The border between Mexico and the United States is a lengthy one, and there is a rich culture on both sides, similar and very different. Both countries are home to multi-ethnic populations where Mexico is mainly Hispanic and the U.S. is more diverse ethnically. Nevertheless, certain cultural factors shape the way people live their lives and address health issues.
The most striking distinction between Mexican and American cultures is the prominence of familial bids. In Mexico, family is the core of one’s identity and social life. Extended families are known to live closely with kin and adhere to a tradition of close community ties, evidenced by a common unshakable spirit of togetherness, support, and respect for older people. While the American culture inherently is more individualistic, individuals usually live independently, setting their personal goals over family responsibilities.
One of the aspects where the two cultures clash is the food and eating habits. Mexican cuisine is known for its flavor, with the predominance of corn, beans, chili peppers, and a variety of spices. Mexican traditional cuisine, which includes common dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and mole, forms the basis of the cultural identity. On the contrary, American cuisine has more diversity, reflecting the melting pots of cultures, but there is a strong tendency towards processed and fast foods.
Celebrations and festivals also constitute the other essential components of Mexican culture. Holidays, including Día de los Muertos, Cinco de Mayo, and many other religious festivals, are celebrated with exciting traditions, music, and gatherings. In the U.S., holidays tend to be more secular, with emphases on holidays like Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and Christmas.
Religion is also a place where distinctions are made. The Catholic Church has heavily influenced the Mexican people’s values and traditions since Mexico is mostly Catholic. Although Christianity is the main religion in the USA, the country’s religious diversity is much more widespread and encompasses other religions like Protestantism, Islam, Judaism, and others.
Education is undoubtedly the top priority for the two nations. However, the availability and quality vary. Despite the fact that Mexico has been able to give education access to the masses, there are still problems, especially in the rural areas and among people experiencing poverty. The U.S. education system can be labeled as one of the most wide and rich systems in the world; however, the income gap and the difference in the level of funding in various places may decrease the opportunities.
Health care is another field in which there are differences between the two countries. Mexico has a universal health care system, but access and quality widely differ depending on where you live and your socioeconomic status. The U.S. has a dominantly privatized healthcare system, where insurance coverage and quality care are largely reliant on employment and income.
There are several Mexican cultural issues impacting health outcomes. Through the strong bonds of family and community, welfare for mental health and wellbeing can be accessed. Besides traditional gender roles and machismo attitudes can also be found issues related to domestic violence and women’s health care which are limited.
Furthermore, dietary habits and obesity levels are an important issue in Mexico, where chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are abundant. This can be explained by a mix of factors such as highly traditional foods that are calorie-rich, processed and fast foods, and the sedentary lifestyle in urban areas.
To summarize, even though Mexico and the United States have certain cultural affinities in terms of family dynamics, food and eating habits, celebrations, religion, education, and healthcare systems, there are distinct differences. Realizing this cultural sensitivity is the key to dealing with health issues and coming with a positive influence in both states.
Reference
Senft, N., Campos, B., Shiota, M. N., & Chentsova-Dutton, Y. E. (2021). Who emphasizes positivity? An exploration of emotion values in people of Latino, Asian, and European heritage living in the United States. Emotion, 21(4), 707. https://faculty.sites.uci.edu/crhlab/files/2020/08/2020-Senft-Campos-Shiota-Chentsova-Dutton-2020.pdf
Cheng, J., Burke, M., & de Gant, B. (2021). Country differences in social comparison on social media. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 4(CSCW3), 1-26. https://thoughtcrumbs.com/publications/Cheng_Burke_DeGantCSCW2020.pdf
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