Essay on Mexican American Culture - 1167 Words

As I begin this essay comparing two separate cultures I feel it is necessary to first describe what exactly culture is. Culture has been called the way of life for an entire society. It includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior such as law and morality, and systems of belief. Various definitions of culture reflect differing theories for understanding or criteria for evaluating human activity. Edward Burnett Tylor writing from the perspective of social anthropology in the UK in 1871 described culture in the following way: Culture or civilization, taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and†¦show more content†¦Mexican Spanish differs from the language spoken in Spain the same way American English differs from British English: some pronunciations are different and sometimes different expressions are used in the two countries for the same idea.Apart from Spanish, about 50 languages are spoken in Mexico by about 7 million people; a significant fraction of the population does not speak Spanish at all. Citizens take pride in their economic independence, mexico still values community in its cities and towns, its plazas and schools, and its work organizations. In Mexican culture the expectation of working and socializing together is a key component of society, and has a basis in the strong ties formed within the family. However, lack of faith in the government is a result of widespread political corruption. Even at the lowest levels, police officers readily accept bribes from those wishing to avoid the nuisance of a traffic ticket or a night in prison. In recent years, the government has begun addressing this corruption by reducing the number of state-owned businesses and calling on Mexicans to refuse to give bribes. This, however, has proven difficult, and the progress has been slow. During the Spanish conquest and colonization of Mexico, Roman Catholicism was founded as the main religion of Mexico, and today, about 89% of Mexicans identify themselves with Catholicism. Evangelical religions have grown inShow MoreRelatedMexican Culture : Mexican American Culture1857 Words   |  8 Pages Mexican-American Culture Many immigrants come to the United States from all over the world. Some bring their families, some their prized possessions, others come with nothing but determination and the goal of a better life. One thing that every immigrant brings with them is their culture. One of the most dominant minority cultures in the United States is the Mexican culture. The US shares a border with Mexico making it easier for immigrants to stay in contact with their families in their homeRead MoreMexican American Culture1658 Words   |  7 PagesEvery culture has their own unique and distinguishing characteristics. One’s cultural identity defines who they are as an individual, group, and community. Their cultural identity may be reflected in numerous ways such as: language, communication styles, religion, beliefs, values, clothing, or other types of aesthetic markers. Cultural identity is formed by many of these traits but is not limited to these specifically. This essay will provide detaile d information on Mexican Americans, and theirRead MoreTensions Between Mexican And American Cultures1156 Words   |  5 PagesBerglund ENG 245 10 January 2017 â€Å"American†¦But Hyphenated†: Tensions Between Mexican and American Cultures In Pat Mora’s two poems, â€Å"Legal Alien† and â€Å"Immigrants†, she is expressing the crisis of identity from which Mexican Americans suffer. On one hand, Americans view her (and Mexican Americans in general) as â€Å"perhaps exotic, / perhaps inferior, and definitely different† (9-10) while on the other Mexicans view Mexican-Americans as â€Å"alien† (11). Caught in between two cultures, and not being fully acceptedRead MoreMexican American Culture: The Film Selena1006 Words   |  5 PagesTo help me understand and analyze a different culture, I watched the film Selena. The film tells the life story of the famous singer Selena Quintanilla-Pà ©rez. Not only does it just tell personal stories from her life, it also gives insight to the Mexican-American culture. Her whole life she lived in the United States, specifically in Texas, but was Hispanic and because of that both her and her family faced more struggles than white singers on the climb to her success. Even though the film is a storyRead MoreA Personal Experience With Mexican American Culture2130 Words   |  9 PagesExperience With Mexican American Culture This is a narrative of one Mexican American woman’s experiences and her views on the importance of passing down the cultural beliefs of her ancestors. In the section of the country in which I live there is a large population within the community of Mexican American culture. Although I have frequent contact with people of Mexican American heritage either through employment or interaction out in the community, I have a limited understanding of their culture. For thisRead MoreThe Difference Between The North American And Mexican American Culture951 Words   |  4 Pagesetc. Spanglish by James L. Brooks explores the difference between the North American and Mexican American culture by describing how Flor is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who does not speak any English and tries to integrate to an American family. Although cross-cultural can be a challenge or an obstacle to interact with others, we just need to put more effort by fostering more respect and acceptance against the ir culture. This is because it is a great opportunity for us to learn from others in orderRead MoreBecoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, And Identity1553 Words   |  7 PagesBecoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945 The immigration story of the United States includes groups of individuals from many different countries, one such group was that of the U.S.’s southern neighbor Mexico. In the book, Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945, George J. Sà ¡nchez writes about the Mexican immigrants’ experience migrating to California and settling there, particularly in theRead MoreMexican American Culture2155 Words   |  9 PagesReview of the Mexican Culture Crystal Contreras New Mexico State University Abstract This paper is a review on Mexican American culture in the United States. I will discuss the history of this culture and how they became part of the U.S. I will also talk about the different wars and treaty that was signed to give them rights. I will also include the latest in demographics and population from the Census Bureau (2010). I will cover the Mexican Americans prejudices andRead MoreMy American Culture And The Mexican Culture982 Words   |  4 Pages Battling between the confound of two cultures yet attempting to embrace both has shaped me into the individual I am present day. I grew up in a loving home surrounded by a nationally diverse family. Nevertheless, one thing we all have in common is our Mexican culture passed on to us by our wonderful ancestors. Even though some of my family members reside in different states, some even in different countries, we are all able to connect with each other when practicing our traditions and customs.Read MoreThe Effects Of Mexican Am ericans On American Culture1507 Words   |  7 PagesThesis Although Mexican Americans have struggled with various segregation acts and racial discrimination while adapting to the American lifestyle, many achieved the American Dream by countless job opportunities provided by America s industrial and agricultural sectors. Origin The first inhabitants of California were a mix of Central American and Northern American tribes, who had a rich a diverse culture mostly lost to history. They built wonderful pieces of architecture, rich pieces of art, pioneers