Growing Up As A Haitian American - 1461 Words

As of 2015 the U.S Census Bureau revealed that approximately 116 million families are living in the United States. These families possess their own unique style, culture and set of beliefs. My family, consisting of my married parents and my older sister, are no different in the aspect that we too hold our own set of beliefs. The socially constructed term ‘family’ traditionally is defined as a unit that is related by marriage or blood, share financial responsibilities and care for any children/dependents (Lofquist et al., 2012). Growing up as a Haitian American, my ideas of what it means to be a family have been greatly influenced by my cultures and my religion. The Haitian culture greatly emphasizes family relationships and familial†¦show more content†¦In my culture, rigid gender roles are enforced from the moment a child can communicate. Sex and gender in the Haitian community are used interchangeably. Men are expected to fulfil their duties as the â€Å"str ong breadwinner† while women were expected to be submissive to their husbands and tend to the home and children (Benokraitis, 2015). Girls are taught to cook, clean, and care for the home, while boys are taught to be independent, vocal and financially stable. A husband does not feel the need to help in the domestic realm, as he is socialized into believing that it is not his responsibility. Religious affiliation plays an extensive role on many of the beliefs held by my family and culture. Many of the views I’ve previously held regarding gender roles have changed over the years. Through my experiences with people of many backgrounds, as well as my education, I have learned to separate the idea of sex and gender. I still maintain certain traditional views regarding gender, however I’ve come to the realization that the social constructs of men and women are not, and should not, be as rigid. In my opinion, I have acknowledged that there are differences between †˜men’ and ‘women’, however these differences should be used to uplift one another, rather than to tear the other gender apart. For example, a family unit in which the man decides to take on the responsibilities of theShow MoreRelatedCultural Impact of Immigration1780 Words   |  7 Pagesinto a multicultural metropolis. Among the eclectic group of migrants moving into the city are the Haitian people, who come from the western part of Hispaniola to Miami looking for, like other immigrants, a new home. However, since arriving on the shores of southern Florida in the late 1970s, the Haitian community has faced a unique set of obstacles in their new homeland that distinguish the Haitian experience from other migrant groups in Miami. Immigration There are many reasons to emigrate; someRead MoreThe Haitian Revolution And The American Revolution1365 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Atlantic World. 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