Hispanic American Diversity

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Summary

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the culture and beliefs of four Hispanic groups. The groups I have chosen to cover are: Puerto Rican, Mexican, Dominican and Cuban. Included in the paper will be each group’s linguistic, social, economical, political, familial and religious ties or beliefs.

Hispanic American Diversity

Puerto Rican

Puerto Rico’s linguistic background is strongly defined by Spanish and English. Most Puerto Ricans speak both languages fluently and use both in everyday life such as; work, travel and communication.

Puerto Rico’s major political division is the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), which supports commonwealth rank for the island; has been the leading political party since 1940. The PPD was accountable for helping Puerto Rico achieve commonwealth rank, and was the main political party of Puerto Rico until the late 1960s. Most of the PPD’s support comes from the rural areas of the island, backed land improvement in support of the island’s social class. Over the years, and urbanization of the island, there has been a decline in the popularity of the PPD. Even with the decline of popularity of the PPD; it still remains the island’s main political party.

The social behaviors of Puerto Ricans are not much different than the social behaviors of non Puerto Rican individuals. Every day greetings are used, of course Spanish is more commonly used, one may hear “Buenos Dias!“ instead of, “Good morning!” When conversing with individuals in formal situations, titles of respect are used such as Senor (Mr.), Senora (Mrs. or Ms) or Senorita (Miss). They shake hands to say hello or hug close friends, women greet one another with a tap on the shoulder and kiss on the cheek. Closeness is common whe...

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...minican Americans. There is a minuscule amount of Dominicans that follow the Protestant community, and a small number of them follow African religious ideas.

Dominican American family is a unlike family in the Dominican Republic. Even though relationships are still important to immigrants in the United States, most families have become smaller and a lot more nuclear, the longer they stay in the U.S. The Dominican family has male dominate heads of the household. They have control over budgets and make the decisions for all the other family members. Dominican women in the home are mostly relied on for domestic tasks and daily home maintenance; though over the past few years women of Dominican background have become more equal to the man in the family. Women become half the bread winners, to keep the family afloat and slowly have gained some dominance from their “men”.

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