Hispanic values: the family extends
by Loida Velazquez
As an educator in the field of multiculturalism, and as a Latina, I am always trying to convey the message that Latinos are not a homogenous group. You can call us Hispanic or Latino but by either name, we represent a diverse group of people who range from European Spaniards, Portuguese-speaking Brazilians, and Caribbean, Central and South American immigrants. We are white, black and an array of indigenous groups whose languages have little in common with the Spanish of the colonizers.
Yet, we have a lot in common. The Pew Hispanic Center's 2002 National Survey of Latinos comprehensively explored the attitudes and experiences of Hispanics in the United States on a wide variety of topics. The survey was designed to capture the diversity of the Latino population by including almost 3,000 Hispanics from various backgrounds and groups so that, in addition to describing Latinos overall, comparisons could be made among key Hispanic subgroups as well.
They found that, as a whole, the Hispanic population of the United States holds an array of attitudes, values and beliefs that are distinct from those of non-Hispanic whites and African Americans. According to their report, even Latinos who trace their ancestry in the United States back for several generations express views that distinguish them from the non-Hispanic, native-born population.
The Pew Hispanic Center findings did not surprise me. Here in Knoxville we have as diverse a group of Hispanics as you may find in any major U.S. city, and when we get together, we truly feel the cultural familiarity that unites us.
If you ask us, it is hard to pinpoint what are the values that we all share, but we all place family at the center of all our interactions. Now, for us family is not only the nuclear group; our family concept is an extended one that goes beyond blood ties. Close friends are considered part of the family and are expected to fulfill the given role.
We also have a greater tendency to place major emphasis on the needs, objectives, and points of view of the group than individualistic cultures. This can be a blessing and a curse. While we are sensitive to the needs of the group and place greater trust on the members of the in-group, that sensitivity make us susceptible to conformity and not wanting to "rock the boat." That also makes us great conciliators; we do anything to promote smooth and pleasant relationships.
Cultures differ in preferences in terms of the amount of physical space they consider appropriate between people in general interactions. Latinos prefer a small personal space. We feel comfortable when physically close to others and less likely to feel that our personal space has been violated. We are also very effusive and expressive. You might notice that in the way we greet each other and in the way we party! El abrazo (a hug and sometimes a kiss) is our preferred form of salutation, and in the midst of a conversation we may touch you to convey our care for what is being said.
But language is what unites us most, that and the richness in expression of the Spanish language. Hispanics, particularly those who have recently arrived in the United States, feel very strongly that learning English is imperative in order to be successful here, but when we are among ourselves we turn to the mother tongue to care for each other. When we do that, we are not talking about you! We are saying to each other, I am here, and, like you, I bring to this relationship the songs, poems, literature, and the history of colonization and gained freedom that we have in common.
The Pew Center research found that when it comes to social values, Latinos have values that are somewhat more conservative than whites but that are often similar to those of African Americans. We share similar views about divorce, abortion, social welfare and a distrust of political answers to social problems.
What I have found is that when I do my Latino 101 presentations throughout East Tennessee, the audience almost always says that Latino values are very similar to those held by rural Appalachia: family-centered and interdependent, respectful of elders and authority figures, well-defined in gender roles, and with a deep religious faith.
Perhaps we are more similar that different.
Loida Velazquez is an adjunct professor and program director in the UT College of Education.
September 18, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 38
© 2003 Metro Pulse
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