil
spirits. This is proceeded by "Echar agua" similar to baptism
but more a precaution to protect the child from danger "mal ojo"
or evil eye. This is also where the child in given his/her Christian
name.
A birthday is traditionally celebrated with a whole extended family
gathering often including a piñata. A piñata is a paper-mache
figure filled with candies and other treats, that is broken open
by in a children's game. Las Mañanitas is one of the traditional
birthday songs.
A "Quinceañera" is a Hispanic tradition undertaken by the
whole family, as the religious and social debut and formal presentation
of a young girl on her 15th or (16th for Puerto Rico) birthday
to her family and the community. The planning and expenses are
significant. The young lady is dressed in white which signifies
purity, and she may have a male escort and a court of escorts
of 14 males and 14 females. There is also a tradition of a young
lady trading in her childhood shoes for a pair of adult shoes,
representing her changing role in life.
The Barrio
The Barrio has been seen as a family community haven and cultural
preservation Immigration and migration inevitably disrupted family
and community units. But the barrios provide a strong sense of
family, however, enabling Hispanic/Latino immigrants to survive
in a hostile Anglo environment. In the barrios, a sense of strong
cultural norms were reinforced which kept the community familiar
to most Hispanic newcomers, providing a haven for Hispanic/Latino
immigrants. Community spaces are often shared, with the porch
and street becoming extended community and living spaces in urban
areas stores (called "bodegas") that sell groceries. These "bodegas"
sometimes establish "accounts" for residents when trust is earned.
The barrio insured the continuation of their distinctive culture."
(Source: Common Knowledge; Sanchez, George. Becoming Mexican American)
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