Summary:
The United States has become more racial diverse over the years. Families
have the option of going through the process of assimilation (or
conformity of ethnic group members to the culture of the dominant group,
including intermarriage) or cultural pluralism (the maintaining many
aspects of one's original culture-including using one's own language and
marrying within one's own ethnic group-while living peacefully with the
host culture). In the middle of these two options there is an option of
acculturation (the process of adopting the language, values, beliefs,
roles, and other characteristics of a host culture). The United States
accepts about 1 million immigrants into the country each year, and there
are another 12 million immigrants that are undocumented. In addition to
these 13 million immigrants, there are another 4 million people who come
to the United States with a visitor's visa and then stay after their visa
expires.
Because there are many people who are coming to live in the United States,
it cases the creation of minority groups (a group of people who may be
treated differently from the dominant group because of their physical or
cultural characteristics such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, or
skin color) and dominant groups (any physically or culturally distinctive
group that has the most economic and political power, the greatest
privileges, and the highest social status). When talking about the
diversity in the United States, we must differentiate between race and
ethnicity (which are often used interchangeably). In this chapter, a
racial group is defined as a category of people who share physical
characteristics, such as skin color, that members of a society consider
socially important, while an ethnic group id defined as a set of people
who identify with a particular national origin or cultural heritage. A
group of people who have distinct physical characteristics and cultural
characteristics would be a racial-ethnic group. Since, minority groups do
not have the same characteristics of the dominant group they are more
likely to face, racism (a set of beliefs that one's own racial group is
inherently superior to others), prejudice (an attitude that prejudges
people, usually in a negative way, who are different from "us" in race,
ethnicity, religion, or some other characteristic), and discrimination
(behavior that treats people unequally or unfairly).
African-American Families
There is no single type of African-American family; they can be
matriarchal, traditional, single parent households, or mixed of different
racial origins. The egalitarian family pattern is one that
African-American families tend to follow. Black husbands share household
chores, and to help with child care. African-American parents play
important roles in their children's live. They encourage self-control and
academic success. More than any other minority groups African-American use
the process of racial socialization to teach their children to overcomer
race-related barriers and experiences and to take pride in their ancestry;
this process normally starts around the age of 2 or 3 years old. This
chapter notes that African-Americans are among the poorest Americans,
resulting in lower-quality health care, less money for college, and down
payments on first homes, etc. However, despite these drawbacks,
African-American families have strong kinship bonds, an ability to adapt
family roles to outside pressures, a strong work ethic, determination to
succeed in education, and an unwavering spirituality that helps them cope
with adversity.
American Indian Families
All American-Indian families are not the same, and there are many
different tribes in which they come from. Most American-Indian children
live with both of their parents; however, there are many other living
arrangements for American-Indian families. There are extended families,
single-parent families, nuclear families, and divorced parents that live
on and off reservations. Within American-Indian families gender roles do
not exist; both husband and wife feel that the other is equally able to
solve family problems and dealing with everyday issues. American-Indian
parents teach their children to respect authority, cooperate, and share,
personal integrity, generosity, harmony with nature, and spirituality.
American-Indian families have high rates of suicide between the ages of 15
and 34, and alcoholism is another problem they face. Despite these
negative aspects America-Indian families, participate on relational
bonding (a core behavior that is built on widely spread values such as
respect, generosity, sharing across tribe, band, clan, and kin group).
Latino Families
Because of changes in the economy, social norms and immigration, Latino
families are structured in many different ways; some families are nuclear,
some couples divorce, and some are single parents. Latino men are expected
to be dominant, aggressive, and womanizing, while having courage, honor,
respect, and close ties with their extended family. Women are supposed to
be self-sacrificing, unassuming, and remain virgins until they are
married. Latino parents teach their children to be obedient, honest and
respectful. Latina women are expected to devote themselves to bearing and
rising children, whereas Latino men do not do much parenting. Latinos
believe in the system of familism (family relationships in which sharing
and cooperation take precedence over one's personal needs and desires).
Members of the extended family provide things such as goods, services,
advice, and emotional support. Latino families are resilient, adaptive and
they have the ability to transmit traditional values to offset the
negative impact that society has on Latinos.
Asian-American Families
There are many different structures of Asian-American families; the
structure depends on the country of origin, time of arrival, past and
current immigrant policies, whether the families are immigrants or
refugees, and the parent's socioeconomic status. Asian-American families
are more like to be extended families with 6 or more people living in a
household. Most American-Asian families follow Confucianism (which
endorses a patriarchal social structure and instructs women to obey their
father, husband, father-in-law, and oldest son). Women are thought to be
homemakers and to take care of the home. Asian-American families believe
that "one drop of blood is much more precious than a pond full of water",
and family issues are often not shared with people outside the family. The
role of Asian-American parents is to provide parental care, concern, and
involvement to their children, but they are supposed to do so firmly, and
with control, and governance over the child. Asian-American households are
stable, and they emphasize cooperation, caring, and self-sacrifice.
Middle Eastern Families
In Middle Eastern families "wealth and children are ornaments of life".
Most families are nuclear families, but extended families are important to
people form the Middle East; they frown upon divorce. A "good" husband is
the highest level of authority, he is to support his family and make
decisions that promote the family's well-being. A "good" wife is to take
care of the home and the children, obeys her husband, and get along with
in-laws. Children are expect to satisfy their parents by following the
family's customs and traditions, respecting one's cultural identity, and
living up to the gender role expectations. Young Middle Eastern girls they
are guarded because husbands want their brides to be virgin, whereas the
boys are allowed much more freedom; the only expectation is that the boys
marry within their ethnic group. Also, the girls are expected to do
domestic chores and to serve the men in the household. Middle Eastern
families have been experiencing much more prejudice and discrimination
after the September 11th attacks. However, despite these tribulations,
Middle Eastern families have a strong ethnic identity, close family ties,
and strong religious beliefs.
Interesting Topic:
I found it interested that black men are more likely to marry white women
than women any other ethnic-racial group, while white men are more likely
to marry Latino, Asian-American, and American-Indian women than they are
black women. Also, that we date and marry based on who we are around the
most (based on workplace and education level).
Discussion Topic:
With the above being stated, what does this say about black women? Does
this make back women less likely to get married than all other
racial-ethnic groups? What is so "unappealing" about black women?
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