Mexican Family Culture

Mexican-Americans are the largest Hispanic group representing nearly 50 percent of the total Hispanic population and is the largest minority population in the U.S. (comprising 31.8 million). A record 33.7 million Hispanics of Mexican origin resided in the United States in 2012, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by Pew Research Center. By far the largest segment of the Hispanic population (61.2%) is of Mexican origin and resides primarily in the southwestern states of California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Mexicans are by far the largest Hispanic-origin population in the U.S., accounting for nearly two-thirds (64%) of the U.S. Hispanic population in 2012(Gonzales, Applewhite, & Barrera, 2015).
To put this in perspective

The foundation of this value is La Famila and the principles of familismo. Traditionally in Mexico, family life is organized in a patriarchal arrangement. (Baron-Mckeagney, woods & D’Souza, 2002). This arrangement lends itself to the idea that the elderly hold the greatest amount of power and respect with in the family unit (Bacalio, & Smokowski, 2007). Machismo represents the male gender construct and stands as the leadership positon in which the father protects and provides for the family members, uses just authority and respects the role that both the wife and children play with in the family. Women and children are socialized to be submissive to male authority and the women’s role is clearly taking care of the home, the husband and the children (Coltrace, Park & Adams,

During the assessment, it is also important for us to realize how culture may have affected their reason for seeking a social worker which includes assessing and understanding the influence acculturation has on the family members caring for elderly client (Kao, et al., 2010). Thus, giving the social worker for example the knowledge that the client and their family that they are working with might be first generation and due to their immigration status may or may not engage in the intervention process.
During interventions with Mexican American elders it is important to assess what their support system is to them. Social worker should become familiar with and understand any factors or belief systems that may be causing strain in the family and possible affecting the elder. Evaluating the client and coming up with goals understanding their social supports will help form rapport with the client, show them their strengths and align treatment with their beliefs and values. Although there is research for Mexican American elders more research needs to be conducted to have a broader understanding of how their childhood, and adulthood affects the aging