He provides for the family’s physical needs and monitors and controls all mem-
bers’participation in the world outside the home.”^70 Very early in life, Mexican
children learn that“the father makes all of the major decisions, and he sets the
disciplinary standards. His word is finaland the rest of the family looks to him for
guidance and strength.”^71 Theimportanceofthemalerole in the Mexican family
can be seen in that when the father is gone from the home, the oldest son takes
the position of authority.
Part of the strong role of the father in the family originates in the concept of
machismo.Although that concept helps explain the notion of male dominance within
Latino culture, it is often exaggerated, misused, and misunderstood.^72 In actuality,
most of the research regardingmachismomaintains thatmachismois characterized by
honor, dignity, courage, generosity, and respect for others. When applied to the fam-
ily,machismoencourages the care and protection of all family members. So strong is
the protection and concern for family that even“A man’s migration to increase eco-
nomic resources for his family is consistent with traditional male gender roles and
brings honor.”^73
We point out once again that changes in migration patterns and globalization have
altered the role of women in many countries, including those throughout Latin Amer-
ica. Perhaps the link between gender roles and migration is most vivid as it applies to
the United States and Mexico. Writing about this connection, Schneider and Silver-
man observe,“When men migrate alone, the women left behind assume new respon-
sibilities and freedoms. They must make
decisions for their families, and usually
they must work.”^74 There are now also
changes occurring in migration patterns,
as women are the ones leaving the family
as they find work inmaquilafactories.Indian. You have already seen how history, family, and religion are powerful forces in
every culture and work together. In each of the cultural families we have talked
about, you observed the connection between these social institutions and gender
roles. When we look at the position of gender in India, the connections among a
culture’s history, religion, and its worldview are also apparent. Henderson writes,
“Women’s status stems from the convergence of historical and cultural factors.”^75
These are traditions, as reflected in Hinduism, that go back thousands of years.
These traditions, plus the fact that India was cut off from the outside world for
much of its early history, helped define the status of women then and, to a degree,
even today. In those early days, females wore veils and bulky garments that covered
their faces and bodies.^76 During that same period, only men were allowed to interact
with the world outside the home. This early orientation promoted an“ideology that
separates women and men from one another. Masculinity and femininity become
defined as distinct, if not opposing, entities.”^77 While strict adherence to this kind
of dogma no longer exists, the residual has tended to create a culture where males
are considered the superior sex. Male children are thought to be entrusted to parents
by the gods. This preference for males, as we noted, has a history as old as Indian
society itself. A son guarantees the continuation of the generations and the cycle of
life. This, of course, is important for a culture that believes in reincarnation.REMEMBER THIS
To assure that sons secure“good wives,”arranged marriages
are still commonplace in India.Cultural Variants in Family Interaction 85Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).