Chapter 4: Racial/Ethnic Families (by E.Y.)

In the previous chapter we learned about changing family structures of white, western European descendant Americans as well as of various racial and ethnic groups through history. This chapter studies family structures of different racial and/or ethnic groups that live in the US today. The chapter opens up with a brief introduction about the importance of immigration and the benefits this country receives from both legal and illegal immigrants. Although immigration is more beneficial than harmful and the immigrants increase the diversity of the US population, most recent immigrant groups form minority groups (in addition to African American and Indian American groups) and still suffer from discrimination and prejudices of the general white population.

African American families are the first minority family covered in this chapter. Though they are seen by the general public as matriarchal, there is more equality at the African American household. Although half of the children are raised in single-mother homes, the fathers and other male relatives are actually more involved in child rearing than in earlier times. Some low-income families take part in residential segregation, which further may isolate them from the general society.

American Indians consist of many different groups, they speak numerous languages and have different cultures depending on the group, however in general they still seem to have a common pattern in families in which there are not many gender roles. There seems to be some problems with youth substance abuse and suicide rates that seem to concern older generations.

Latino families represent another main minority group. Although traditionally they might have been associated with gender roles such as Machismo and Marianismo, it seems to be that the more assimilated the family is or the longer the families roots have lived in the US, the less are the gender roles. Still, extended families play a major role in Latino groups, and family comes before ones own.

Asian families originate from 26 countries and they are very diverse in languages and traditions. However, most families follow Confucianism, thus females are supposed to obey closest male relatives. Family honor is very important in these families, and they are generally better educated than general population. In addition, they are considered to be prejudiced for their accomplishments and there is a high expectancy from the general population for them to be successful.

Middle Eastern families are also very diverse in composition, languages, and religions, since they come from ~30 countries. The author states that most of them share some characteristics such as great importance of family honor, high levels of education, expectancy of child-bearing of married couples, more freedom to male children.

There are also increasing numbers of intercultural and interracial marriages due to several reasons including assimilation, increased cultural acceptance, not having enough numbers of suitable mates within the group among others.

2. Interesting/novel points

I thought it was interesting that while most minority groups suffer from negative prejudices, Asian Americans experience high expectations from them.

3. Discussion

The author very much generalized each ethnic group, especially for the Asian and Middle Eastern groups. It is difficult and somewhat over-assumptious to summarize characteristics of 30 or so groups in a few paragraphs, especially if the diversity is very high among the subpopulations, even within one ethnic group. As being of Middle Eastern origin (Turkish) I don't think my family (most of which is still in the old country) and a great majority of the families I know fit many of the generalizations and assumptions described here. For example, I only know a few couples who married a spouse via an arranged marriage. None of my friends, their parents, my parents, my aunts/uncles/cousins/grandparents/great-grandparents were married via arranged marriage, they all chose their own spouses.

A female cousin married a German, another female cousin married a Sri Lankan, and I married an Eastern European man, and a Persian girlfriend of mine is engaged to a typical white American, whereas a girlfriend from Yemen married a white American a few years back, thus I think females are also likely to date and marry people from other ethnicities.

I also don't agree that Middle Eastern women work outside home only for necessity, and only if they don't have small children. Both my parents worked even when they had 2 little kids and even though they would be more than fine with my father's earnings alone. So are almost all of my relatives and friends. I don't have any friends back in Turkey or here that are stay-home moms or etc. I was taught at a young age to never give up my education/job/profession, always earn my own money, and never depend on anybody else financially. I work full time, take classes part time, take care of a two-year old mostly by myself...

Eser