American Latinos: Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans

leash of the some dominant Latinos present in the American society today be the Mexican (66. 9%), Puerto Ricans (8. 6%) and Cubans (3. 7%) (Ramirez & Cruz, 2003, 20). Aside from the f acquit that only three groups speak Spanish, all sh argon usual ethnic backgrounds that differ from the US mainstream society. For one, the Latinos are very family oriented and keep widen families at radix (Driscoll et al, 2001, 255 Andersen & Collins). In most Latino families, grandparents live with one of their married children or married children live with their parents. sometimes relatives to a fault live with the nuclear family.Grandmothers played a significant role in the lives of Latino families, they suffice in raising their grandchildren and act as advisers. Latino parents in like manner want their children to live with them until they get married. such(prenominal) culture conflicts with the US mainstream society where in colony and self-reliance is by and large emphasized (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 263-265). Keeping an extended family in the firm is non popular in US culture in fact, children are expected to vary their topographic points when they reach eighteen. Children who still live with their parents at that age are looked upon as dependent.Unlike Latino grandparents, superannuateder wo manpower in mainstream society exercised less power over their married children and more often than not suffer from slump due to an empty nest syndrome. Moreover, the prevalent individualistic culture of mainstream society in the US do not allow for too much dependence with other people even with their own family. The Americans work oned saturated in their entire life to support their old age. Unlike the old Latinos that were taken taked of in the home when they are sick, aged Americans are usually cared for in foster homes or hospices.Americans viewed too much dependence on others as a sign of laziness and irresponsibility (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 265). Latinos hold double standard for manpower and women. The honor of Latino family rest on the sexual behavior of their women. Women must keep their virginity at all cost until marriage and be differential to men in their sexuality. Although Hispanics in the twentieth century whitethorn not hold the same strict sexual values, the tradition of maintaining virginity until marriage continues to be a heathen imperative.However, married women are supposed to accept a double standard for sexual behavior by which their husbands may go for sexual affairs with other women. This double standard supports the Latino stereotype of machismo. many an(prenominal) males celebrated their adolescence by visiting prostitutes and their father, uncles or older brothers pays for sexual initiation. Adolescent muliebritylys on the other great deal hold debuts that emphasize their virginity (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 264-266).Unlike in US mainstream society, there is an equal standard on male and female sexual b ehavior, males and females are expected to give up their virginity at a young age almost 15 or 16. Their peers ridiculed them if they are still virgins at 18. This difference in sexual behavior had caused tensions particularly among American adolescents and female Latinas who were taught to keep their virginity at all cost. At present however, due to American cultural influence, younger Latinas now find themselves challenging traditional sexual mores (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 256).In Latin society, female concept of righteousness is connected by their being a martyr or submissive to their husbands and to their family. Male superiority had its root also in machismo. Adult males, however, gave a higher respect and reverence for their mothers. Moreover, in Latino families, women are traditionally regarded as homemakers, as much as possible they stay in the home to care for the family piece of music the men provide for them. American cultural influence however changed the Latino cu lture peculiarly as the Latinos become exposed to the independent and liberated behaviors of the Americans (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 265-266).II. Mexicans and Mexican Americans Due to American conquest of Mexico and the granting of US citizenship in 1848 through the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexicans became a part American society. In the years 1880s and 1940s, many of them migrated to America as laborers. Due to the law of proximity of America to Mexico, many entered the country as illegal immigrants (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 249). want most Latino cultures, Mexican families are patriarchic in nature. Patriarchal families are important instruments of lodge life and nuclear family units are linked together through an elaborate system of kinship and idol parenting.Women are regarded as subordinates to men and are expected to take care of the family while the men work to provide for them. Machismo is also a part of their culture, with men celebrating manhood through the co nquest of many women and performing as superior. Mexican families also recognize extended family network, particularly the system of compadrezo or godparenting. In Mexican society, godparents are an important factor that links family and community. Compadrezos are expected to act as guardians, provide pecuniary assistance in times of need and to substitute in case of death.Because of their devotion to catholic doctrine 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, segregation and proximity to Mexico help the Chicanos (Mexican-American) to maintain some traditional family practices although the imposition of American law and custom ignored and in the end undermined some aspects of the extended family. Wives are now exercising power over their husbands as they entered the workforce.Unfortunately, even though both work, most men do not help in household chores s o that chicanas are prone to stress. . New generation Chicanos, on the other hand, demands license like their US counterparts and most belike engaged in intercourse 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 create so much stress on their part. Like the rest of the Latinos, Chicanos are at risk for exploitation asthma, diabetes, and AIDS (Center for Disease Control, 2008).Illegal immigrants however, refuse to see a doctor when they got sick as they are agoraphobic to be deported (Figueroa & Griffin, 2006, 2). II. Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans are the poorest group of all the Latinos and generally are the most dark-skinned. Puerto Ricans first entered the country in 1898 when the United States take possession of Puerto Rico during the Spanish- American War (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 229). The family is patriarchal in nature, with men pl ayacting as providers and protectors and women as homemakers.Men do not take part actively in domestic chores and affectionateness for their children although they are expected to be affectionate to them. Machismo is also a part of thier culture, subordinating women to men and men perceived as having a higher sexual drive. Men enjoy more freedom in public than women do and it is expected that they have many female conquest. Male dominance is met with a womans submissiveness and in the belief that a womans virtue is further enhanced by being enduring and forbearing toward their men although generally women mistrust their men.Puerto Rican women however, in spite of the demands of being patient and forbearing, do not see themselves as resigned females but as dynamic homemakers. Although conscious of their subordinate spatial relation 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 o ut to be abusive. Furthermore, Puerto Rican women regarded motherhood as a womans sterling(prenominal) satisfaction in life based on their concept of marianismo. Virgin Mary is seen as a womans role model (Andersen & Collins, 1995, 255-260).Ideal family relations are based on two coordinated themes, family unity and family interdependence. Family unity refers to the desirability of close and intimate kin ties, with members getting along well and retention in frequent contact despite dispersal and getting together during holidays or celebrations. Family unity is viewed as contributing to the strengthening of family interdependence. They believe that the greater the unity in the family, the greater the emphasis family members will base on interdependence and familial obligation.Despite the adaptation to American life, Puerto Rican families are still defined by reciprocality among family members, especially those in the immediate family kinship group. Individuals in Puerto Rican fa milies will expect and ask for assistance from received people in their social 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 emotional and physical closeness among women is encouraged by the culture, over honorable mention 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 community 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 growth diabetes among the Latinos (Center for Disease Control, 2008). In recent times, the culture of male dominance is being challenged in Puerto Rican f amilies 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 agnate control (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 government 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 last Latin nation to be liberated from Spanish control and their lives had been dominated by array struggles. The ingrained machismo concept had caused much regression and assimilation conflict in Cuban males in Americ a. Cubans in America are permitted to have sexual relations with American women as long as they do not forget to marry 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 respect male superiority and ask for their approval when joining clubs or harming in social activities. The importance of extended 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 discard 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 only regarded homosexual the person who assumes the position of a woman in intercourse (Schaefer, 2006, 250 Andersen & Collins, 1995, 229). Many Cubans however publicly proclaimed t hat they would like to return to Cuba someday when Castros government is overturned and so they desired 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 repugnance is being challenged in the American mainstream society. As they live in America, Latino family structure suffer changes in gender roles wherein women now asserts some form of authority , independence and sexual freedom. Parents and extended families also exert lesser power over the new generation. With regard to health issues, the Mexican illegal immigrants are at a disadvantage 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). Race, Class and Gender, 2nd ed. Belmont Wadsworh publishing Company. Center for Disease Control. (2008). health Disparities Affecting Mi norities. Retrieved manifest 14, 2008 from http//www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/hispanicamericanhealth. html Driscoll, Anne K. , M. Antonia Biggs, Claire D. 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