Latinas in the United States

Latinas in the United States

In the chapter, Latinas in the United States: Bridging Two Worlds, the author uses several of her patient's true life challenges, along with a vignette from her own life, to illustrate the struggles that Latinas often have in adapting to American culture. Traditional Latino culture is based on a patriarchal structure, where the man has all of the power. According to this culture, women are put on this planet for procreation and to care for the family as housewives and mothers. Strict upbringings, following these beliefs, often clash with American values when Latino families immigrate to the United States.

Latinas are Latin women, living in the United States, who come from a variety of countries, races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups. There are several variables that affect their adjustment to life in the United States. These include why they've come to America, the support systems they have access to in the States, their skin color, their education level, and how fluently they speak English. In addition, what part of America they move to, as well as their age when they arrive is important in how well they are able to adjust (Garcia-Preto 330).

One of the most effective ways for Latinas to adapt to life in the United States is by using selective adaptation. With selective adaptation, Latinas are able to hold onto their Latin roots, while incorporating some of the aspects of American culture. The process includes choosing which values are important from the old world, and which they choose to implement from the new world.

However, prejudice and racism often serve as a significant deterrent for Latina women who are trying to adapt. Both events create an environment of oppression, one that is oftentimes reminiscent of the patriarchal society they've left in their home country. This treatment can lead to anxiety within the women, who are so unsure of how they fit into their world. It can also lead the women to become withdrawn and reclusive, avoiding contact with those who may be prejudice against them. This can also lead to them turning away from American culture, in general, making it that much more difficult to adapt.

There are certain expectations of young Latinas and these often lead to cultural clashes. Good girls, according to tradition, are expected to act ladylike and feminine. Roughhousing had sports are not appropriate, as an example. Latinas are expected to live at home until the time they are married, even if this means attending college at a school that is nearby the family home. As youngsters, they are expected to stay inside the house, not be outside hanging out with their friends. Dating occurs much later in life, than for their American counterparts, and these dates are typically chaperoned, to protect the Latina's reputation. Most importantly, they are expected to remain virgins until they are married.

These strict expectations often lead to cultural clashes. One such clash often occurs with the Latina's friends and potential boyfriends, who do not understand this culture and can't appreciate the protectiveness that Latina mothers traditionally have for their daughters. However, the most common, and often most explosive, clash occurs between the Latina and her parents. Living in such a restricted environment, when her peers are not, often leads to rebelliousness, culminating in exactly the Latina's parents' worst fears.

This restrictive culture stems from the virginity myth. The virginity myth states that only by remaining a virgin can a girl get a good husband that will take care of her.

The most fallacious part of this statement is that women can rely on men to take care of them, when in reality they cannot.

To combat this, young women should be taught to value themselves in other aspects then merely as sexual objects. They should be taught, through example, how to be loving and respectful without succumbing to the patriarchal legacies that keep women obedient and dependent on men and that sexualize their self-worth. This sexualized self-worth means simply that in the traditional Latino culture, a woman is highly defined by her sexuality. If she is not a virgin at the time of marriage, has sex with multiple men, enjoys sex, or is a lesbian she is valued less in the culture. This reflects on her own vision of her self-worth, and has nothing to do with the facets of her that should really matter, such as her kindness, her intelligence, her caring, or her hard work.

However, in traditional Latino culture, it is the idea of virginity that keeps females oppressed. By keeping Latinas virgins until the time that a man wishes to marry them, it gives the man power over the woman. This results in female oppression.