Summary
This study was done in order to understand the reasons why Mexican/Chicano
families assimilate or acculturate to the U.S. culture. Also, to prevent new
Mexican/Chicano families who come to the U.S. and assimilate to this dominant culture.
Acculturation is the process in which ethnic minorities adapt to cultural values from the
dominant culture, while assimilation is considered a method of losing a cultural identity
and values. Knowing these terms we can see how history has played an important role in
Mexica/Chicano families. During the colonialism era, many indigenous families lost
their cultural values and traditional practices because they wanted to be able to live the
“right way”. This way was to assimilate to the new dominant culture and only practice
their traditions. Another era that played an important role in Mexican/Chicano family
assimilation or acculturation was the 1846-48 war between Mexico and the U.S. During
this time many policies and laws were implemented where Mexicans/Chicanos had to
adapt. One was the when the Bureau of Public Education demanded that English was the
new way of instruction for everyone. These families had to assimilate to this language in
order to progress in the country.
There were many different ways of assimilating or acculturating to the U.S.
culture. To some it became easier because they had lighter skin color. The lighter they
were the more they were accepted. Others begun changing their first and last names, the
majority doing this were the rich Mexican people. However, it didn’t change their social
status in this new dominant society. In the present, many Mexican/Chicano families are
still trying to assimilate to this dominant culture. It might be because they don’t feel
accepted and they want to be integrated in this society. Some impacts that acculturation
has brought to these families are language changes, an increase in intercultural marriages,
and an increase in consumerism.
The two main language transformations that Mexican/Chicano families gained
where Spanglish and Bilingualism. The first is when both English and Spanish are mix
when speaking. The latter is when a person is fluent in both languages and can choose to
speak either Spanish or English in certain situations. In a diverse nation, there is bound
to be intercultural marriages. This is due to different senarios. According to Constantine
Panuzio, interracial marriages could be achieved due to the disproportionate gender
ratios. When there is a scarcity of women or men of ones culture, people often seek to
other cultures to find their life partner. The last result of acculturation is the increase of
consumerism. Such is done when Mexican/Chicano families are live in this consumerist
nation. They are often told in television that they should buy unnecessary things to live
the American way. Although some material things don’t have value, society has given
great importance to them, now it determines the social status of people.
Assimilation is much stronger than acculturation and it has more negative impacts
on Mexican/Chicano families. One effect of such action is when people lose their native
tongue. Loosing the language is seen more in the third, fourth, and fifth generation, but it
can also be seen in second generation. Besides this negative effect, assimilation also
takes away culture. Mexican/Chicano families have been loosing their cultural values
since the beginning of the European conquest, but when they come to the U.S. and their
culture is not recognized, they begin loosing their cultural traits. Once they loose these
traits, they also loose their identity. Not having an identity in this nation is crucial,
because anyone can dominate or manipulate a person without identity. It has also been
that Mexican/Chicano families without identity are more easily controlled. They also join
gangs, drop out of High School, and get pregnant; this is seen more on the younger
generations. Having such negative connotations about the Mexican/Chicano culture
creates resentment to this culture. When people of this descent hear, watch, read, and
observe how poorly their culture is being portrayed in the U.S. creates embarrassment
and as a result a dislike for their own culture.
The media plays an important role in both assimilating and acculturating
Mexican/Chicano families to the dominant U.S. culture. They often come up with
movies where Mexican/Chicano stereotypes are reinforced. These stereotypes are nailed
in society so much that they begin to accept it and conform to it. There is only one way
to live in this country, and that is to live the “American way”.
If Mexican/Chicano families want to keep their traditions and cultural identities
they must prevent from fully assimilating. No matter how much they try to fit into
society they are not going to be accepted, which is why they are still some of the poorest
in the country. The best thing Mexican/Chicano families need to do in this dominant
culture is to maintain its culture and pass it down to the next generation. Doing this will
create a powerful chain that will soon break the stereotypes and discrimination against
Mexican/Chicano families.