Marriage Practices of Chicano Population - Research Paper Example

Ritual Paper - Ethnic Studies Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 The Ritual: The 3-step analysis 2 Meta-analysis 5 Conclusion 8 Ritual Paper - Ethnic Studies The term Chicano is often employed to refer to Mexican Americans. The term can also be used to refer to Mexicans in general. A majority of the Chicano population is found in California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The community has a rich culture. Marriage has played a significant role in preserving the Chicano culture (Sanchez 145). An evaluation of its marriage practices will reveal a community that has a deep respect for the institution of marriage and the importance of the family and communal structure. The Ritual: The 3-step analysis 2.1 Separation phase The couple stays with the groom’s family when they wed because it’s the family of the latter that does all the arrangements. However, due to the strong moral values of the community, the bride and groom are not expected to have sex until they get married. The practice is perhaps a testament to its affiliation to the Catholic faith (O'Dea, 812). The mother in law plays a significant role during the marriage ceremony. Firstly, they help the bride to prepare for the big occasion. Mother in laws are expected to prepare their children for the roles that are expected of them as a mother and wife. Similarly, in the Chicano culture the mother in law is expected to prepare her daughter for her new roles. In addition, they are expected to help them to prepare for the big moment in their lives. A Chicano woman is expected to enter the marriage institution fully aware of expectations and equipped with the necessary skills to be a good wife and mother (O'Dea 812). Furthermore, they are expected to prepare the big dinners. The Chicano community has a special relationship with food. In the community, food plays a significant role, as the community not only enjoys eating a well-prepared meal but it also serves as a celebration of their culture. The Chicano community is among the closest-knit community in America. The bride is not expected to see the groom before the wedding day. The practice is widespread among all societies in the world. Most people believe that seeing the groom before the wedding would jinx the marriage. As a result, there is a period of separation between the bride and groom before they get married. 3.1 Liminal phase The liminal phase is represented by the actual wedding day. The Chicano community loves to party. As a result, weddings are an excellent excuse for having a good time. The event is characterized by good music and dancing. The Chicano community has a deep appreciation for music. In addition, the community loves to celebrate the big moments in a person’s life and the meaning that it brings into their lives. As a result, the rite of passage is not just about two people starting a new life together. Instead, it is an opportunity for the community to celebrate the beauty of life and the joy of love. The community has the tradition of having a statue of Virgin Mary present at the ceremony. The Chicano community is a deeply superstitious one. The superstitions have combined with the Catholic faith to create a strong belief system. The community believes that having the statue would help the newlyweds. In addition, it is a demonstration of their love and respect for Virgin Mary. The love for a big party may lead to the formation of a parade during a marriage ceremony. However, the practice is more likely to be conducted in a community with a heavy Chicano presence. The parades are usually a lot of fun. They involve good music and dancing. The practices are a reflection of the community love for opportunities that enable them to celebrate life. During the marriage ceremony, the couple is usually presented with gold coins. The coins are usually between ten and twenty. The practice like many things that are done during the ceremony carries some symbolism. Giving the newlyweds gold coins symbolizes that the couple would have good fortune in their financial life. The practice is unique. A majority of communities in the world would not highlight the importance of marriage in society. The practice is a reflection of the openness and humor that characterizes Chicano families. In addition, the community has a custom in which they pin money on the newlyweds to facilitate their new start (Herrera-Sobek 142). The groom and bride are usually covered with a ‘lasso’. The huge rosary is made of flowers. Alternatively, it can be made of clear jewels. The practice serves to highlight the unity of the couple. They use the practice to demonstrate that the bride and groom have now become one entity. In addition, the practice serves to remind the couple that they are expected to stick together. Divorce is discouraged among the Chicano community. The community expects marriages to last forever. The bride’s father usually has the honor of the first dance while the groom gets the second dance (Herrera-Sobek 148). The marriage ceremony provides an opportunity to strengthen the family institution within the community. The Chicano community places a lot of emphasis on marriages because they will enable the family name to be preserved. Once the couple has children, they would have the name of one member of the family. As a result, they are instruments of preserving the family name. A majority of the marriages are Catholic in nature (Tatum 92). A vast majority of the Chicano community both within the United States of America and in Mexico practice the Catholic religion. However, due to modernization many Chicano marriages are increasingly becoming modernized. The trend depends on the number of people who believe in the traditions of the community. The practice can be observed in educated and urban families who live in areas where there is a small or no Chicano presence. Although the trend is determined by demographic factors, it poses a significant risk to the Chicano culture. In an increasingly modernized world, rites of passages such as marriage play a significant role in preserving the identity of communities. 3.2 Reincorporation phase After exchanging the marriage vows, the groom and bride become husband and wife. From that moment that are expected to fulfill the responsibilities that spouses have towards each other. In addition, their respective families are now joined by marriage. The Chicano community has a high regard for the family unit. After weddings, the spouses are expected to go on a honeymoon. Similarly, the newlyweds are expected to fulfill their marital obligations. On the wedding night, they are expected to consummate their marriage. Meta-analysis 4.1 My experience Attending a Chicano marriage ceremony proved to be an interesting an entertaining experience. Firstly, the Chicano people are warm and friendly. They welcomed me to the ceremony and made me feel like one of them. Secondly, I enjoyed the music and food. The exercise proved to be not only an academic exercise but also a very entertaining and rewarding experience. Furthermore, Chicano marriage ceremonies are different from the other marriages. Most weddings are routine affairs. In contrast, Chicano weddings are filled with entertaining activities. 4.2 Challenges Chicano marriages are facing many challenges due to the modernization. Firstly, the communal structure is being disrupted due to urbanization. Chicanos are being forced to move to new cities and states in search of employment or in pursuit of their dreams. As a result, it is difficult for the community to organize a traditional Chicano wedding. Secondly, there is a lot of intermarriage between the Chicano community and other communities. Intermarriages make it difficult for the couples to have a marriage ceremony that respects their traditional values. Furthermore, young Chicanos are embracing modern lifestyles. For example, they are living with their boyfriends before marriage. In addition, they are leaving their Catholic faith. As a result, there are fewer Chicano weddings. Even among these weddings, few are conducted according to the needs of the community. The Chicano culture is facing many challenges from Hollywood and the media. The two sectors drive modern cultures in western societies and across the world. Although it is difficult for the older generation to change their minds, the young people are easily swayed. As a result, it is evident that there will be less traditional Chicano marriages in the future. 4.3 Benefits The Chicano weddings are not only a means of celebrating the culture of the community but also platforms for enjoying life. The demanding nature of modern life may prevent individuals from having a pleasurable experience. As a result, they provide outlets for Chicanos to escape the drudgery of modern life so that they can engage in activities that enhance their lives. 4.4 Limitations The Chicano marriage ceremonies highlight the machismo that characterizes the community where the women are seen as being less important than their male counterparts (Ybarra 169). During the ceremony, it is evident that the women are doing a bulk of the work. Furthermore, the dancing can be perceived as treating women as sexual objects. Furthermore, it may be difficult for a foreigner attending the ceremony to understand the music. 4.5 Value The Chicano community places a strong emphasis on family. For example, you would find extended families living together as opposed to the nuclear structure of most American families. As a result, the institution of marriage plays a significant role in advancing the culture and values of this society. In addition, marriage gives the community an opportunity to interact with one another. The weddings are not just a celebration of the joining of the community; instead, they are celebrations of the whole community. Rites of passage play a significant role in enabling communities that have strong family structures to know each other. The event also serves as a family reunion. Marriage, just like other rites of passage act as instruments of preserving the culture of a community (O'Dea 812). As a result, marriage plays a significant part in propagating the community’s belief in the importance of community, social and moral values. For outsiders, the rite of passage presents an opportunity to understand a group of people who care and love for one another. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that marriage forms a significant part of the Chicano culture. The rite of passage reveals a lot about the Chicano community. The community enjoys appreciating life and has a strong respect for the marriage institutions. Although Chicano marriages have many benefits, they are facing many challenges. The course has led to a deeper understanding of the Chicano people. In addition, it has contributed towards the development of a global worldview. Developing a global word view is important in an era where globalization is increasingly bringing people of different cultures together. Works Cited Herrera-Sobek, María. Chicano Folklore: A Handbook. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood, 2006. Print. Sánchez, George J. Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945. New York [u.a.: Oxford Univ. Press, 1995. Print. Tatum, Charles M. Chicano Popular Culture: QueHable El Pueblo. Tucson, Ariz: Univ. of Arizona Press, 2001. Print. O'Dea, Suzanne. From Suffrage to the Senate: An Encyclopedia of American Women in Politics. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.: ABC-Clio, n.d.. Print. Ybarra, Leo. When Wives work:The impact on the Chicano community. Journal of Marriage and Family. 44.1 (1982): 169-170. Print. Read More