Analysis of Family, Religion, and Stereotypes in Mexican American Life

1 Discussion 7 Student’s Name Institution Instructor Course Date

2 Discussion 7 The following paper includes an analysis of the case study of Mr. Perez, who is an elderly Mexican American who has recently been diagnosed with a slow heartbeat requiring the implantation of a pacemaker. Particularly, the analysis includes an explanation on the significance of family and kinship for the family of Perez, a description on the importance of religion and God for his family, an identification of two stereotypes concerning the Mexican Americans and were dispelled in this case. It shall finally describe the role of Mrs. Perez in their family. Significance Of Family and Kinship for The Perez Family The Perez family goes beyond the standard definition of a family, which is a collection of people connected by blood or marriage ties. The ideas of family and kinship are extremely important in this family. The ties that the members sustain with one another serve as the foundation for their moral and social equilibrium ( McEwen et al., 2019) . For Perez family, kinship and family are the primary sources of social fulfillment. In fact, the family dines at the same restaurant each Sunday and attends Church services together. Most of the family members also resides within a 10-mile radius of each other in the same location. This shows that they can support one another and uphold very close family relationships. These bonds were created around Mr. Perez, the family patriarch who gave his family everything so they could live better lives in America. Everyone in this family appears to be aware of this effort and gives him and the wife the respect and affection they deserve. Importance Of Religion and God for Perez Family The Perez family values religion highly because it contributes to the stability and wellness of the household. Perez and his wife place a high value on their religious beliefs and

3 offer prayers for the wellbeing and safety of their family. Because the most of his children were born by the God's grace, religion is at the heart of the Perez family's lives. In fact, doctors advised Mrs. Perez to stop trying to conceive after their firstborn. However, she was able to have further children through prayer, and they are all in good health. In this sense, religion is the major pillar of the family as it has enabled them to get over many obstacles and constraints placed on them by scientific knowledge and their surroundings. The Catholic faith is practiced by over 55% of Mexican Americans, with the remainder embracing other Christian denominations ( Lerman et al., 2018) . This demonstrates the importance of religion in Mexican American households and elaborates why the Perez family places such a high value on it. Two Stereotypes About Mexican Americans The validity of their existence on American territory is one of the stereotypes concerning Mexican Americans that is portrayed in this scenario. In fact, more than 45% of Americans believe that most Mexicans living in the US lack proper documentation ( Philbin et al., 2018) . This observation reflects a strongly ingrained misconception due to Mexico's proximity to the U.S and the regular reports of illegal Mexican incursions onto American property. However, this preconceived notion is refuted by the fact that Mr. Perez worked in the U.s, obtained American citizenship, and then gave it to his children and grandchildren. Following his retirement, Mr. Perez was able to reap the benefits of some social compensations provided by the American security system. In addition, Mr. Perez's children are citizens of the United States, despite the fact that they can have the look of being Latino. They are not present in the country unlawfully. The idea that Mexican Americans are sluggish and are only useful as laborers is the other stereotype that many Americans hold but that is disproven in this case study (Young &

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4 Hall, 2017). The information dispels this misconception by showing how hardworking Mr. Perez worked to start a family, support his relatives in Mexico, educate his kids, and even own a ranch. Role Of Mrs. Perez In Her Family Mrs. Perez's primary responsibility in the family involves ensuring the continuity of the family unit by tending to the members' spiritual, physical and, psychological needs. Her duty is to look after and provide support for both her husband and children, and to be available for them whenever they require her assistance. In addition to this, Mrs. Perez is responsible for ensuring that her family walks in a manner that is pleasing to God. In conclusion, a good relationship is essential for building a stronger family. Parents play a very key role in ensuring the unity of the family since children look upon them. They should strive to instill good character traits in their children by setting a good example in all that they do including observing their religion.

5 References Lerman, S., Jung, M., Arredondo, E. M., Barnhart, J. M., Cai, J., Castañeda, S. F., ... & Kaplan, R. C. (2018). Religiosity prevalence and its association with depression and anxiety symptoms among Hispanic/Latino adults. PloS one , 13 (2), e0185661. https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0185661 McEwen, M. M., Pasvogel, A., & Murdaugh, C. (2019). Effects of a family-based diabetes intervention on family social capital outcomes for Mexican American adults. The Diabetes Educator , 45 (3), 272-286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145721719837899 Philbin, M. M., Flake, M., Hatzenbuehler, M. L., & Hirsch, J. S. (2018). State-level immigration and immigrant-focused policies as drivers of Latino health disparities in the United States. Social Science & Medicine , 199 , 29-38. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.socscimed.2017.04.007 Young, L., & Hall, M. (2017). The lazy Mexican: A damaging stereotype that’s far from the truth . Montana Kaimin. http://www.montanakaimin.com/opinion/the-lazy-mexican-a- damaging-stereotype-that-s-far-from-the-truth/article_8ef41c22-3034-11e7-95b9- 83d270d08b2d.html

Discussion 7

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