Sunday, October 9, 2016

Mexican American Oppression: What it is and What it Means for My Classroom


            For my investigation of oppression in America I focused on Mexican Americans. They have a long history of oppression and misunderstandings in America, starting when a large portion of the western United States including but not limited to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas were acquired through wars, treaties and land purchases around 18541. This brought about 100,000 Mexicans into American citizenship1. According to 2012 census research done by Pew Research Center, there was a record 33.7 million Mexican Americans in the USA with 11.4 million of these being immigrants born in Mexico2. They account for 11% of the overall American population2. Despite being a significant portion of the population, Mexicans are still treated as second-class citizens because they aren’t considered white2. Their socioeconomic status is similar to African Americans but much lower than white American citizens3. A 2012 census showed that Hispanic Americans made $39,000 on average a year while white Americans made more like $57,0004. More Mexicans are living in poverty than white Americans, leaving Mexicans disadvantaged in educational and work opportunities3.
            Mexican Americans have more easily been assimilated into American society than other ethnicities that differ greatly from white Americans like African Americans or Chinese Americans. Some Mexican Americans were considered white Americans, usually because they had obtained higher education or their citizenship came from the conquest of Mexico but they were hardly treated as white citizens5.  The amount of discrimination experience by Mexican American citizens has been found to correlate with the darkness of their skin, with darker skinned Mexicans experiencing more discrimination than lighter skinned Mexicans5. Some correlation has also been found between higher educational status and more discrimination but researchers suspect this comes from the increase amount of contact with white Americans leadings to stereotyping and discrimination5.
            The confusion over whether Mexicans were white or non-white Americans led to segregation in schools through poor treatment from white Americans but was overthrown by white under the law racial designation5. Eventually their status was declared as brown opposed to white, helping separate Mexicans so that they could make better claims of unjust treatment through legal means5. Aside from segregation in schools, however, this mistreatment has lead to Mexican Americans either born in the U.S or in Mexico attaining lower levels of education5. 59% of Mexican immigrants don’t finish high school or get a diploma, but with Mexicans born in the U.S. only 21% don’t finish high school2. This has even continued to prove true for several generations after immigration5. Experiences of discrimination in schools have included surprise at academic ability, assumptions that they don’t speak English, and some offensive name calling - all these things work to hinder students’s learning. There is also discrimination against Mexican Americans as homeowners and health insurance owners, with low percentages of owning either2. Since 1996, Most immigrants are not allowed health benefits till 5 years after they become citizens, but some are never given those welfare benefits6. Another area of discrimination was in the workplace, a study shows that nearly three in ten Mexican workers feel they have been discriminated against them in the workplace either through racial slurs or being paid less8. Another survey showed many felt they had been denied promotions or hire at all due to being Mexican Americans5. Many Mexican Americans are also exploited through long work hours and dangerous work conditions9.
            The main misunderstanding that has caused discrimination against Mexican Americans is that all Mexican Americans are illegal immigrants, where the percentage is actually only 51% are illegally residing in the U.S2. Immigration legislation in 1980s made legal entry into the country nearly impossible, but it still continued without proper documentation5. However, despite the understanding of most Americans these immigrants, illegal or not, have boosted the productivity of our economy and have helped create jobs for Americans6. Another common misconception is that those immigrants who have come here illegally want to remain her illegal, but in truth it is very hard to become a citizen once you have entered illegally, even small children who were brought here without their own consent could be deported and banned for 10 years before they could apply for citizenship6. There is also a misconception that Mexican Americans immigrants are more likely to participate in criminal activity than native-born U.S. citizens, but only 0.7% of foreign-born Mexican men were incarcerated in 20006. This assumption changes the way Mexican American men are treated by police officers, teachers and community members.
            Other stereotypes that these Mexicans are subjected to are being lazy, unable to speak English, drunks or gang members7. These are not just passed down through families or individuals but they reinforced throughout media campaigns and TV shows too. These shows often show Mexican women as uneducated and only homemakers, but this misconception too is incorrect. There are Mexican American women who are educated in every field making a difference7. These stereotypes can have a negative effect on Mexican Americans specifically causing depression, a negative perspective on the world and deidentification of culture10. Those oppressed through cultural discrimination have developed many coping methods, which include confronting discrimination or avoiding discrimination in general9. We see both of these methods in high school or college students who either ignore the discrimination or actually drop out to avoid it completely. We also see Mexicans cope through finding emotional supports or trying to contribute the stress to something other racism9.
            Reading all this material and considering what these students in my class will go through in my school and community has made me really solemn. How many prejudices do I have against Mexican Americans and how do I personally oppress them? The biggest thing I have learned from this experience is the truth about Mexican Americans. It was good for me to read about most of them not actually being illegal so I don’t make this judgment automatically with my students. I think it was healthy to read about the most common stereotypes and how they are incorrect so that I don’t make those assumptions as a teacher. I should not expect my Mexican American students to be lazy or disinterested in school. I can expect that most will actually speak English and speak it well. In reality they are no different than my other students aside from their skin tone, but even that doesn’t really matter.
            More importantly, how can I change their learning experience in my classroom? I read a couple of different articles about how I as a teacher can change my classroom environment and ultimately the environment of my school. First, I have to stop laughing at demeaning jokes or encouraging racial stereotypes and encourage my colleagues to do the same10. This article also emphasized stopping these jokes in my own home to help stop them spreading to my work environment too. Another important thing I read that I think will make a big difference is actually learning about Mexican American culture compared with the differences of my own culture. This article mentioned specifically the difference in how Mexican children are taught to respect their elders as opposed to white American children. Mexican children are taught to lower their eyes when in the presence of an adult or person with authority, while in America this can be seen as disrespectful or even suspicious to do11. We also have to consider the fact that these students may not be familiar with technology or with the sensory overload of decorated classrooms11. Learning about these important aspects of their culture in relation to ours is going to be very important for my classroom and me in the future. The most important thing I can do though, is to encourage the communities I am a part of as a teacher, white citizen and women to work to better understand Mexican Americans so that we can allow them to have the education and life they deserve.

Cultural Artifacts: 
Here I have collected a few things to represent the culture of Mexican Americans or what we assume is their culture through media exposure and incorrect stereotypes. 

I especially liked this image because it shows that we all have certain expectations for members of the Mexican culture, but in reality many have become assimilated into our cultures and are similar to us. 
This was another stereotype I found often in my research - that Mexican families were large and the women were primarily homemakers but this is not necessarily true.  
I chose this meme because this is another stereotype that Mexican Americans have to deal with. They are seen as lazy but really they are very hard working and trying to provide for their families too. Many Mexicans don't come to America to find the American dream, but instead they are just looking for ways to provide food and comforts to their families. 
I chose this picture because this is another common stereotype that also affects Mexican men and teenagers. They are not all criminals or part of gangs but they are misrepresented in the media for being dangerous when white Americans are really the ones who fill up jails. 
I chose this picture to represent another media representation of Mexican Americans. This is a new Mexican soap opera that is very dramatic, shows sexually entangled, criminally active and illegal Mexican immigrants. It misrepresents the majority of Mexican Americans who are no different than white Americans other than being bilingual and having a different skin tone.  
I chose this last picture because it is another popular film that misrepresents Mexican Americans. It shows Pedro as having a heavy accent and speaking poor english when in reality most immigrants are not this way. Pedro was also not a great student in school and was socially awkward for not knowing American culture - this last aspect may be true but studies have actually shown Mexicans assimilate into American society very quickly and easily. 

Footnotes:
1.     http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/mexican-americans/
2.     http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/05/01/a-demographic-portrait-of-mexican-origin-hispanics-in-the-united-states/
3.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781361/
4.     http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-median-income-in-the-us-by-race-2013-9
5.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3846170/
6.     http://www.equalrightscenter.org/site/DocServer/REPORT_FINAL_WEB_7.pdf?docID=151
7.     https://culturalmisconceptions.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/stereotyping-mexicans/
8.     https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=6051
9.     https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/cou-a0036591.pdf
10. https://psychologybenefits.org/2013/09/26/how-latinos-experience-subtle-racism/
11. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/brdglangbarriers/4486

Picture credits:
Stereotypes: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/301037556312388252/
Lazy Mexican: http://imgur.com/YXihlQi
Family reunions: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/380554237234775022/
Pedro: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/470978073504587455/
Jane the virgin: http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2q9gric&s=8#.V_sKvjKZMcg
Gang members: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/05/06/mexican-cartel-allegedly-hired-ms-13-to-carry-out-torture-operation-in/

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