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Hispanic American Diversity

There are many different groups that make up the Hispanic culture in the United States. Groups that will be discussed include the Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans. Each group has differences and commonalities among other groups.
Mexican American’s like a lot of Hispanic groups migrated for better job opportunities and economy. In 1990 it was estimated that approximately 12 million people who claimed Mexican ancestry lived in the United States, (Englekirk, Marin, 2006). Acceptance has increased since they first migrated to the United States and has brought a better life to a minority of Mexican Americans. Mexican Americans have continued to maintain their cultural ways with each new generation and encourage the use of the Spanish language with each new family member. Some Mexican Americans have a difficult time speaking English and are more traditional oriented. Not all Mexican Americans speak Spanish, but may be familiar with the language. Even though many speak English they will often speak Spanish in the home. Mexican Americans have been found to be either Catholic or Protestant and are very religious.
Mexican Americans will tend to live in communities that the majority of the population is of the same ethnic identity. Since they live so close to their homeland it allows immigrants the ability to maintain close ties with the “old country,” (Englekirk, Marin, 2006). Mexican Americans have the opportunity to visit Mexico and keep their cultural ties more than Hispanics that have migrated a further distance. There is a strong importance of family as a unit and new immigrants will seek out their relatives already living in the United States. A contemporary Mexican American family will exhibit a wide range of decision making patters, including that of male authoritarianism, (Englekirk, Marin, 2006). In families where both parents may share in the daily management of the family and any critical decisions, the mother is...