Gender Roles In My Family

My family growing up was composed of my mother, father, four siblings, and both paternal grandparents. My mother and father were the primary caregivers, and we have a very loving and open communications amongst us. Growing up, my family owned a bakery, we all helped/work in it. If my parent’s had to run errands, we were left to care by my grandparents.
2. Conception of Childhood
Some of the capabilities that are seen typical and expected by age three or four growing up, are unheard of now. We had to help with the family business, which meant: wake up early, sweep, mop, help wash dishes, and assist with cooking and washing clothes. We were taught a very young age to be in depended, on a sense of learning how to care and clean for ourselves.

Gender Roles
It’s my personal opinion that males did get better treatment than females. They sat down to eat first, while we served them food, and attended to their needs. They did not do any of the house chores. Females did all the cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, taking care of children. In contrast, males did handy work around the house, took care and maintain the vehicles, and worked.
6. Identity
Race, color of your skin, and religion are some of the aspects that defined who belonged, and who did not belonged in the cultural group. My mother is “Caucasian,” my father’s parents did not approve of him marrying with someone that was not Mexican. Not just the color of her skin, and where she came from, was a problem, I want to say that the biggest problem, was that she was not Catholic either.
7. Individualism
Even thought we are taught from a young age to become independent, the truth is that when it comes down to freedom, they do not recognize it or respected. In my family, even if we wanted to “breath” differently, we had to ask. We could not make our own choices, or pick our own path. We could dream as much as we could, however, when time came, we were not allowed to go our own way.
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Emotional Expression
Emotions are expressions were definitely NOT encouraged. My grandma is the sweetest lady I have ever met, she will cry, if I was crying. My grandfather in the other hand did not believe in tears. We were not permitted to question, or express our feelings, in no shape or form.
10. Social Class
I recall my family saying that “rich” people were spoiled brats, and for me not to interact with them. We grew up middle class I will say. We were not rich, but we did not struggle for food or shelter. I recall I had this friend that was very poor, and my grandfather once told me not to play with her, because I would get “lice.” Then, I grew up thinking that if I play with people that were poor, I would get lice.
11. Role of Work/Career
Having a career, and going to school was extremely important growing up. One of the many traits I inherit from my grandfather was his amazing work ethic. He is a very hard workingman. Till this day, at his 95 years old, he still wakes up at 6am, to go open the bakery to sell bread. He is still changing oil, and washing his cars, he even told us not too long ago, he wanted to make the road trip one last time from Mexico, to California himself.
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