The Latino Family Alcohol and Troglodytes – An analysis of the cultural factors which lead to Latino family problems. This paper will highlight the link between cultural identity, family problems, and alcohol use. By examining these issues one can begin to understand how alcoholism affects the Latino community more broadly.
The ethnic background of an individual plays a major role in determining the level of addiction which they may develop. A strong Hispanic cultural identity is linked to a positive self image. People feel proud and powerful when their cultural identity is associated with a high standard of living. The family members who are closest to the Latino are typically those who have this strong cultural identification. They are the ones who know and experience the positive aspects of their culture which is often portrayed in a positive light.
Unfortunately this strong sense of self leads to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes about the family environment. These negative stereotypes are often used as a tool by alcohol abusers to rationalize their behavior. In many cases it is not the alcohol user who is affected by these negative stereotypes, but the entire family. The negative stereotypes of alcoholism is then passed down from one generation to another. It is often the first thing that new people learn about the Latino community.
The negative stereotypes of alcoholism are also used to explain why the Latino community is so predisposed to abuse drugs and alcohol. One theory which explains why this is the case is that the Latino culture does not value self control or self-discipline.
The fact that there are negative stereotypes associated with Latino culture is also the reason why there are so few resources available to fight against this. It has been noted that many Latino organizations have very few members in the areas where these stereotypes are most pronounced. Those who do exist are often underfunded and unable to spend time in each community to help provide education and resources that are required to fight these stereotypes.
As alcohol abuse becomes more of a problem within the Latino community, it is important that we continue to work together to make sure that the issues surrounding alcohol abuse do not impact the lives of those that live here. It is also important that we ensure that our children are given an education in order to empower them with the skills to be able to stand up for themselves when they are faced with any social challenges. within the family structure. In many cases this can include standing up for their own dignity and rights at home and in the family.
The strong positive cultural identity of the Latino family is often used as a shield by many alcohol abusers to justify their behavior. Unfortunately the family will usually ignore the problem until it has become a major problem. However in many cases alcohol abuse is the result of a lack of knowledge of the positive culture values which surround this culture.
It is possible to overcome this gap through education and awareness of the positive cultural identity of the Latino family. The knowledge of the positive culture values is important to creating a better tomorrow for generations to come.
There is a growing movement for positive culture change among the Latino community. These groups are working hard to educate the younger members of the Latino family as to the need to respect other cultures, respect their elders and their culture and value the rights of their children in the family. Unfortunately, these groups are often being sabotaged by the older generation who fear the positive culture change and attempt to derail this movement in hopes of maintaining their privilege.
Many of the problems associated with alcohol abuse are related to the way in which people view the Latino community. Many believe that alcoholics are people of low moral standards and that are not interested in learning and growing as a person. While that may be true to a certain extent it is also true that many of the best Latino families were alcoholics themselves in their past and were not concerned with the moral standards of their families.
The most important way to begin to build a healthy culture around the issues surrounding alcohol abuse is to recognize that there is much more than drinking and drugging that define this culture. Rather we need to focus on educating ourselves and our children to understand that family is the greatest resource.
