Introduction
The culture of Mexicans has a complex and long history, and its influence is evident in most aspects of contemporary life. Drawing on various sources, this review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding and development of Mexican culture. It covers topics like the history of Mexican culture, its values and beliefs, its traditional customs and practices, and how it influences modern Mexican society and other cultures. Additionally, it explores Mexican literature, art, music, and dance, as well as the impact of globalization on Mexican culture. It also discusses Mexican culture’s challenges, such as poverty, violence, and immigration. By examining the current state of Mexican culture, this review will provide a comprehensive overview that will benefit researchers and practitioners alike.
The history of Mexican Culture
In their study, Morales-del-Castillo et al. (2019) intended to develop the Mexican cultural heritage data model (Modelo de Datos México) to contribute to the cultural heritage domain of the country and capture the idiosyncrasies and singularities of the Mexican cultural sector. The main findings of this review are that the Mexican Cultural Heritage Data Model provides a comprehensive framework for the documentation of the cultural objects of Mexico. Its flexibility characterizes this model, as it is tailored to the country’s reality and uses local terminologies built on the expertise of linguists, information architects, developers, and museum professionals. One of the main strengths of this study is linked to the model used, which can capture singularities and the use of local language, which ensures consistent and understandable documentation to the local population. On the other hand, this study contains some limitations linked to the model used. The main limitation of this model is that it is still in its early stages of development, and there is still a long way to go before it can be implemented on a large scale. Additionally, it is worth noting that the data model depends on the availability of sufficient technological resources, which is still a challenge in Mexico.
Religion and Mexican Culture
A review of the literature on Mexican culture demonstrates that religion has played an important role in developing society and politics in Mexico. Mirowsky & Ross (1984) aimed to reveal that the relationship between religion and the Mexican state has been contentious. The findings suggest that the failure of the First Republic resulted from a genuine religious conflict over the proper social and political order in which large sections of the population were involved. In particular, the debates revolved around the anticlerical laws of 1833 and the tensions between federalism and centralism. The strength of this study is that it emphasized the historical context. The scholars explored the history of the conflict between religion and the Mexican state by examining the various political and social events that transpired. Additionally, the literature has paid close attention to the role of large sections of the population in religious conflicts. However, there are also limitations; for instance, the literature largely overlooks the cultural aspects of the disputes. While the literature has explored the political and religious context, no attention is focused on how culture has played a role in church-state conflicts, such as the role of language, gender, and race.
The Link Between Mexican Culture and Students
Studies have revealed a link between Mexican culture and students’ motivations. For Instance, the survey by Luna et al. (2013) examined a culturally relevant curriculum based on the indigenous Mesoamerican traditions and heritage, which sought to enhance the academic aspirations and reduce the high school dropout intentions of Latina/Latino students. The research found that the program positively impacted the ethnic identity and educational aspirations of the 225 Latina/Latino high school students who participated in the study. The strengths of this research include the use of mixed-method data collection, which provides a comprehensive view of the program’s effectiveness. However, the study is limited by its small sample size and lack of follow-up data to determine the program’s long-term impact on academic performance. Furthermore, the reliance on self-report measures may have been subject to response bias, which could have influenced the findings. Despite these limitations, the research demonstrates the potential for a culturally relevant curriculum to enhance student academic motivation and aspirations.
Mexican Migration Culture
Kandel & Massey (2002) conducted a study to examine the research on Mexican migration and the development of a “culture of migration” in certain communities. The study findings revealed that children from families involved in U.S. migration are more likely to aspire to live and work in the U.S. and that these aspirations, in turn, influence their behavior, lowering the odds that they will continue in school and raising the odds of their eventual out-migration to the U.S (Kandel & Massey, 2002). The strength of this study lies in the capacity to develop a formal theory of migration culture and test it empirically. Additionally, using two separate data sets allows the scholars to add depth to their analysis and draw more reliable conclusions. However, it is no exception that this study also has some limitations. For Instance, it is limited in scope, focusing only on one migration type and its implications for certain communities. Furthermore, the scholars used limited data that limits the capacity to capture the full complexity of the migration process and its effects on those involved.
Integration of Mexican and U.S. Culture
Studies have revealed that there is a link between the cultural values of Mexican-origin parents and their offspring. For Instance, the study by Perez-Brena et al. (2015) explored the reciprocal associations between parents’ and two offspring’s cultural values in Mexican-origin families. Study findings suggested mother-youth values were linked, and youth-father values increased five years later. Further, effects were more consistent for youth transitioning from early to late adolescence. Moderation by immigrant status revealed a youth-to-parent effect for mother-youth immigrant dyads. The strengths of this study include its use of longitudinal data to examine the reciprocal associations in parents’ and two offspring’s cultural values over time, its consideration of two distinct cultural values (familism and respect) in Mexican-origin families, and its consideration of the influence of immigrant-status on these associations. Additionally, the study contributes to the literature on how integrating the U.S. and Mexican cultures may influence Mexican-origin youths’ adjustment and family dynamics. The study’s limitations include its reliance on self-report measures, which may be subject to various types of bias, and its reliance on a convenience sample of Mexican-origin families, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the study could have benefitted from a more comprehensive examination of other cultural values in Mexican-origin families.
References
Kandel, W. & Massey, D. S. (2002). The Culture of Mexican Migration: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis, Social Forces, Volume 80, Issue 3, Pages 981–1004, https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.2002.0009
Luna, N., Evans, W. P. & Davis, B. (2015) Indigenous Mexican culture, identity, and academic aspirations: results from a community-based curriculum project for Latina/Latino students, Race Ethnicity and Education, 18:3, 341-362, DOI: 10.1080/13613324.2012.759922
Morales-del-Castillo, J. M., Ángeles Jiménez, P. & Salinas, M. C. (2019). Mexico’s Tradition and Culture Entering the Digital Age: The Mexican Cultural Heritage Repository Project. Heritage. 2(1):356-365. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2010024
Mirowsky, J. & Ross, C. (1984). Mexican Culture and Its Emotional Contradictions. Journal of health and social behavior. 25. 2-13. 10.2307/2136700.
Perez-Brena, N. J., Updegraff, K. A., & Umaña-Taylor, A. J. (2015). Transmission of cultural values among Mexican-origin parents and their adolescent and emerging adult offspring. Family Process, 54(2), 232–246. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12114
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