Cultural Genogram Examples

Cultural Genogram
Understanding where one’s natural impulses come from may be difficult to understand without looking at past generations and family history. Knowing that generations before us helped shape our development is important to note. Generational trends can help explain the importance of said values. Through analysis of my cultural genogram I found that many of my core values came from my Mexican culture, despite having had great exposure to values established by the dominant culture here in the United States. I found that my family over many generations regarded familismo, respeto, religion, and work ethic as highly important values. It is important to deeply analyze where these values came from, how they may be oppressed, and how

these values may impact my work as a therapist. Additionally, it is important to explain how these values may help me promote social justice through advocacy.
Family History
During the early 1900’s Mexican and Mexican American farm workers sought work in California and other states (“Depression Era,” n.d.). The website noted that at the same time many Mexicans fled to the United States because of the Mexican revolution and the Mexican civil wars. Additionally, American farm owners recruited Mexicans and Mexican Americans because they believed that these desperate laborers would endure living conditions that workers of other ethnic groups would not. The site noted that, by the 1920’s, about 75 percent of the 200,000 California farm workers were Mexican or Mexican American. During the 1930’s the Great Depression hit California’s economy and Mexicans and Mexican Americans became the target of discrimination and deportation. Furthermore, the publication stated that Caucasian trade unions alleged that Mexican immigrants were taking jobs that ought to go to white men. The article explained, that California state and local governments implemented repatriation plans to send Mexican immigrants back to their country in buses and trains. Under these programs, Mexican Americans were also being sent out of the United States being that officials did not differentiate between Mexicans and Mexican American United States citizens.
The 1930’s also marked the birth of both my maternal and paternal grandparents. My father’s parents were born in a small village in Jalisco, Mexico and my mother’s parents were born in a small village in Nayarit, Mexico. Despite being born in different regions of Mexico, they had similar upbringings. Both were born into poor humble homes where women were raised to take care of house chores and men to take care of the land. Both sets of grandparents grew up with a strong faith towards the Catholic church and attended mass every Sunday.
My paternal grandmother explained that growing up, everyone in her house contributed in some way. Her task was to fetch water, at the break of dawn, from a stream about a mile away. She was in charge of cooking since her mother passed away shortly after her birth. She was the only daughter out of seven siblings. My father’s mom explained that she learned early on that in order to be a successful woman she needed to learn to skillfully manage her home. My grandfather added, that one of the reason he insisted in marrying my grandmother was because it was known that she did a great job at taking care of her brothers. My paternal grandfather explained, that he was used to being catered to by his mother. Being the youngest male in his family came with privileges, he explained. Both my father’s parents stated that it was very important to them to have a big family. My grandmother expressed that she had a desire to be a mother at a very young age. She explained that she always dreamt of having a big family to take care of. My grandfather added, that he felt the same. He also wanted a large family, especially with many boys, because then he could teach them about the land just as his father taught him. They described their childhood as pure, innocent, and happy despite having had many responsibilities at home.
My father, Trinidad Ochoa Barba, was born in 1954 in the same village where my grandparents grew up. He was the second born male and one of twelve siblings. My dad shared many stories of his childhood and seemed to be very proud of where he came from. He knew much about farming however, was also very well versed in different areas of hard labor like construction and plumbing. He immigrated to the United States in the 1970’s to make a better living for himself and his family of origin. My father would send most of the money he earned to his family in Mexico. He was the first of his siblings to immigrate to this country. Soon after three of his younger brothers followed along but only one stayed and made a living here just like my father. Years after this three of his sisters immigrated to the United States. All three of them lived in our home while they transitioned to life here in America. My father believed in the importance of family unity and therefore helped all of his family, which included extended, when they decided to immigrate to America. Our house was full of families searching for hope and progress in a new country. My father passed away at the age of 59, but his legacy remains. Many families have successfully transitioned to living in this country because of my father’s good will and love for family.
Both my maternal grandparents have passed away. My mother’s sister and mom explained that my maternal grandmother worked hard to ensure that they had enough to survive. They described her as strong, hardworking, driven, and loving. Contrary to describing her as loving, they explained that she rarely showed them any affection. Since my grandfather passed away when most of them were young they had a difficult time explaining their relationship to him. My mother remembered him as hard working and warm. My mother’s older sisters were unable to provide me with much information about my grandparent’s upbringings. I got the sense that not much dialogue was done between my grandparents and their children.
My mother, Hermelinda Delgado Salazar, was born in 1958. She grew up in the same village where my grandparents were born. She was the fourth child out of six siblings. My mother has two older sisters, an older brother, and three younger sisters. My maternal grandfather passed away when my mother was entering adolescence. My mom had to take on a caregiving role when the loss occurred being that her two older sisters were married. My mother explained that her older brother took on the role of the man of the house and had to help their mother financially. My mother described her teenage years as very difficult. She explained that she had to learn how to be a mother to her three younger sisters because their mother was always busy working in order to provide for them. At the age of seventeen, along with her older brother, my mother decided to come the United States to be able to financially assist her family. Her brother decided to return to their home country whereas, my mother decided to stay to marry my father. She has lived here a little over 40 years. Her family of origin resides in Mexico. She has three nephews and one niece that live here in California, and they too once lived with us while transitioning to life in a foreign country. My father’s family then became my mother’s once they married, however some relationships became distant after my dad passed away.
My parents got married in 1979 in Los Angeles.

Despite having financial struggles, they were able to have a celebration and part of this was due to help of family and friends. A year after their nuptial agreement my oldest brother was born. My mother struggled with getting pregnant for six years until my sister was born in 1986. The year my sister was born President Ronal Regan signed an immigration reform that changed the life of my parents and many others in the country who sought residency. From that moment on they no longer needed to hide because of their undocumented status. Two years after that my mother gave birth to me and four years after that she gave birth to my youngest brother. When I was two years old my father and his brother purchased their first home together. There I grew up with my siblings and four cousins. As I explained earlier, there was always a third family who had recently immigrated, for most of my childhood. I was always surrounded my many cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends. My extended family was

enormous.
My parents wanted to make sure that my siblings and I stayed connected to our cultural roots. For this reason, we would travel by bus, airplane, or vehicle to visit our family in Mexico every summer. I have some of the fondest memories of those trips. Looking back, I realize that I never felt that I belonged in either country. After having a conversation with my sister, she explained having similar feelings. In Mexico, we were called “pochos” which is a playful derogatory word for being Mexican American. Here in the United States I never felt like I ever fit in to the mainstream culture because I did not look like anyone that I saw on television.
Presently, my family of origin married or is in a relationship with individuals of Mexican decent. With the exception of my oldest brother who is cohabitating with a Salvadorian, Ecuadorian, and American woman. They have two beautiful bi-racial children together. My older sister has a five-year-old daughter and another one on the way. Similarly, my extended family living in the United States are mostly with partners that have Mexican blood. Only one of my cousins married outside of our culture. He married a Filipino woman who quickly became loved by all of our family. They have one bi-racial son, who is a beautiful mix of his parents.
I have a couple of family members who are currently undocumented.

My family has become very concerned with the current hostile political climate. Although their status has always been a concern it has never caused so much fear and uncertainty as it is today. Mexican and Mexican Americans have been a target for discrimination for many years as explained at the beginning of this section. It is unbelievable to think that what people of my ethnic group experienced about 90 years ago, is still happening today. It is clear through my parent’s story that their main reason for coming to this country was to be able to provide a better future for their families back home and their children. Which was something that would not be possible in their beloved country. My heart breaks thinking that my cousin who was brought to this country when she was three months old runs the risk of being deported to a country that she has never lived in. This is her country, and just as the Mexican and Mexican American farm workers who were deported in the 1930’s all she wants is a chance at a better

future.
Values
Familismo
According to Caldera and Lindsey (2014), Familismo is described as the importance of attaining family closeness, getting along with members of the family, and contributing to the well-being of the family unit. The authors explained, that the family unit is comprised of family of origin and extended family. The value of family closeness was greatly instilled in me throughout my life. I recall my mother telling my siblings and me that at the end of the day all we had was each other therefore, we should always support and love one another. My brothers, sister, and me were never allowed to sleep over at our friends’ house. We were allowed to go over and play however, were told that we had our own bedrooms to sleep in. Now I understand that my parents did not trust that other families would take care of us as they did. As I interviewed some of my cousins many mentioned having had similar experiences with sleeping over with friends. We were only allowed to sleep over with our closest cousins.