Cuban Family Structure

The traditional Cuban family structure is patriarchal, a dominant male and a passive female is common, but mainly among older generations of family. The new family is more open to changes, education for all, especially women, was a big step in the participation of women in the workforce, gender equality, respect to marriage, divorce, household responsibilities, and decision-making. Cuban American women with acculturation were ready to join work outside the home and contribute, like men, to the social and economic growth of the family.

Cubans, both on the island and Cuban Americans, the family, la familia, means support, strength, identity and heritage.

The Cuban family is considered in the category of extended, multigenerational households.

In the workplace, Cubans recognize and assimilate a hierarchical relationship, respect to supervisors, or other authority figure is characteristic (Purnell, 2013).

The multigenerational and hierarchical characteristics of the Cuban family are also demonstrated at the time of seeking health advice. They look first for home remedies or traditional herbs and teas sell in stores called botanicas, prayers, and rituals before consult a health care provider.

Cubans tend to be fatalistic, and believe that spiritual powers will maintain health, well-being and cure illness. Cubans are accustomed to preventive heath because it is a free service in their country, and they bring that practice to the U.S. They have higher rates of preventive health behaviors, such as annual physical examinations, and

Studies show that Cuban Americans, despite enjoying the resources to maintain a healthy lifestyle, more than 75% consume too much junk food (Burroughs Peña, Patel, Rodríguez Leyva, Khan, & Laurence Sperling, 2012).

More than 80% of Cubans are Roman Catholics, and the rest are Protestants, Jews, and believers in the African Cuban practice of Santería, which combine Roman Catholicism with ancient Yoruba tribal beliefs and practices, another African Cuban religion. Any kind of religious belief was suppressed in the early revolutionary period in Cuba, because they opposed to the communist system, restrictions were lessened in the 1990s (“Cuba,” 2016a).

Santeria followers performed rituals to their saints (orishas), with offerings of objects, animal sacrifices, and chants. Necklaces, crucifixes, statues and pictures of saints (estampitas), and stones are given by santeros to protect them from evil and provide well-being. The three favorites saints are La Caridad del Cobre, Santa Barbara, and San Lazaro. The festival La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre is celebrated annually by Cubans, on September