Client Identity Through Religion and Culture

Section A: I am a Mexican-American woman, born to Mexican immigrant parents, and by birthright an American citizen. In my phenotype, I do not look like a stereotypical American, with blonde hair, blue eyes, or a light complexion. I have black hair, dark brown eyes, and a light brown skin complexion. While exploring my identity and my sense of belonging in my Mexican-American, or Chicana identity, I can relate to the growth and development described in the Model of Death and Dying. For, I have the privileges of an American, but have witnessed discrimination against my fellow Mexicans counterparts.

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 this reason, I chose to learn more about the population of people I have frequent contact with and as a professional work with as clients in the field of mental health counseling. The quest of finding someone knowledgeable to discuss the population, their cultural background and some of their necessities, as well as some past experiences, led me towards contacting a church. This took calling two different churches before the person at the second church informed me that I needed to speak with, Mrs. Socorro Garcia head of their Hispanic Ministries. Unfortunately, Mrs. Garcia was on vacation when I called, but I was able to speak with her over the phone the following week, setting up an interview in person at her office a couple days later. This was a relief because I was becoming concerned about locating someone for a personal interview.

Every 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 detailed information on Mexican Americans, and their ancestry and heritage. I will also explain about this cultures central beliefs and values, while incorporating information on Mexican Americans, cultural patterns, cultural identity, and their cultures communication characteristics and styles.

For Alejandro, his cultural values are quite similar to mine with the difference of how Mexicans view gender. Despite both being Mexican, I feel that he has more experience of what it truly means to be Mexican (p. 315). During the interview, I felt that I was learning new things. He describes his family as a close unit. His father and he immigrated when he was sixteen. Years later his mother and two siblings followed. Approximately three years ago, two of his younger brothers immigrated. In reference to family, both his parents believed that having all member together is vital. Alejandro acknowledges that his primary cultural values come from what his parents instilled in him as well as what he experienced growing up in Mexico. When asked about how prevalent machismo is within his

John comes from low income immigrant parents from Mexican decent, most come to the United States at a young age with little to no English and have little formal education. Immigrant Mexicans are likely to come to America with Lower hourly wages, higher unemployment, poor housing, lack of transportation, and limited access to basic services place. Due to their immigrant status their live with constant fear of deportation. Mexican family value their tradition and ritual celebrations feeling of self-worth. Family is a big part of Mexican value, staying together as a family through all the obstacles. Traditional Mexican families are constructed as machismo, which is the male gender is represent as the leader of the household. The male works for his family to support them financial to pay all the bills. Family life is organized by patriarchal arrangement, male is superior, and elderly hold the most respect. Women are perceived to be devoted to home, husband, and children but because of immigration the roles shift away from male dominance and towards equal, shared

For example, when Anna Lisa experienced the culture shock for the first time, she felt confused because it was her first time being defined as a Latina. Also, when she described herself as a majority in El Sereno but then a minority in college, Anna Lisa felt intimidated. Anna Lisa always had others when she was at home but it changed when discovered herself. She definitely described the fear and confusion struck in her entering college. Anna Lisa also adds on how angry she felt as she would scold her mother for not teaching her Spanish as a little girl in El Sereno. In addition, Anna Lisa states that she cannot be a content Latina because she has to be a “politically-and-socially-aware-Latina-with-a-chip-on-my[her]-shoulder-because-of-how-repressed-I[she]-am-[is]-in-this-country” (Raya 121). In this statement, Anna Lisa states how many people feel because of racial stereotypes. By adding this statement, Anna Lisa states that she wants to be someone she isn’t and describes the pain of several other Latinos go through everyday for being

First, one must consider the probing of behaviors such as stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and racism as underlying forces of culture contact and the danger it brings (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2012). Second, the seriousness of cultural change is to be acknowledge in the lives of Hispanics individuals and families as it affects its function which encompasses beliefs, values, behaviors and more (Archuleta, 2012). Finally, a description of Charo’s culture mirrors a Hispanic heterosexual female, a survivor of domestic violence whose roots stems from Mexico (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014). She speaks her native language only, does not have a visa to work,

Mexican culture is colorful and rich, enriched with pride and heritage. Family values and strong moral constitution have sustained the culture for hundreds of years. I have had the pleasure to interact and consort with the Mexican culture most of my life in the business that I'm in. Dedication and hard work are the stables that bound the stigma of the Mexican culture. Being that I truly honor the culture I have chosen a friend of mine that I work with to perform my interview upon. My interviewee is Maria Dimas; she was born in Cancun Mexico but has lived most of her life in the United States.

(Trumbull and Pacheco 9). After analyzing several texts, the reader recognizes that three important elements of a person's cultural identity include beliefs, food, ethnicity, and

Culture is an identification of one's worldview, which can include values, beliefs, morals, attitudes, customs, experiences and behaviors communicated within those individuals. There are characteristics that define religion/spirituality, role within family, definition of illness and the use of healing and treatment practices presentation in health behaviors (Talamantes, 2000). When it comes to the culture of Mexican immigration status can play an important role to one's healthcare. If the Hispanics from the Mexican culture live in the United States also known as Mexican Americans they have a high change of having healthcare, but if they still live in parts of Mexico they have a less to nothing chance of having

When comparing Americans and Mexicans, we can assert that Americans value individualism, rights of choices, and focus on “doing rather than being”. Verbal skill as well as eye contact is important during conversations; and touching may be viewed as a form of sexual harassment. Both parents are authorized to work, children achievement as well as freedom of religion is valued. On the other hands, Mexicans are family centered; the father or the oldest man in the house makes decisions. They value closeness, however, eye contact is considered a sign of rudeness. Work is not highly valued though necessary for survival, and may not be on time for appointments. They identify themselves as Catholics, view death as a natural part of life, and one need to endure pain to demonstrate strength; they value traditional medicine over biomedical medicine.

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 this reason, I chose to learn more about the population of people I have frequent contact with and as a professional work with as clients in the field of mental health counseling. The quest of finding someone knowledgeable to discuss the population, their cultural

The client has expressed a strong interest in getting help for family problems, employment, financial assistance, and counseling. When asked about his preferred cultural identity, he said “Mexican.” Mr. and Mrs. Olivares have two young children. Their extended family lives in Mexico. Mrs. Olivares later disclosed that she is pregnant and she has yet to tell her husband.

The ethnic- Mexican experience has changed over the years as American has progressed through certain period of times, e.g., the modernity and transformation of the southwest in the late 19th and early 20th century, the labor demands and shifting of U.S. immigration policy in the 20th century, and the Chicano Civil Rights Movement. Through these events Mexican Americans have established and shaped their culture, in order, to negotiate these precarious social and historical circumstances. Throughout the ethnic Mexicans cultural history in the United States, conflict and contradiction has played a key role in shaping their modalities of life. Beginning in the late 20th century and early 21st century ethnic Mexicans have come under distress

According to identity negotiation theory, it is possible for people to retain their original identities while also modifying them in response to exposure to the host culture (Swann & Bosson, p. 170). As I embraced the exposure to these new norms, I continued to remain true to myself and carry my same core values. So as time went on I realized I didn’t need to choose one or the other. I wouldn’t deny my Americanism, but I would try my best to adopt Sevillano ways of life, like the slow pace and beauty of the