Understanding Mexicans and Americans - Case Study Example

Abstract People tend to take different approaches in matters cultural beliefs and practices. Societies tend to practice based on indigenous teaching. The environments within which a person lives define cultural practices. Societies tend to advocate for different approaches in matters moral and cultural practices. Societies limit the nature in which a person operates. The Mexican- Americans practice take different approaches and allow members to operate within specific spaces. The external environment take different stands and approaches while interacting with the groups. Personal beliefs are influenced by various factors and they will determine whether people will positively interact with a specific culture. It is important to focus on the Mexican- American belief and interact with it to ensure a positive atmosphere. Introduction Culture has internal and external components. These components will determine whether the culture has positive impact to the surrounding. The internal environment interacts freely with a given culture. The external components react differently to given cultures. The reaction could be influenced by conflicting beliefs and practices. The other factor could be based on personal attitude. The manner in which a person perceives a given culture will influence both the internal and external environments. Positive interaction is effective given the cross-cultural approach applied by different environments. The human service approach requires a positive attitude towards a given culture. The essay will focus on the American Mexican- Americans culture. The aim would be to use the external environment to judge the culture within the Mexican- Americans settings. Culture could be a tool used to enhance service delivery. The knowledge of a second culture would be essential. The nature of judgment would tell if a person would adjust while working within the Mexican- Americans culture. Language Language is a major component in the Mexican- Americans culture. The language is used as a distinctive feature among the group. The people value their language and are a strong component. The culture perceives language as the only component to be used to identify people from within the culture and those originating from other cultures. The assimilated population tends to be use language to identify them with the Mexican- Americans culture. The culture tends to align based on language and perceive those speaking the language to be brothers (Telles & Ortiz, 2008). The society developed by the language factor tends to work within the culture given the unity and society based approach used by members (Kahan, et al, 2007). Language is used as a tool to connect beliefs and other cultural practices. The connection tool influence positively and is used as a tool to unite the internal environment. The language however, negatively influences to the individuals within the culture while interacting with the external environment. Social equality Gender equality is absent among the Mexican- Americans groups. The females play a minor role compared to the male population. The male are perceived as permanent members of the community and are responsible in controlling major cultural functions. Culture requires a future certainty and it is up to the members to ensure that future generations ensure future existence of the community (Stacy, 2002). The culture belief that females could be assimilated to other cultures. Upon marriage, the female adapts new cultures. These cultures draw a line between the natives and the assimilated. Females married females are grouped as assimilated and are classified as new members hence enjoy the beliefs that accompany the culture. Female’s status among the group is minimal given their significance in matters population. The leadership roles solemnly are preserved to males. Gender equally is the major undoing within the community. The cultural factors define how genders are perceived differently. The modern nature allow equal rights and ensure each personal enjoy different rights within the cultural spaces. According to Suarez-Orozco et al, (2014) culture tends to place different individuals along the gender line. Duties and privileges are assigned based on gender rather than ability. Culture within this setting tends to take the indigenous approach regardless of the urban and rural settings. Community members tend satisfied by positions allocated. The external environment tend to contrast with the cultural practices and call for equal rights and privileges. Societies allow different approaches in matters leadership. However, the Mexican- Americans tend to have a different leadership approach. Leadership Leadership defines decision-making and other important functions within culture. The Mexican- Americans population concentrates on the social organizational. Religious and other society leaders are chosen based on age. The elderly occupy leadership roles and are used to influence decision-making. The young are to obey different cultures. The culture allows the elderly to inquire personal issues and mediate problems and other conflicts arising within the community. The community draws a line between societal issues and personal issues. The father and other male people within the family solve the personal issues and other family disputes (Diaz-Guerrero & Szalay, 2013). The elderly are tasked with solving disputes solve the societal disputes. The females have no role in matters disputes. The presence of the youth and females is essential in making decisions but their ideas are overshadowed and are of less significance. The male population is considered supreme and wise compared to the females. Rites of Passage The practice allows key rituals and rites of passages to be presided by the males. The culture places the female gender at an inferior position compared to the male counterparts. Rites of passage are practiced as a means of passage. In that, people graduate to adulthood though initiations and other traditional practices. The passage rites are positive as they define the growth and development in an individual. The graduation is essential as it ensures the social positioning of most individuals is defined and allows various groups to unite based on age. The common culture shows the need to develop models that acknowledges age roles (Stacy, 2002).The passage tends to contrast with the modern practices. The modern practices allow freedom of choice where the young take different approach to life. The modern perception grants the youth the rights to make their decision. The urban setting does not accommodate different cultural hence affecting the practice within the urban settings. Ceremonies Communities tend to stick to their culture given the complex nature of modernity. In this case, the right of passages and other traditional practices are overruled and others considered illegal. The modern low sets limits under which different culture operate. The indigenous Mexican-Americans embrace cultural celebrations that tend to connect the present life with different components. The urban population tends to take the modern approach and use religion to determine major ceremonies. The indigenous groups tend to adhere to traditional beliefs and use them to celebrate different occasions in life. The living and the death are considered essential and different ceremonies take palace to commemorate these two lives. The livings are honored and are encouraged to live within the social morals (Williams, 1990). The dead are appeased to discourage bad omen. The two lives tend to ensure different members of society show moral behaviors. Religion Religion tends to define the positions of people within the culture. It defines the moral behaviors and other social rights are dictated upon by religion. Cultural beliefs and social practices in this culture are influences by the catholic faiths and religious teaching. The religion has an influence on the behaviors and moral teachings among the Mexican- Americans (Stacy, 2002). The social settings within the society tend to fuse modernity with traditional practices. The ceremony of the death is an indication that Christianity has had an influence on the manner in which the culture operates. The Mexican-Americans combine the indigenous moral teaching and the Christianity aspect to define the moral boundaries (Stacy, 2002). Morality defines the social status. The practice is a positive aspect given the cultural significance of morality. Religions take a multicultural approach. The external environment can easily interact with the internal setting given the religious aspects. Conclusion The society tends to accommodate modernity and use it to define different components. The internal settings interact freely with different beliefs and practices and allow foreign elements to influence their culture. The catholic religion among the Mexican American is an example of how external factors have influence the cultural settings among the group. The rite of passage and ceremonies tend to take the indigenous approach. Moral behaviors and settings take a cross-cultural approach. The positive practices define the unique practices among the group. Language is used as a unifying factor within the society while religion is used to connect the internal environment with the external settings. Reference Diaz-Guerrero, R. & Szalay, L.B. (2013).Understanding Mexicans and Americans: Cultural Perspectives in Conflict. New York: Springer Science & Business Media Kahan, D., Braman, D., Gastil, J., Slovic, P.. & Mertz. C.K. .(2007).Culture and Identity-Protective Cognition: Explaining the White-Male Effect in Risk Perception. Journal of Empirical legal studies, 4(3) pp. 465-505 Stacy, L. (2002).Mexican and the United States. New York: Marshall Cavendish. Suarez-Orozco, M. M., Suárez-Orozco, C., Suarez-Orozco, C. & Qin-Hilliard, D (ed), (2014). The New Immigrant and the American Family: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the New Immigration. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge Telles, E.T. & Ortiz, V. (2008). Mexican American Culture and language. Latino Policy and Issues Brief. Retrieved from http://www.chicano.ucla.edu/files/PB21.pdf Williams, N. (1990). The Mexican American Family: Tradition and Change. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield. Read More