ERIC Number: ED002629
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: N/A
Pages: 3
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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EISSN: N/A
IMPLICATIONS OF SPANISH-AMERICAN CULTURE ON FAMILY LIFE.
VALDEZ, BERNARD
FAMILY PATTERNS AND ROLES OF SPANISH-AMERICANS AND IMPLICATIONS OF TRANSFERENCE OF FOLK CULTURE TO AN URBAN SETTING ARE ANALYZED. STRONG FAMILY COHESIVENESS IS CREATED BY ISOLATION, LACK OF MOBILITY, AN AGRARIAN ECONOMY, AND THE PUEBLO INDIAN INFLUENCE OF SMALL VILLAGES. BLOOD KINSHIPS ARE SOUGHT OUT AND MAINTAINED, AND ARE EXTENDED BY A SYSTEM OF GODPARENTS WHOSE RELATIONSHIPS OF LOVE AND CARE ARE EQUAL TO THOSE OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY. THE RURAL SOCIETY IS PATERNALISTIC, WITH THE FATHER HEADING THE FAMILY AND EDUCATING AND DISCIPLINING THE MALE CHILDREN, WHILE THE MOTHER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DOMESTIC DUTIES, EDUCATING THE DAUGHTERS AND CLOSELY SUPERVISING AND SHIELDING THEM. WHEN SUCH A FAMILY MOVES TO AN URBAN SETTING, ITS BELIEFS AND MORES ARE SHATTERED. THE FATHER, WHO IS USED TO BEING THE DOMINANT MALE AND CHIEF PROVIDER, CANNOT COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY IN AN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETY AND IS SOON FRUSTRATED, CONFUSED, AND DEMORALIZED BY FEMALE SOCIAL WORKERS, IMPERSONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE NECESSITY OF ACCEPTING WELFARE. THE MOTHER MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES FORMERLY THE PROVINCE OF HER HUSBAND, AND THE REVERSAL OF THEIR ROLES CREATES DISSENSION. SIMILAR CONFLICTS OF TRANSITION AND ADJUSTMENT ARE ENCOUNTERED BY THE CHILDREN. THEY ARE EXPOSED TO A DIFFERENT SET OF VALUES IN SCHOOL, ARE SOMETIMES DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, AND BECOME ASHAMED OF THEIR HOME AND PARENTS. MALE CHILDREN, WHO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED GREAT FREEDOM IN THEIR AGRARIAN SETTING, ARE SUBJECTED TO MANY TEMPTATIONS OF CITY LIFE, AND FEMALES, FORMERLY CLOSELY SUPERVISED, ARE LEFT ALONE WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT WHEN THE PARENTS CAN BRIDGE THE CULTURAL TRANSITION AND HOLD THEIR MARRIAGE TOGETHER, THE CHILDREN USUALLY SUCCEED IN MAKING THE ADJUSTMENT ALSO. THE CHARGE IS MADE THAT SOCIAL AGENCIES SHOULD THEREFORE CONCENTRATE ON STRENGTHENING FAMILY LIFE OF SPANISH-AMERICANS RATHER THAN DEVOTING ALL THEIR ATTENTION TO DETENTION, CORRECTION, AND REHABILITATION.
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