Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Chapter 4: Racial and Ethnic Families


Summary

The Increasing Diversity of US Families -- The first section of our chapter provides a glimpse of U.S. immigration. It shows that the numbers of immigrants are declining as the continents that the immigrants are coming from is shifting, specifically from Europe to Latin America and Asia. The section goes on to discuss illegal or undocumented immigrants, portraying common attitudes about immigration by Americans, such that illegal immigrants are 'moochers'. It claims that most illegal immigrants do jobs that 'most American-born workers don't want.' Ultimately, that immigrants provide more benefits than costs because they work in these jobs.

Race and Ethnicity Still Matter -- The second section discusses race as being, depending upon the specific race, either a help or an obstruction; that it is related (whether directly or indirectly) to power, privilege, and social status. Furthermore, the section discusses ethnicity as a national or cultural identification. The section reviews some concepts that we are already familiar with, such as racism, prejudice, and discrimination.

African American, American Indian, Latino, Asian American, and Middle Eastern Families -- These four sections go over facts and figures that show how race is significant in the structure and dynamic of the family.

Concerning African American households in general: most are egalitarian; parents show much dedication to their children (including racial socialization); siblings have close relationships; black families are most segregated residentially from other racial-ethnic groups; lastly, black families are diligent, persevering and spiritual.

Concerning American Indian households in general: children of this racial-ethnicity are likely to live with both parents; children are a central focus of the family; elders and grandparents are often involved in the family; suicide and alcoholism are problems among youth and young adults; lastly, family members establish close ties because they share common values.

Concerning Latino households in general: children of this racial-ethnicity are very likely to live with both parents; men can be domineering (driven by the social concept of machismo); parents spend much time with children; families are the main way of emotional and economic support; parents are hard-working (although, like other minorities, were heavily impacted by the recession); finally, the Latino racial-ethnicity is one prone to overcoming hardships.

Concerning Asian American households in general: family structured differ among regions; most households are patriarchal; Parent-child relationships are often stronger than spousal relationships; family is more important than the individual; parents are more controlling than with most other racial-ethnicities; finally, asian american households are typically stable.

Concerning Middle Eastern households in general: religion, children and wealth are emphasized as important aspects of life; divorce is highly discouraged; marriages are endogamous and semi-arranged (i.e. parents only make a strong suggestion as to who their children should marry), the households are typically patriarchal; finally, adults of this racial-ethnicity are often well educated and wealthy.

Interracial and Interethnic Relationships and Marriages -- This section of the chapter shows that interracial relationships among Americans is not nearly as rare as they used to be, for the reasons that minorities are more integrated, racial attitudes have changed, there may exist a shortage of spouses within one's own group in one particular area, and because acculturation has occurred among several before unaccultrated groups.


What I learned

I learned a lot from this chapter. Highlights include the fact that middle eastern households are very opposed to divorce, parents (esp. males) of several different racial-ethnicities see wealth and 'breadwinning' as important, and that so many Americans have been in or are in interracial relationships. I would be interested to see what a section on European-Americans or caucasians would say about views on divorce and on wealth or 'breadwinning'.


Question/Concern

I would have liked to have seen the discussion of racism more tied in explicitly with discussion of the family (in ways other than racial socialization and overcoming discrimination and prejudice). The racism discussed in section two of the chapter, 'Race and Ethnicity still Matter,' addresses macro-level affects of racism . It would be interesting to see how racism on the macro-level affects not only individual family members but the entire functionality of the family. How do macro-level issues affect the structure of the family? How do the social attitudes towards different races change vis-à-vis family changes?

Also, I would challenge the way that the first chapter is presented, as well as many of the claims that it makes (e.g. that most illegal immigrants do jobs that most American-born workers don't want) while establishing its overall attitude that illegal immigration is not only not a problem, but is perhaps beneficial.

1 comment:

  1. I believe that detailed accounts of children writing about racism when they first encounter it would be essential in seeing how the family is affected/handles these types of things. With a child's first experience I believe we can see how it goes from the bottom up--child to friend or sibling, to parents who have to explain why somebody may not like that child based on their skin color and racial differences. I think a good start in trying to learn about how people feel would be to look at the first legal case of a white woman and black man. I wonder what argument the government presented against it, it probably made no sense.

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