Running head: MEXICAN CULTURE

An Exploration of Mexican Culture

JoAnne Saba
California State University, Stanislaus

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An Exploration of Mexican Culture

In my college years, I have found myself increasingly surrounded by people of Hispanic

decent. I am a member of a multicultural sorority with many Hispanic females who have strong
cultural backgrounds which I have never taken the time to understand. I chose to interview an
acquaintance from work because, in the time we have known each other, there have been many
cultural incongruences between the two of us. I felt as if this interview would help me better
grasp his ideals as well as be more sensitive to his beliefs. Upon informing him about this
interview, he was eager to share his cultural background with me. Permission to share all
information provided was granted by the E. Ortega and the interview was conducted on October
12, 2014 in the Vasche Library at California State University, Stanislaus in the second floor
study room. This paper is to include the following: an overview of the interviewee,
communication styles, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high
risk behaviors, importance of nutrition, practices associated with pregnancy, death rituals,
spirituality, views of health care practices and providers, nursing interventions, standards of
practice, and an analysis of cross cultural experience all related to the Mexican culture (Purnell,
2003).
Purnell's 12 Domains
Overview
The interviewee identifies himself as Mexican; his father immigrated from Guadalajara,
Jalisco, Mexico and mother from a small town in Chihuahua, Mexico (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014). The weather in Mexico is described to be similar to that of
California, United States with fair weather that is not extreme. The weather is cold and rainy
from March to September and warm and sunny from October to February. Guadalajara is a large

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and industrialized city similar to cities in the United States. It is set inside a valley surrounded
by mountains. There are skyscrapers, paved streets, stores strewn everywhere, and parks
sparsely populate the area. Chihuahua is mostly rural with deserts and forests (E. Ortega,
personal communication, October 12, 2014).
As most, the parents of E. Ortega saw that the economic standing in Mexico was not
good and their current work in the fields and tortilla shop could not provide them with all they
needed (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). The two sought better
opportunities in order to provide a better life for themselves as newlyweds and for their unborn
child. As most Mexicans, the two moved and settled where there was work. Many who came to
the United States, found work in agriculture or in the fields. Those who were granted work
visas, such as the E. Ortega's parents, came to the United States and found factory jobs (E.
Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Upon arriving in the United States, the biggest culture shock was the pace of living.
Everything moved so quickly in comparison to Mexico (E. Ortega, personal communication,
October 12, 2014). It was strange for them to need to use a car to get to places such as the store
because it was common to walk everywhere in Mexico. Stores were more frequent so it was
simple to walk to get groceries (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
After many years of assimilating in the American culture, his mother obtained her general
education diploma and currently works as a certified nursing assistant after achieving
certification through the community college (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12,
2014). The father has an education equivalent to a middle school student in Mexico, but a ninth
grade student in the United States. He worked many years as a truck driver, however, due to
health issues, he had to retire. These two reside in Madera, California with their youngest son

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who is in high school. The interviewee resides in Turlock, California and is a full time student
studying biology at California State University, Stanislaus. He also works part time at a group
home as well as in a research laboratory (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Communication
The primary language used in Mexican culture is Spanish (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12,2014). It is said that of Latinos in the United States, 60% are
Spanish dominant, 20% are bilingual, and 20% are English dominant (Kaiser Permanente
National Diversity Counsel, 2001). Mexico, in its entirety, uses the same dialect except for the
state of Oaxaca which uses a more indigenous form of Spanish. Mexican, or Latin American,
Spanish differs from Spanish spoken in European countries. The main differences between the
two are the pronunciation and the grammar (Erichsen, n.d.). Those who speak Mexican Spanish
pronounce "c" and "z" as an "s" and they do not make use of what is called the vosotros form,
used to direct a group of peers.
It is expected for people to speak quietly (E. Ortega, personal communication, October
12, 2014). On occasion, it is accepted for parents to raise their voices when upset, but children
must never do so. The tone of voice used changes with mood as well. For example, the tone is
more blunt when mad and more upbeat when happy. However, women share more of their
feelings than men (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Most looks and hand gestures used are to indicate discipline and consequences (E.
Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). A stern look with a hand up as a to indicate
stop means that someone is in trouble. Pointing to motion for someone to come closer is a
common gesture as well. Other nonverbal communication includes the proximity in which
people speak. Those in the same nuclear family stand inches apart when speaking and the gap

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widens with those outside of the family. Upon greeting someone, a handshake is customary
between two men, while two women will exchange a hug. If a woman is meeting a man for the
first time, there should be no physical contact between the two. Eye contact is pivotal because it
is a sign of respect. Respect is also shown by addressing others who are older by title (ta, to,
madrina, etc.). When encountering an older adult who is not in the family, the traditional title is
"don" for a male and "doa" for a female (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12,
2014).
The formatting for names is similar to that of the United States in that there are three
names, a first, middle, and last (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Typically, the first name is given by the father, middle name is given by the mother or maternal
grandmother, and last name is the father's last name. Some women will also include their
maiden name to the end of their name but this is rare. It is even more rare for a woman to have a
hyphenated last name. The standard for naming is for the woman to take on her husband's last
name upon marriage (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Family Roles and Organization
E. Ortega explains that the father is considered to be the head of household and main
provider in the Mexican family (Personal communication, October 12, 2014). He provides the
family with all of the financial and physical resources necessary to live such as money, a home,
clothes and vehicles. He is expected to work and provide the sole income of the family. The
mother is supposed to mirror the classical stay at home mom. She cares for the family, tends
to the home, cooks, and all other chores of this sort. If the family has sons, they are expected to
work as soon as they are capable, while daughters should help mothers in the home as soon as
they can (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).

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According to older customs, schooling was seen as unnecessary for daughters since their
purpose was to stay at home (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). However,
in newer light, daughters now are expected more than men to go to school and attend college. It
was also seen that the youngest daughter was expected to not get married and care for the parents
until their death. This, too, is an older ideal. However, it is still custom for the children to care
for the parents as they age. It is no longer limited to only the youngest daughter. In the newer
times, E. Ortega explains that daughters help to care for parents physically, while sons offer
financial assistance (Personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Most of the restrictive and taboo behaviors stem from Catholic beliefs (E. Ortega,
personal communication, October 12, 2014). Most Mexican families practice Catholicism
thoroughly, so what is expected stems from their faith. Any sort of alternative lifestyle is
considered taboo and not acceptable in traditional Mexican culture. Adolescents, for example,
should not partake in drug activity or get involved with gangs. It is not to say some people do
not use drugs, but it is not the cultural norm. Tobacco use is also not truly accepted, but it is not
taboo either. A lot of taboo revolves around teenage parents, pregnancy, sex prior to marriage,
and same sex marriages. The belief among the culture is that women are to remain virgins until
marriage (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).

Workforce Issues
Most Mexicans tend to work together as a unit in order to accomplish tasks while at work
(E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). It is typical for assembly lines to form
for those who work in the fields in order to work quicker. However, in all jobs, everyone works
together. Superiority in the workplace defines who takes on the leadership role of those at the

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same level. These people act as a mentor for newer employees when the boss is not available.
Mexicans are also known to show up to work even if ill or injured. Neither of these issues get in
the way until the person cannot physically do their job (E. Ortega, personal communication,
October 12, 2014).
Biocultural Ecology
In Mexico in general, people have darker tan skin with brown hair and brown eyes (E.
Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). Many have a medium stature with the
average height of five feet seven inches for men and five feet three inches for women. Those
from Jalisco and Chihuahua tend to have more fair skin than the other states. Many from
Chihuahua are also slightly shorter. Though it is not a biological variation, Mexican males also
usually have uncircumcised penises (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Most of the common diseases are attributed to a diet high in fat (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014). High cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes are common
amongst this population (Kaiser Permanente National Diversity Counsel, 2001). Other major
diseases include end-stage renal disease, gallbladder disease, coronary and ischemic heart
disease, cerebrovascular disease, cancer, tuberculosis, and human immunodeficiency
virus/acquired immunodeficiency virus (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
High-Risk Behaviors
There is a large deficit in physical activity in the sense of exercise or as an extracurricular
activity in the older population (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). Men are
expected to work physically demanding jobs such as carpentry or construction so that gives them
some daily physical activity. Women tend not to exercise either. Children play typical
childhood games such as tag or cops and robbers. They also partake in sports such as soccer and

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volleyball. However, the continuation of playing these sports often does not pass the adolescent
years unless the adolescent is playing professionally and making their living from that sport (E.
Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
There is limited use of any sort of safety equipment while operating motor vehicles; no
one ever uses a helmet while riding a bike or motorcycle and there is minuscule use of seat belts
while in a car (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
As mentioned, many Mexicans value the church ideal of abstaining from sexual
intercourse as in they should not partake in sexual activity prior to marriage or outside of their
marriage. However, many choose to ignore this value though it is frowned upon (E. Ortega,
personal communication, October 12, 2014). Contraception and condoms are also not favored in
this culture because sexual relations are viewed as a means of reproduction and not for fun.
People often still choose to have sexual intercourse despite all of the taboo associated with it and
do so with little protection (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Alcohol use is a highly accepted and present at all celebrations (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014). There is a common saying in Spanish, "Hombres nacen
chupando la botella," meaning that Men are born sucking on a bottle of tequila. Interestingly,
research shows that many Mexicans are abstinent toward alcohol (Bennet, Campillo,
Chandrashekar, & Gureje, 1998). Approximately 26.6% of men and 63.3% of women do not
drink alcohol in Mexico. The same study does show that "those who do did drink--primarily
men-- tended to drink frequently and, in small cases, heavily (p. 248-249)." It is true, however,
alcohol is present at all social events ranging from births to baptisms to funerals (E. Ortega,
personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Nutrition

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Food holds great meaning to the Mexican culture (E. Ortega, personal communication,
October 12, 2014). It is meant to bring family together, is a key to social gatherings and
celebrations, and aid in curing the sick. Common foods found in most meals include rice, beans,
and corn tortillas. These are used because they are cheap and come in large quantities. Stews
and soups are typical foods made for daily meals, but are essential for when someone is sick.
They are lightly flavored with little grease and fat so as to soothe the stomach. Tea is also
commonly used for those who are sick or have cramps. Tamales, birria, and posole are all foods
that are reserved for special holidays and celebrations. These dishes are rich and time consuming
to prepare, making the event even more exceptional (E. Ortega, personal communication,
October 12, 2014).
Those preparing the meals will bless the food as they are cooking (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014). This is to show gratitude for having food to provide for the
family and to have plenty of food left over. Once it is time to eat, everyone will pray before the
meal to thank God for what he has provided and for the family around them (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014).
This culture does not have any food restriction and is open to eating anything that will not
make them ill (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). It is not uncommon for
them to make use of all parts of an animal for a meal. Tongue, cheek, heart, eyes, and liver are
popular in their country as a part of meals. The meals have a heavier focus of carbohydrates and
protein, but fruits and vegetables are included in their diet as well (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014).
Pregnancy
As mentioned in previous sections, pregnancy and children out of wedlock are a great

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taboo in this culture (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). It is unacceptable
to have sex outside of marriage and any form of contraceptives are looked down upon. Women
should remain abstinent. Taking oral contraceptives is particularly thought to prevent one from
having children in the future, if and when she decides to become pregnant. However, for
married women, pregnancy is expected and widely accepted. Again, the goal in this culture is to
have children to be able to care for the parents until they die. They are to help around the house
and assist financially (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
During pregnancy, E. Ortega explains that it is believed the baby will be born with
hernias if she takes medication, dyes her hair, or wears high heels (Personal communication,
October 12, 2014). It is also thought to hurt the baby if the woman lifts anything regardless of
the weight of the item. In order to prevent any postnatal problems the mother must refrain from
any of the described activities. Following the birth of the child, there is a hypersensitive forty
day period where the mother must be careful of her actions. To begin, the mother must not have
sexual intercourse at any time during this period. She also cannot attend a funeral because it is
believed the body is still weak and she could acquire cancer. She must cover her back from the
cold to prevent her breast milk from drying up. In addition, while breastfeeding the mother is
not to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, they all must be cooked, because it is thought to give
the baby cramps or colic. Lastly, the family cannot take the infant out until the baby is presented
to God in the church and He is thanked for the newborn (E. Ortega, personal communication,
October 12, 2014).
Death Rituals
E. Ortega goes on to share that there are no rituals performed preceding death (Personal
communication, October 12, 2014). All of the common practices begin the day after the person

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has passed. On this day, the family will gather and recite the Rosary, a Catholic prayer, over the
body of the deceased. The family does this as a cautionary measure in case the soul is stuck in
purgatory. They have hope that God will hear their prayers and bring their deceased family
member to heaven. A funeral is also held for others to pay their respects to the deceased. Those
who had debt to the deceased will make payment to the family at the time of the funeral. The
funeral ends with the person being lowered into their grave and a prayer is said over the body.
Depending on the wealth of the family, a party in celebration of the person's life is thrown which
would include food, alcohol, and a live band (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12,
2014).
After someone has passed, the family takes some time to grieve and display signs of
depression (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). There is immense sadness
over them. Spouses of the deceased will often question why they are alone and why their partner
left Earth without them. It is not uncommon for men to take death harder than women.
Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead, is also celebrated each year on November 1 (E.
Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). This is a holiday in order to honor the
dead. Families will offer the dead, from past or present, gifts of their favorite food. They will
leave the food at the tombstone overnight then return the following day and eat it with their
loved ones. Some people will make tamales and leave them at each tombstone. Many make
shrines of the dead in their home as well including items such as photos and candles. This day is
meant to "celebrate the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead
enjoyed in life" (National Geographic, n.d.).
Spirituality
The national religion of Mexico is Roman Catholic (E. Ortega, personal communication,

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October 12, 2014). Prayer is used at all events such as funerals, weddings, and social gatherings.
There are many different purposes for prayer. Some use prayer in order to show gratitude for
what they have or for being provided with something that was needed. Others use prayer in
order for ask for favors or guidance. A lot of prayer comes with paying respects to God and
other saints. Rosaries, which are particular prayers coinciding with beads on a crucifix, are said
once a person passes away, if family is sick, or to absolve one's sins. (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014).
The meaning of life is to ultimately honor other people (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014.). It is important to honor God, honor family, and to leave a
good mark behind on the world after death. This comes with helping in the community as well
as striving for success. Many will find the strength, in order to be successful, from the saints and
family members who have died. There are many saints who assist people with different aspects
of their lives. For example, the virgin Guadalupe is called upon to provide guidance and safety.
Those who pray to family members ask for protection because they are seen to be guardian
angels (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Health-Care Practices
This culture always attempts to use alternative medicine before seeking the help from a
professional (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014). Many remedies include
the use of herbs such as tea or ointments. Curanderos are people who provide families with the
herbs required to cure an ailment and inform the family of how to use them. Some will also use
a sobadora who helps to heel physical injuries and stomach aches. They are most comparable to
a physical therapist, but are not licensed professionals. A sobadora treatment for a stomach ache,
which is said to work, is a succession of pinches of the skin on the back which cracks the

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vertebrae. This is followed by drinking one tablespoon of olive and then a special tea. Though
they make use of alternative practices, Mexicans have a western response to disease. They
believe in germs and natural deterioration of the body. Approximately fifty years ago, illness
was believed to be magicoreligous. They used to think that sickness was either a punishment
from God for a wrongdoing or that it was a response to the devil trying to take over their soul (E.
Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
There are several things to be conscious of when providing care to Mexicans. This
population will make their pain or illness seem less severe than it is (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014). Many have a higher pain tolerance and will not show signs
of pain on their face. In addition, donating blood and organs is not acceptable. According to the
Roman Catholic Bible, one is to die as a whole as the they were born. So, if a person is missing
a part of themselves, then they will not be granted to enter heaven. Similarly, they are not to
accept an organ donation either (E. Ortega, personal communication, October 12, 2014).
Health-Care Practitioners
Mexicans believe in western medicine practices (E. Ortega, personal communication,
October 12, 2014). This population will visit the doctor and make use of medications and
varying therapies. Though they prefer a health care provider of the same gender as them, they
will take care from either gender. In opposition to older practices, a family will visit a spiritual
healer only for terminal illnesses, such as end stage cancers. The healer will pray to God that he
will provide the family with a miracle in order to heal their loved one (E. Ortega, personal
communication, October 12, 2014).
Nursing Interventions
It is important to assess for the dominant language of the patient. Since the majority of

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Mexicans are Spanish dominant, this could be a potential language barrier. Patients should be
provided with materials in Spanish and a translator should be used so that the patient is well
informed and more comfortable with the care being provided. This is congruent with
preservation or maintenance of the culture because it is supplementing to what is familiar to the
patient. This action is not asking the patient to alter their behavior instead the nurse is
encouraging that the patient continue to embrace their culture.
Another way in which to maintain culture is to include the family in to the patient's care.
Family plays a large role in Mexican culture. As mentioned, it is believed that daughters should
physically help the parents as they age. Therefore, it is typical for children and spouses to take
care of each other. To stay consistent with this idea and provide the family with more comfort,
nurses can have the family help with hygiene, feeding, and other non-invasive treatments, as well
as, include them when teaching the patient how to care for themselves outside of the hospital or
acute care setting.
Culture is also preserved when the patient and family are allowed private time in order to
pray. Praying is used often during times of illness. It is appropriate to give the patient time to
pray independent of what prayer is being used. Nurses can accommodate by clustering care to
allow more time without disruption. Likewise, it is fitting to also assist the patient in placing
rosaries and photos of saints in reach and in sight. Culture is preserved because the patient is
allowed to continue with their traditional practices despite being in the hospital. This adds
familiarity because this is a behavior done with illness.
Transcultural Nursing Standard of Practice
According to standards of nursing practice outlined by Douglas et al. (2011), it is
important to follow standard three describing the knowledge of cultures within the Mexican

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population. This standard includes being informed of beliefs, practices, and basic functioning of
the family. By doing so, it will provide the patient more comfort because they are continuing to
preserve the culture by practicing traditional rituals. It also creates better understanding in the
nurse so that he or she can be more sensitive to the needs of the patient as well as culturally
contraindicated procedures will not be performed.
Analysis of Cross Cultural Experience
Since a second generation peer was interviewed as opposed to someone who is a first
generation immigrant, there were few barriers in verbal and nonverbal communication. It was
noted that, at times, describing a concept in English was difficult because the translation from
Spanish was not direct. The sayings and ideas in Spanish provided greater meaning than what
could be described in English. Some connotation was lost due to this. In addition, some of the
vocabulary used in the questions asked had to be changed or explained for the interviewee to
understand what was being asked. This interview worked well because there was a large amount
of rapport between the interviewer and interviewee prior to the interview. This allowed the
interviewee to feel comfortable to answer fully and without inhibition. Also, it provided more in
depth answers and personal stories to create a vivid picture of how rich the culture is. To
improve in the future, a first generation immigrant should be selected as the subject, allowing for
more first person experiences so that more detail could be included.
Conclusion
Overall, the Mexican culture is full of rich and diverse traditions that have been passed
through many generations. A solitary interview cannot encompass all there is to learn about this
culture, or any culture, in its entirety. The most important thing to be learned from this paper is
how to be more culturally competent in order to be able to better accommodate for the varying

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cultural needs. It is necessary to learn how to be sensitive to the beliefs of the patients in order to
build rapport between patient and nurse in order to provide the best quality care can be provided.

References
Bennet, L., Campillo, C., Chandrashekar, C., & Gureje, O. (1998). Beverage consumption in
India, Mexico, and Nigeria. Alcohol Health and World (4th ed., Vol. 22, pp. 248-249).
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Dia de los muertos lively Mexican holiday honors the dead. (n.d.). Retrievedfrom
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/dia-de-los-muertos/?ar_a=1
(para. 3)
Douglas, M., Pierce, J., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D., Callister, L., Hattar-Pollara, M., ...
Purnell, L. (2011). Standards of practice for culturally competent nursing care. Journal of
Transcultural Nursing, 22(317). Retrieved from http://tcn.sagepub.com/content/22/4/317
(p. 318)
Erichsen, G. (n.d.). Varieties of Spanish regional differences significant but not extreme.
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Purnell, L. & Paulanka, B. (Eds.) (2003). Transcultural Health Care. Culturally Competent
Approach (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.

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