Familism In Latino Families

Problem Statement With the advancing lifestyles and further developments in personal mobility that defines today’s society, the family still plays a crucial role of contemporary life. Families offer many benefits such as companionship, protection, security, encouragement and other relative social components. The term family has been changed over the past few decades. The total number of households in the United States increased from 63 million in 1970 to 113 million in 2008 (Weeks, 2012). The traditional structure of the family (nuclear family) began branching to other structures especially in the United States follow World War II.

American Families Today The American family has undergone many changes since the 1900’s. More so, in the past 40 years, the nuclear family seen dramatic changes and has been described as deteriorating. There has been a dramatic rise in divorce, single parent households and child poverty. Studies have shown that children growing up in poverty-stricken single parent households are more likely to be affected well into adulthood. While this is the case, people are also living longer, and families are accommodating this change by living with relatives allowing for more bonding time then in previous generations.

This essay discusses how the family is viewed by two different sociological perspectives- functionalism and conflict theory. Firstly, ‘family’ is defined. Secondly, the main ideas of functionalism will be discussed followed by how this theory perceives the family. The main ideas of Conflict Theory will then be examined and how conflict theorists perceive the family.

Families can be regarded as the foundation of society. For Fleetwood (2012: 1), the importance of families is highlighted by the fact that it would be difficult to comprehend a society that could function without them. In addition, even though families and their compositions vary across societies and cultures, the family can be viewed as a universal social institution (Macionis & Plummer, 2012: 625. Specifically, according to Macionis and Plummer (2012: 625) and Neale (2000:1), it has the ability to unite individuals into cooperative groups via social bonds (kinship) and is ultimately experienced differently from individual to individual. However, the family can be a source of conflict, tension and inequality, which is why one of the key practices

The traditional Cuban family structure is patriarchal, a dominant male and a passive female is common, but mainly among older generations of family. The new family is more open to changes, education for all, especially women, was a big step in the participation of women in the workforce, gender equality, respect to marriage, divorce, household responsibilities, and decision-making. Cuban American women with acculturation were ready to join work outside the home and contribute, like men, to the social and economic growth of the family.

Growing up in a hispanic family directly affected the environment I was exposed to. Everyone around me always greatly emphasized the importance of family, being humble, and being generous.. My teachers, friends, family, and loved ones majorly impacted me and shaped me into who I am today.

Search Again family is a “close-knit group and the most important social group to gather in any events or special days” (Mendez). It is at the centre of the social structure. The Mexican “family unit” includes not only parents and children, but also extended families and grandparents. As it provides a sense of stability in relationships. Children are taught at a young age that one must give the most “respeto” (respect) and honor to family members such as parents, aunts, uncles, and especially grandparents (elders).

Mexican-Americans are the largest Hispanic group representing nearly 50 percent of the total Hispanic population and is the largest minority population in the U.S. (comprising 31.8 million). A record 33.7 million Hispanics of Mexican origin resided in the United States in 2012, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by Pew Research Center. By far the largest segment of the Hispanic population (61.2%) is of Mexican origin and resides primarily in the southwestern states of California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Mexicans are by far the largest Hispanic-origin population in the U.S., accounting for nearly two-thirds (64%) of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2012(Gonzales, Applewhite, & Barrera, 2015).

Abstract In today’s world, divorce may be seen throughout different cultures and ethnicities. Attitudes and behaviors may change in children when they experience parental divorce. It is shown that children living in single-parent families exhibit a low level of education (Raley, Sweeney, & Wondra, 2015). Typically, children live with the mother after parental divorce.

This is seen when the understanding of femininity evolved from females being expected to stay at home and ensure the well-being of the family; to the present times, where women can be employed and contribute to the financial stability of the family (Langen, 2005). In this way social constructionism can be said to helpful in family therapy in that it recognises the different values and perceptions upheld in large cultural or ethnic groups, and how they help define a functional family relative to a specific time in history (Robideau, 2008). It also recognises that the meaning and interpretation of a reality is created and can be altered through conversation (Robideau,

Born and raised in Santa Barbra California, Peter Giovani Petatan have lived 21 years of his life in the U.S. along with his mother and father who were born and raised in Mexico. Although born and raised in California Peter and his family currently reside in Macon, GA. Now as a college student this has been the first time he has ever lived outside of home. Nevertheless, he feels as if he’s able to adapt to this new environment effortlessly in terms of the university and community.

In many societies and depending on their cultures, men and women are seen equally and may share the same roles in the household or even a stay at home father and the mother being the breadwinner. In modern family, Phil and Claire share the responsibilities with both working and both looking after the kids. The gay couple, Mitchell and Cameron who has an adopted daughter, together they learn what roles they should take on but not being gender specific when raising their daughter and the dynamics in the household. In many families today, dual earning families increased and not just the male who goes to work but females as well and follow their dreams like furthering their careers. “In the 21st century within households two pay-checks have become essential for most families to maintain even a modest standard of living in order to provide” (Walsh, 2012:11).

Latino Families in Therapy Second Edition was published in 2014. Celia Jeas Falicov who is a clinical psychologist, author and currently teaching at the University of California in San Diego wrote the book. As the main contributor of the book Celia’s goal is to help others understand the importance of being competent when working with Latino Families and acknowledging that because the families come from a different background than those giving the interventions we must find therapeutic approaches that will benefit the Latino community. Falicov gives great insight to the different Latino communities that we could encounter and successful evidence based practices that can be used such as a meeting place for culture and therapy (MECA).

Women now are breadwinners and some men are stay at home dads. Due to economic pressures from society, both spouses have to work to maintain their family compared to the 1950’s where only one spouse could work and support a family. Both shows display the importance of society’s typical family structure and gender roles from each time period. In conclusion, there has been a dramatic shift in women’s roles in society today when compared to the

The outworking of this looks like families being defined as more than just parents and siblings but including aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even