Chapter 4 reading

1) Summary: The fourth chapter reading regards the differences among the diverse racial-ethnic groups that make up the families in the United States. The domains explored within each group includes: gender roles, relationship between parents and children, economic well-being, family structure, and the family strengths of each racial-ethnic group. The major ethnic groups that exist in the U.S. are the African American, Indian American, Latino, Asian American, and Middle Eastern families. The chapter addresses intermarriages and their increasing popularity among racial-ethnic groups in the U.S. as compared to past trends. This chapter also illustrated the importance of immigration and its contribution to the many achievements and successes of our country. It presents the idea that without immigration and the diversity present within our country, the U.S. would not be as successful if it were not such a melting pot of racial-ethnicity, which is an interesting concept I would like to look at more closely, why do you think this is??

2)What I learned: As the "typical" Caucasian American, I can't say that I am extremely knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the different ethnic groups that reside in the United States. This chapter was an interesting topic of reading for me as I was able to learn many things about each of the different racial-ethnic groups, here are a few things that I have learned:

African American families: withing the structure of this particular family, the text observes that they are stereotyped as matriarchal/egalitarian and that black men are more willing to work around the house especially if the wife is employed outside of the home. I feel like some of this can be connected to the early history of African Americans in the U.S. as slaves to many. African American slave families were dubbed as matriarchal because of the often experienced separation from the father due to the slave trade or even death in some circumstances, leaving the mother as the sole caregiver and provider. Also, I see this being a possible connection to the "double days" (as discussed in chapter 3) that many African American women experienced as a part of their duties as a slave to the families who had possession over them.

American Indian families: within this family structure, I found it particularly interesting the emphasis that American Indian families put on the extended family and its commonality withing this ethnic group. The text indicates "there is not distinction between blood relatives and relatives by marriage...sometimes brothers are called father, uncles and aunts refer to nieces and nephews as son or daughter..." etc. Also, the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren surprised me since most of the time we don't see very many people who have close relationships with their grandparents and some American families barely have relationships with their extended families in general these days; I know some of my friends who unfortunately rarely visit with their aunts or uncles or even grandparents for that matter. This close "mentoring" relationship that grandparents have with their grandchildren strikes me as unique!

Latino families: It was really surprising to me that with the rise of divorces in the U.S. that Latinos exhibit a high percentage of two-parent households. It's very refreshing to see that families are capable of sticking together and the Latino racial-ethnic group demonstrates this stability very well with the values of their close knit family structure.

Asian American families: The beliefs and traditions of Buddhist and Confucian idealologies and their emphasis on qualities such as interdependence, harmony, cooperation and pooling resources, as the text states, makes it possible for Asian Americans to become more successful in making their way in society. This concept of Asian Americans coming together as a unit to help each other by donating money to put forth a business or help pay for a wedding or things of that sort seemed really interesting to me. This helps me understand the importance of extended families withing Asian American families and possibly the roles that fictive kin play in family structure as these "credit organizations" can be composed of close friends and family. Asian American individuals are more willing to contribute to the achievement and success of others as compared to the selfish tendencies of Americans to want to compete for individual success, which may be more difficult to do without the help and support of others that these Asian Americans receive, which in turn is one explanation for the apparent success that Asians are able to achieve in our country.

Middle Eastern families: I find it extremely surprising that marriage is not based on the concept of true love between two people but is viewed more as a "business contract" between the union of families. Yes, each ethnic group has its own basis of what marriage is, but I find it so hard to function within a marriage that is loveless, especially if there is no attraction or common interest between the two people who are married. Instead, these marriages are based off of the fact that your families believe it is the best arrangement for each other. Also, the freedom that Middle Eastern males possess is always a surprising concept to me, as I have had a previous idea of this custom. Females live such a restricted life compared to their brothers, husbands, and fathers. The double standard that is held to be acceptable in the Middle East is shocking compared to the views of gender equality in American society. A great example that demonstrates this imbalance in gender roles is expressed in a novel that some of you might have heard of or read: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It provides a wonderful example of how men treat their wives, and women in general as it takes place in the Middle Eastern country of Afghanistan.

3) Question/Concern: The section of the chapter that discusses intermarriages and how common they are expected to become in the future prompt me to ask you all this question:

What would the families of each of these racial-ethnic groups that stress the importance of marriage within their own culture, such as Asian American or Middle Eastern families, think of the increase of interracial marriage? How would this effect them--would you see these racial-ethnic groups growing disappointment in the lack of preservation of their traditions and customs? Would future generations be so quick to abandon their traditional family values? In effect, would these traditions of marriage within their own culture become less important or is it possible that some would want to preserve the old practices and values of marriage unique to their ethnicity, that their ancestors and elder relatives have lived by in the past?

--Megan Callahan