It’s no doubt that culture and family values play a significant role in the self-discovery process. Often times, these social constructs can influence goals, beliefs and values. Life as a Dominican is one that is built on strong family value, religion, morality and work ethic. Growing up in a Dominican family, I can remember my parents instilling strong moral values such as being honest and respecting one another while emphasizing the need for hard work and education. Much of my outlook on life can be attributed to the Dominican values of family, discipline and values taught to me throughout my childhood and adolescence.
Family Structure
Family structure in the Dominican Republic is shaped very traditional in views and gender roles. Typically, men are held in high reverence within the home while women take on supporting roles. Men often hold the title of “head-of-household” while women hold domestic roles such a taking care of the household and rearing children (Howard, 1997; Vazquez, 2005). Children are often taught to respect their elders and to be obedient. As parents, Dominicans tend to be very protective of their children and typically demand strict compliance (Vazquez, 2005, p. 223). Even though the expected roles of husband, wife and children follow common structures of the traditional household, the typical family is far from nuclear. Household are typically compound consisting of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins (Vasquez, 2005, p. 217). Families are
Language and Sexuality is something you would expect to see people talking about everywhere. But not everyone is so open to talk about it now a days when they are in public because most of what you see people doing in being on their phone. Sitting in my grandmother’s house was able to show me the way that most Dominicans would treat the situation when sex is mentioned to how they talk about it to the kids. Just having one hour to sit in the living room gives you an idea that it is not talking to the kids about sex but talking about sex in front of the kids. Sitting there proved that the more the kids hear about sex being a topic that is talked about, the more likely they all are to get together and talk about what they would do.
Because of the opposing cultures and ideas that collide in the mind of Richard Rodriguez, his arguments tend to break boundaries of traditional philosophical writing. As a Catholic, a homosexual, a Mexican immigrant, and an intellectual, the meaning of family values can differ significantly from one aspect of his life to the next. By gathering input from each of those sectors, Rodriguez composes an array of personal anecdotes and hypothetical examples in “Family Values,” to profess his theory that Americans’ supposed beliefs do not always align with reality. With the use of generalization and paradoxical exemplification, Rodriguez is able to portray
Many of us are very family oriented and believe that family should always be present in our life no matter what do in life. While some of us feel that, our desire is worth more important than family due to the lack of communication with family members. In the “Achievement of Desire” by Richard Rodriguez, Rodriguez recalls some of the difficulties he had at a young age, which was balancing his life academically and practicing the Mexican traditions. His desire was more important to him than his family because communication with his family was not as strong as before when he began to get more involved in his education, which separates him from his family mentally and physically.
Family values are ideals that are learned traditionally in a family and are reinforced within the familial unit. Family values can be very diverse between different cultures. Some of these family values are the way children are raised, discipline, gender roles in the family, and the way families choose to live.
The Hispanic culture has different values, beliefs, and traditions. Family is highly value. Family is a close-knit group and the most important social group to gather in any events or special days. The Hispanic “family unit” includes not only parents and children but also grandparents and extended family. Individuals within the family have moral responsibilities to help other members of the family experiencing financial problems, unemployment, health conditions and any other life issues. They show the importance placed upon relationship within their family extending a hand in good times and bad. Respeto y dignidad (respect and dignity) are other important values of the Hispanic culture. Children’s are taught to avoid confrontations with parents and older persons, and to be obedient and respectful. The Hispanics believe that the father is head of the family and the mother is to take care of home. Naming children after grandparents and parents is fairly common. A well-known tradition is the celebration of a fifteen year old girl called Quincenera. Hispanics culture and traditions are based around celebrating and spending time with love ones.
The emphasis on individualism has provoked a deeper inspection of one’s personal values and beliefs while feminism has opened the door for a new type of traditional family to emerge with new dynamics between parents, children and their roles within the home. These new dynamics merge right along with cultural values as the two merge. In America, life is varied from home to home with different culturally-influenced family values. While throughout other parts of the world, different countries have maintained a balance within a core value system that affects all families alike through religion and a national way of life. There is no doubt that the many varied factors of modern society, ethnic background and religion all play significant roles in forming family values that shape the life of an
Culture is the thoughts, communications, actions, beliefs, values, and institutions racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups (Jarvis, 2012, p 14). Every culture has its own view/ understanding about health care, health and illnesses. Although what might be seen as acceptable in one culture, may not be acceptable in another, regardless of where you are health care and culture will always exist. My definition of culture is the way someone lives his or her life in a daily basis; which includes things like the language one speaks in and out of the home, food one eats, music one listens to, and one religious practice. The culture I will be
There are two sides to every story. For the Dominican Republic, they are two very contrasting stories. One being the serene, white beaches where a person’s every need can be waited upon. The other side is where a person’s most basic needs cannot even be met. A story where a child has to worry about if they will even eat tonight. Now, the majority of people would avoid the latter story. Not my mom, she dives right into the middle of it.
All cultures are different and influence how we develop as adults. In my Mexican American culture many virtues of strength, courage, and hope has been passed on. Growing up in an environment where financial hardship prevailed I was still able to observe how my parents had hopeful attitudes, loved, had patience, and kindness toward others. Our strong family unity brought me comfort and confidence in knowing I had their support and guidance. The qualities my family passed on to me are hope, love, patience, kindness, respect, caring, and most significant being helpful. Culture and family engraved in my thoughts that hard work pays off and to uncover meaning in life one must persevere in education and thrive to support those struggling. Life has given me the opportunities to practice many qualities and I’ve learned they are to cherish. They have molded my character somewhat in that, as the years passed, I adapted and applied them. My intent is to keep the principles imparted to me and with a positive attitude, carry myself with might and bravery as I travel forward in life.
The story “family values”, is a true story written by Richard Rodriguez. The author covers issues such as Acceptance, Social Standards, sexuality, and religion, culture, and immigration. Rodriguez uses his personal experience to discuss what family values means to every culture, while facing the problems that society stereotypes such as homosexuality, religion, acceptance.
Just like in the US there are 3 meals a day. But the most important meal of the day is el almuerzo (lunch) unlike the US.To start off the day they have a huge breakfast, which includes 2 eggs and a smaller steak with beans and a cup of coffee. For
“No te quede en el sol por mucho tiempo te va poner negro” Don't stay in the sun for too long you’ll get black.Those are words that I have heard while growing up. Growing up in a Dominican household the culture and beliefs are really strong. A culture that has been passed down through generations. A culture that has been accepted, however just because it's my culture doesn't mean that I have to accept it. In my family, lighter is better, more beautiful. It's not only my family, in Dominican culture being light skin tone is usually related to beauty and success. However, I don't agree with that, the color of your skin doesn't decide if you will be successful. It is who you are that decides that. It is hard to try to talk to the family about
The first person or people who should be caring the burden for elderly care lies within their own family. Within the American culture many family members prefer to put their older members in elder homes. My family is originally from Mexico so I am aware of the family values embedded within Mexican culture. I have never seen a Mexican family have their elderly family members live or be taking care of by somebody else that is not a relative. We live in an American society that does not value the care and need for the elderly and prefer to leave up to state and national departments. Since they were the ones who created the generation in which we live in we should be grateful and provide them with the best care possible within our own homes. Many elders who live in homes receive poor or abusive care from faculty. This is not an environment that we should be letting them live in especially if they are your parents. If they lived there lives to watch you grow and take care of you we should be returning them the favor and taking care of them until their final days. The only exception that I have for not taking care of them would be if they have a serious disability or if they are mentally ill. There are illness where the son or daughter of the family member is not able to care for that person because of circumstances that out of their reach. In this situation it would be ok to admit them to home where they are professionally prepared to care for them and have the resources needed
Understanding the hierarchy of the family is imperative in understanding the functions of the family unit. With some familiarity with the different cultures in a given community, a medical professional will be able to ascertain who the head of the household is. The head of the household differs from culture to culture, as such, “misunderstandings which include but are not limited to the involvement of the male in all aspects of health care
Let me start of by saying, there is no reason why anyone wouldn’t want to become a Dominican. Dominicans have strong beliefs in resurrection. Their religion customs were brought to their island by Spanish colonist. The Dominican Island is a very beautiful Island full of friendly people. The Dominican flag colors are red, blue and white, in the middle of their flag they have a bible. The culture is unique and follows an old tradition, They have a history of native Tainos and Africans which were the ones who repopulate. Dominicans influence their tourist places with Taino souvenirs. Their people love tourist, mostly Americans. Every Dominican dream for some reason is to come to the U.S. Other than the U.S. having benefits for everyone and being a multicultural country their Island is