Growing up into a Mexican culture family sure was not easy. There were rules of how I should act and what I should do because of my gender. The fact that I was a female meant that I should be girly and help out my mother. I was expected to help in the kitchen and help do all the cleaning at home. If I received a birthday or Christmas gift it was usually a doll or things for a doll. I did what I was told but I just felt like I wanted more than dolls. My neighbors always played tag or soccer outside and I always wanted to join them. I liked to get dirty and not wear a dress or skirt all the time. When I first heard of Personal Exception Theory of Gender, which is defined as, “There are men, there are woman, and there’s me” and I could say this
My readings suggest the Hispanic culture gender roles are very common and strict. Starting early in life children are taught to follow the strict guidelines of their gender (American Home Resources, 2010). There exists three common gender specific scripts in Hispanic culture; females can either be “Marianismo” or “Hembrismo”, and, males are classified as “Machismo”. The two female roles differ greatly; “Marianismo” defines behaviors of women as being obedient, dependent and caring for their children. The “Hembrismo” role stresses a female’s strength to persist through life’s difficulties; however, this role is not accepted widely in their culture. The “Machismo” role describes behaviors of men as being dominant and independent. This role views the man as being in charge of the family. (Peñalosa,
In the Hispanic traditions a “sweet fifteens” or “Quincianera,” How is traditional named, is a remarkable moment for a young girl’s life. This even is not only important for the honored girl, but also for her family because it is the time to show off their daughter’s transition from a girl to young woman to their family and friends. This tradition can be celebrated in many different ways, but with a same purpose of expressing gratitude, happiness, and love to their new youngest woman. It is celebrate with a great party full of food and fun that will get all of their family and friends together.
Growing up in a Mexican household where education isn’t a priority or important has been one of my major obstacles that I’ve had to overcome. Although my family’s culture believes that education isn’t necessary their experiences and lifestyles have influence and motivate my choices for my future. I come from a home where I have no role model or someone influential. I have no one to ask for advice for college or anything involve in school. In most homes, older siblings help their younger siblings with their homework or projects but in my house no one was able to provide me with any help. I grew up to be independent and to do anything school related on my own. My parents are both immigrants who didn’t get to finish elementary
I was raised in an encouraging household where both of my parents greatly valued education. Although they were high school graduates, neither could afford to attend college; a combination of family and financial woes ultimately halted their path. As a result, my parents frequently reminded me that getting a good education meant better opportunities for my future. To my parents, that seemed to be the overarching goal: a better life for me than the one they had. My parents wanted me to excel and supported me financially and emotionally of which the former was something their parents were not able to provide. Their desire to facilitate a change in my destiny is one of many essential events that contributed to my world view.
Being a Hispanic have impacted all my entire life; I lived 15 years of my life in Mexico I love being there because most part of my family live in Nuevo Laredo, I was cursing my last months of 8th grade and one day my mom told me that she was thinking about send me here to the U.S to start learn English; since I’m a U.S citizen and I didn't know the language of my country, I accepted. The most hard prove was live without having my mom at my side, since I live with my aunt now; when the days passed here in the U.S I started to depressed myself because I missed so much my house and all my family, one day in the middle of the night I call my mom crying and I told her that I really want go back to Mexico, but she didn’t take into account my desire my mom just explained me that it will be the best for my future and with the time I will be thankful with her for don’t let me go back. My mom, and my grandmother are the ones who motivates me to be a better student. Actually I’m in dual enrollment and I have taken AP classes; sometimes is hard for me talk, read or write in another language that the one I was accustomed but, every time I fail I get up and persist until I’m able to do what I want.
I was supposed to be Mexican but then came the Manifest Destiny and I became Mexican-American, then came the Census Bureau and told me I was now Hispanic. Later there was that one Ethnic Studies class and I became a Chicano but Cherríe Moraga decided that wasn’t good enough and made me Xicano. In the end it was just me and my unsolicited opinion of fully comprehending who I really identified as. I find it hard to fit in this society because I am either too Mexican for my American friends or too American for my Mexican friends.
I am a young Latina professional attempting to set forth a good precedent for my sisters, and be the best human I can be. I am an immigrant from Jalisco, Mexico. First to graduate high school and soon will be the first to graduate with two bachelor degrees from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Latin American Studies and Political Science. I am a fashion lover who loves reading and knowing everything about social sciences and random trivia. Bad at every sport, but does not kill my motivation to try everything, learn about it, and try it at least once. I have been in and out between Jalisco and Nevada my whole life, but made a permanent move 6 years ago for school.
Diversity is a topic in which i'm very familiar with, I have grown up within a hispanic family for most of my life. Even though my Mother and I are both Caucasian, my Biological father also. But he left my mother and I and we were then stuck living in a little apartment in Astoria, only barely hanging on. Then she met another man through these years of hardship and they connected and our lives soon intertwined. Years later he was my step father and we had moved into the apartment he had grown up in next to his own mother’s house. At first the move was heartbreaking, but after a while it was worth every pain to move because how amazing it felt to be apart of a family and all the things I learned. Although it took a while and was very new at
I looked at my cousin in dismay as she said, “Be proud that your skin is light, primo. People won’t judge you.” Despite my Hispanic family’s efforts to instill me with pride in my Hispanic culture, I often felt conflicted with a sense of identity. Here I was, standing outside the house, consuming every ray of sunlight that danced upon my skin in a desperate attempt to be darker. My Hispanic family tried their best to teach me to be proud of my heritage, but my Caucasian family always taught me that white was superior.
United States usually known as the “melting pot” and it is a typical immigrant country. In the past 400 years, United States has become a mixture of more than 100 ethnic groups. Immigrants bring they own dream and come to this land, some of them looking for better life for themselves and some want to make some money to send back home or they want their children to grow up in better condition. Throughout the history there’s few times of large wave of immigration and it is no exaggeration to say that immigrants created United States. For this paper I interview my neighbor and his immigration story is pretty interesting.
To me being hispanic means more than just an ethnic clarification. Being hispanic is about having a strong and humble sense of heritage. It’s about being proud of where you come from and embracing your family's often hard journey to the United States. It’s about staying true to your values, traditions, and family. It means being part of such a diverse, passionate, and hardworking group of people. When I look in the mirror, not only do I see the struggles and hard work of my grandparents and ancestors, but I also see the future generations which will surpass me.
I represent many things; however, one identity that I will never be ashamed of is my Hispanic heritage. Over the years, my desire of learning more about my heritage has increased. I feel so fortunate that I have been able to experience the traditional food, dances, and music that my culture encompasses. Moreover, now more than ever, I am proud that the Hispanic community is able to stay strong and determined to help one another even they are succumbed to the injustice created by the government administration. Seeing the injustices happening in my communities motivates me to join programs and organizations to support the Hispanic community.
There were several instances in my childhood when my Family had a direct influence on me according to my gender. Right from birth my role as an individual was predestined. The gifts I was to receive at a baby shower were all based around my gender. It would have been unheard of for someone to give me pink clothes or flowery decorations at my baby shower. Young boys have always been told not to cry when they fall and scrape their knees. Comments like these from family members definitely had an impact on my aspirations. My dream to be a fire fighter was most likely related to those comments to not cry. Being a fire fighter would definitely be an occupation where stress would be high. If I could be a fire fighter I would definitely have the opportunity to prove to my parents that I could be strong and not cry. The media was also a factor that had a large impact on my childhood ambitions. Television is a great example of this. In almost all Television shows the gender roles are very prominent. Things such as male characters being strong or in positions of authority are prevalent. Even th...
Gender has been around throughout history; however, within recent years, gender has separated itself from the traditional view of sex, e.i., male or female, and has become centered on ones masculinity or femininity. Of course gender is more than just ones masculinity or femininity, gender has become a way for one to describe, he or she, in a way in which they are different from everyone else. Gender has turned into a sense of identity, a way for one to feel different and fulfilled among all of those around them. Of course gender’s sense of freedom would seem outside of structure and only affected by one’s own agency, however, structure is a key component in establishing gender. We can look into both ethnic Mexican’s culture practices regarding sexuality, children songs and games, and see that cultural traditions still heavily influence gender, creating what is masculine and what is feminine and what is the role of each gender, as well as challenging the notions that gender is solely based on agency.
In elementary school one of the most common phrase used was, “You can’t do that you're a girl.” Society puts gender stereotypes and expectations on children at a very young age. I never really understood these stereotypes and expectations until later in my life. I couldn’t figure out why it was that boys were not allowed to like the color pink, and if the girls wanted to play “boy” sports it was seen as unusual. My family consists of my parents, my sister and I; so I never had sibling of the opposite gender in my life. I didn’t have someone to compare gender differences with. I was given toys no matter what gender they were geared towards. I remember receiving hot wheels cars and baby dolls the same year for Christmas and never thought anything thing of it. I think that these experiences has really shaped who I am today.