In the article entitled “Finding the Bicultural Balance: Immigrant Latino Mothers Raising ‘American’ Adolescents” by Yolanda Quinones-Mayo and Patricia Dempsey, Quinones- Mayo and Dempsey discuss the barrier between immigrant mothers and their “American” adolescents because the American society teaches the adolescents to become independent from their mothers (2). The article itself presents the social work analysis of the relationship between the mother and child respectively based off the Latino culture, as well as the adaptiveness of the adolescent to American culture. Specifically, Quinones-Mayo and Dempsey argue that the strain in the relationship between immigrant mothers and their “Americanized” children is caused by American idealism. …show more content…
Quinones-Mayo and Dempsey contend that sexism within Latino culture stems from a notion called “machismo” (5). “Machismo” is the pride men in Latino culture hold to make women feel inferior to them through their power and ego. “Machismo” is said to be applied within the parenting of girls versus the raising of boys in the sense that girls are seen as fragile and barred of independence, rather than boys who experience more freedom as they are seen as superior to girls within the notion of “machismo” (6). Perhaps, this implies the lack of emotional connection between the “Americanized” female adolescent and the Latino immigrant mother, because these sheltered lives that these “Americanized” female adolescents live through can cause resentment towards the parent. The female adolescent would be limited on how she could carry out her life daily, which could prove to be detrimental to her social skills, as well as hinder her knowledge of the world that surrounds her limiting the “independence” America advertises in …show more content…
Although Quinones-Mayo and Dempsey do not include a concrete evidence of what the American Dream is, they showed the harsh realities of America being poverty, drug problems, uncleanliness, and unsafe dynamics the adolescents and Latino immigrant mothers must face, rather than the “milk and honey” that is promised (2,10). This American reality denotes that there is a connection between the adolescents change in behavior to that of the environment surrounding them (5). The American reality may be the influential factor of the adolescents not wanting to take on the part in the social success of the family (10). The responsibility of growing up too fast also serves as the connection between the lack of involvement to achieving their Latino immigrant mother’s goal of the success and improvement of the adolescent’s future. As Quinones-Mayo and Dempsey continue to maintain Latinos tend to be raised from a young age the becoming of an adult (11). This evidence shows the implication that in Latino culture one must be raised a definitive, rigid way through customs of who to become instead of finding themselves through individualism like in American
In Leo R. Chavez’s ethnography, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, and the Nation, the claimed problem of Latino immigration, specifically Mexicans, is tackled using interviews, statistics, and other works of literature. Chavez’s ethnography not only discusses Latino immigration but Latino invasion, integration, organ transplants and even Latina fertilization. One of Chavez’s big topics is on how the media influences the public to believe that Latinos are planning an invasion or take-over in order to gain the land that was originally Mexico’s. The topic of Latina reproduction and fertilization comes up multiple times through Chavez’s ethnography. Another main topic that plays a part in Chavez’s argument is the Latino role in public marches and the citizenship aspect of their actions.
In 1957, Faustina Flores was left behind in her hometown of Venustiano Carranza, Jalisco, México, by her husband Timoteo Flores. He was traveling to a contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México which he had heard about in the local newspaper. His whole life, he had worked on the landsdescribe what kinds of lands)) and knew his job very well but, as his family grew the money that once was enough to support his family was no longer enough. His travels to Sonora, Mexico were in search for work in el norte to possibly earn more money to help support his family by working in the fields as a Bracero -describe what a bracero is)) With Flores’ absence from the home, Faustina was left to raise eleven children on her own. This story is indicative
During 1942-1964 many Mexican immigrants were “given” the “opportunity” to enter the United States in order to labor and help the United States economic industry. For many immigrants the bordering country was seen as an exceptional place that offered great opportunities but at the same time many family difficulties. The Bracero Program during the 20th century for many Mexicans was seen as an exceptional deal that offered immigrants and infinite amount of opportunities to succeed; however, in Ejemplar y sin igual we realize that the Bracero Program in reality was not the “exceptional program” everyone thought. In Ejemplar y sin igual, Elizabeth Rosas mentions that “an entire generation of children experienced uniquely difficult childhoods because
The stories of Junot Diaz feature various elements of social and personal issues that are highly prevalent in young Latinx men, primarily the compulsion and adverse effect of machismo, the poignancy of being an outcast in one’s community, and the lack of a father figure in a boy’s life. The first set of short stories prominently feature Ysrael, a Dominican boy whose face was disfigured by a pig when he was an infant. In “Ysrael”, he is the object of Yunior’s fascination, and the victim or Rafa’s (Yunior’s brother) torment.
Immigration is deeply rooted in the American culture, yet it is still an issue that has the country divided. Marcelo and Carola Suarez-Orozco, in their essay, “How Immigrants Became ‘Other’” explore the topic of immigration. They argue that Americans view many immigrants as criminals entering America with the hopes of stealing jobs and taking over, but that this viewpoint is not true. They claim that immigrants give up a lot to even have a chance to come into America and will take whatever they can get when they come. The Suarez-Orozco’s support their argument using authority figures to gain credibility as well as exemplification through immigrant stories.
The first of two essay questions focuses on Leo Chavez’s book , “The Latino Threat”. The questions and statements that will be answered include “ What is the Latino threat?, ‘How does he define citizenship?” ,“Identify and discuss two examples of the Latino threat” and “ Identify one policy recommendation and discuss whether you think it is achievable”. Leo Chavez’s book focuses on the guise of Latinos threatening the American way of life. He defines this as “The Latino Threat” , He states that the Latino threat narrative positions Latinos as not sharing similarities with any previous migrant groups into the U.S. and that they are unwilling and incapable of integrating and becoming part of the national community (Chavez,3).
This study looks into the patterns and coping skills that Latino adolescents use in North Carolina, which is “marked by low historical populations of Latinos and a rapid growth in these populations” (Brietzke & Perreira, 2016). The authors used qualitative interview data that had been collected by the Southern Immigrant Academic Adaptation study. The participants were from low-income backgrounds, other demographic background throughout the sample were heterogeneous. The interviews wewre conducted in, English, Spanish, or a mix of the two depending on the comfort level of the participants. The Authors identified four stress-coping trajectories.
Moreover, she reveals that stereotypes mark people as undesirable and separate them from the rest of society, thus impeding their assimilation. Cofer uses another simile when she details her experience with an American boy at her first formal dance: “ … [He] said in a resentful tone: ‘I thought you Latin girls were supposed to mature early’—my first instance of being thought of as a fruit or vegetable—I was supposed to ripen, not just grow into womanhood like other girls” (549). In this simile, Cofer shows how those who stereotype Latino women compare them to fruits and vegetables because both are supposed to mature rapidly. However, she denounces this comparison by emphasizing that it dehumanizes Latino women and reduces them to the status of mere plants while creating a
The immigrants entering the United States throughout its history have always had a profound effect on American culture. However, the identity of immigrant groups has been fundamentally challenged and shaped as they attempt to integrate into U.S. society. The influx of Mexicans into the United States has become a controversial political issue that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their cultural themes and sense of identity. The film Mi Familia (or My Family) covers the journey and experiences of one Mexican-American (or “Chicano”) family from Mexico as they start a new life in the United States. Throughout the course of the film, the same essential conflicts and themes that epitomize Chicano identity in other works of literature
“The virtual personas of Latino immigrants (represented as a threat to the nation) make the authority that has accumulated for real immigrants in their role as workers and consumers vanish” (Chavez 47). In the public eye Latinos are depicted as noncompliant and dangerous citizens and noncitizens of the United States. “The virtual lives of ‘Mexicans,’ ‘Chicanos,’ ‘illegal aliens,’ and ‘immigrants’ become abstractions and representations that stand in the place of real lives” (Chavez 47). It is depressing to understand that the majority of the United States strictly sees Latinos as these distorted images. At the end of the day each individual’s life matters, we all need to become more compassionate for one another.
“The common denominator all Latinos have is that we want some respect. That 's what we 're all fighting for” - Cristina Saralegui. Judith Ortiz Cofer published the article, “The Myth of the Latin Woman,” where she expresses her anger towards stereotypes, inequality, and degradation of Latin Americans. Cofer explains the origins of these perceived views and proceeds to empower Latin American women to champion over them. Cofer establishes her credibility as a Latin American woman with personal anecdotes that emphasize her frustration of the unfair depiction of Latinos in society.
In what ways do Mexican Americans and Asian Americans share similar parenting challenges? One of the biggest dilemmas that they face is the redirection of familistic living. Asian and Mexican Americans have traditionally lived in homes with generational members all under one roof. Family members did not live in separate homes neither did they practice “living the nest” manners as native Americans do. Children are encouraged to live at home until they found a spouse and were ready to marry.
Both readings claim that Hispanics are here to stay, but with opposing views on how this affects society. One place where Hispanic presence is on the rise is in schools. However, some Hispanic students know more Spanish than English, and therefore struggle in school. This idea of exemplifies the stereotype that Hispanics are “dumb”.
Throughout the articles when women expressed their sexuality they were victims; it was seen as something only males have the agency to do. Latina mothers often are not able to openly communicate with their daughters about potential metomorphic topics such as sex; however, the chapter allows us to understand why. There are various factors which influence the behavior of Latina mothers. These mothers have to operate within a particle, heteronormative society which is racial bounded.
WHAT? Unwed teenage mothers are irresponsible fools. That’s more or less what I believed until I got to know some of them. How stupid and embarrassing is that? I had been lead to believe, through social media, they were struggling, low potential individuals, who sought attention and love.