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Understanding Latinos and Latinas

Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

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The link between physical and emotional

believe that strong emotions may cause physical illness and thus perceive the psyche as affecting one’s physical condition.

They would rather seek medical treatment.

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Slow to accept mental health services

Why? high tolerance for psychopathology

among Latino/Latina families. barriers such as economics, language,

environment and sociocultural factors. Issues with the therapy.

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Reference Issues

Hispanic (e.g. census descriptor) Latino is a nongendered term. Latinos refer to males and Latinas to

females.

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Population Estimates

2000 US Census 12.5 percent 35.3 million in the US Projection 2030 – 63 million Projection 2050 – 88 million

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Education

Over 1/4th have less than a 9th grade education.

Approximately 2/5 have not graduated from high school.

Latino/Latina children are often misplaced into special ed classrooms directed into non-college bond tracks

(Gay, 2000).

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Employment & Income

By 2000, almost 7% of Latinos/Latinas age 16 and older were unemployed as compared to 3.4 % Whites.

Puerto Ricans have the highest unemployment rates (8.1%) whereas Central and South Americans have the lowest (5.1%).

For those employed FT – 1/4th earned $35,000 or more as compared to 50% of Whites.

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Religion

Predominant religion – Catholicism.

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The Latino/Latina College Student

Issues:

lower SES status underemployment experiences of oppression and racism.

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Some Issues

Acculturation

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Traditionalism-Modernism

Strict and separate role definitions for men and women

Strong family and community (group) identity and loyalty as contrasted with individualism

Time orientation to the past and present vs the future

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Traditionalism-Modernism

Valuing of age (elderly) vs youth Valuing of traditions and rituals Subservience to conventions and

authority vs questioning of authority Valuing of spirituality vs secularism

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Familismo

Familism or familismo refers to Latino/as’ profound sense of family. Strong feelings of loyalty Interdependence Family needs vs. individual needs

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Family

extended kinship systems Nonrelated family members

compadres or comadres padrinos or madrinas hijos de crianza

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Family

La familia serves as a natural support system providing support acting as a buffer against stress Latino/a nuclear families to expand to

include extended family members, nonblood-related members, new generations, and adult members

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Family as a liability

In the Latino/a culture, family support can be both a strength and a liability.

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Great value placed upon:

Great value is placed on manners, courtesy, and harmonious relationships.

As a result, conflict, direct argument, and contradiciton are considered rude.

Such a cultural script deviate from the simpatia are likely to be

rejected by more traditional Latinos/as.

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Gender Roles

Gender roles in the Latino/a cultures are frequently represented as negative stereotypes.

Latinos/as continue to adhere to traditional gender roles.

Modification?

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Gender

Machismo: traditional sex roles Historically, Mexican concepts of

machismo.

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Machismo

Machismo has both positive and negative connotations; but it is almost always negatively defined.

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Negative Stereotypes

The negative stereotypes and perceptions of Latinos/as are many. marianismo and hembrismo

Marianismo: the value that women are expected to revere and emulate the Virgin Mary and endure suffering.

Hembrismo: embodies “femaleness”

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Latino/a youth

Latino/a youth unique mental health issues acculturation gap lower SES Undereducation negative stereotypes experiences of oppression and racism. Other issues

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Older Adults

Problems: Physical and emotional difficulties of aging

compounded with: Cultural alienation Racial discrimination Language barriers Lack of health insurance Limited financial resources Different cultural customs and beliefs poverty