The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Richard Goodman explores the history and transformations of the Mexican American family. Goodman discusses some of the popular conceptions of Mexican families, and argues that most are far from the truth. In the past, Mexican families were strongly patriarchal, yet despite this emphasis on male decision-making and the sexual division of labor that kept women in the home and men out in the fields, women usually ran the households. In the present generation, Goodman says the sexual division of labor continues as daughters are taught to do housework and expected to have children. But these expectations are slowly losing acceptance, especially among the younger generation. Goodman also discusses the declining birthrate among Mexican-American families and the gradual acceptance of birth control as a tool to limit family size. Goodman also looks at the role of extended families in Mexican American culture and argues that while in the past they provided a sense of security for family members, it caused tension among the nuclear family. It became more popular for families to build their homes on the same street or lot. Goodman says that the decline in family communism is associated with economic progress, social mobility and acculturation among the present generation. Goodman also examines the practice of Compadrazgo, or godparenting, and its present decline. Goodman concludes that the Mexican American family is constantly changing. As social mobility increases, so does the level of adaptation. Keywords: Barrio, Birth Control, Birth Rates, Compadrazgo, Extended Family, Family, Nuclear family, Patriarchy, Second generation, Sexual division of labor, Third Generation. Broadcast date: 1976-09-14.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator) and Goodman, Richard (host)
Date Created/Date Issued:
9/8/1976
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin