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Puerto Rican American Culture Research Paper

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Puerto Rican culture, like most cultures today, can be difficult to fit into a perfect descriptive box due to a rich heritage and history full of cultural and racial mixing that make up Its people. Taino Indians, Spanish settlers, African slaves, various immigrants, and eventually Americans, after they acquired the Island of Puerto Rico in 1898, have all influenced the culture of Puerto Rico. It was not until 1917, that Puerto Ricans received common United States citizenship. Puerto Ricans are as American as you or me, but the descendants of Puerto Rico will always consider themselves Puerto Rican and take great pride in their land and their culture. Today it is estimated that there are more than 8.6M Puerto Rican Americans and only approximately …show more content…

In traditional Puerto Rican households, children are still raised with gender roles in mind. This is starting to fade some now that more women are having to take on responsibilities outside the home. However, women are still expected to be the caregivers even when they do work. Families are very affectionate toward children and children are expected to be obedient and respectful especially to parents, elders, and authority. Puerto Rican families do not typically tell their children what to do. In their culture, children are taught how to act by example and expected to learn through observations within the context of the …show more content…

Puerto Ricans often talk in a loud tone during everyday conversations, they are very expressive and may utilize gestures. Their communication style is indirect, and they do not make eye contact, even finding it disrespectful. Puerto Ricans do not value personal space like Americans do, they converse very closely and may be offended if you back away. Touch and closeness are valued in their culture. It is also a cultural norm to interrupt during communication. Puerto Ricans avoid confrontation and will even leave out the truth to maintain social harmony. They are a genuine and accepting culture that will greet you with a

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