Discrimination, Job Satisfaction and the Role of Religion in the lives of Mexican Fathers

Discrimination, Job Satisfaction and the Role of Religion in the lives of Mexican Fathers

Eric Vega, Ernestine Avila, Mario Garcia, and Shoon Lio

Eric Vega, Ernestine Avila, Mario Garcia, and Shoon Lio

Latino Family Perspective (Hildalgo 1999)

Latino Family Perspective (Hildalgo 1999)

Sociohistorical Context

Socioeconomic Class Position

Cultural Citizenship

Sociohistorical Context

Socioeconomic Class Position

Cultural Citizenship

Sociohistorical contexts(Smith 2006)

Sociohistorical contexts(Smith 2006)

Immigration/Migration

Different geographical points of entry

Colonial history

Immigration/Migration

Different geographical points of entry

Colonial history

Socioeconomic Class Position

Socioeconomic Class Position

Economic Status

Work History

Work Status

Housing Conditions

Community’s economic vitality (Massey, Zambrana and Alonzo

Bell 1995; Hidlago 1999; Roosa et al 2002; Dohan 2003

Economic Status

Work History

Work Status

Housing Conditions

Community’s economic vitality (Massey, Zambrana and Alonzo

Bell 1995; Hidlago 1999; Roosa et al 2002; Dohan 2003

Cultural CitizenshipCultural Citizenship

Ethnic identity

Familism

Language

Ethnic identity

Familism

Language

Perceived Ethnic Discrimination

Perceived Ethnic Discrimination

Finch, Bohan and Vega (2000)-Transnationals were more likely to perceive discrimination than native residents

Native people claiming the United States as their primary residence are less likely to perceive discrimination at higher levels of English Acculturation

Keefe and Padilla (1987) Found no decrease in perceived discrimination among first and fourth generation immigrants

Finch, Bohan and Vega (2000)-Transnationals were more likely to perceive discrimination than native residents

Native people claiming the United States as their primary residence are less likely to perceive discrimination at higher levels of English Acculturation

Keefe and Padilla (1987) Found no decrease in perceived discrimination among first and fourth generation immigrants

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

How do Mexican fathers differentially perceive and experience racial/ethnic discrimination?

What are the effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on Mexican fathers and how do they cope?

How do Mexican fathers differentially perceive and experience racial/ethnic discrimination?

What are the effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on Mexican fathers and how do they cope?

Ethnic Breakdown of Our Sample

Ethnic Breakdown of Our Sample

Eligibility required that all three family members had to be either Mexican American or Euro American.

The two ethnicities were defined as follows: Mexican American: The person or his/her family originally came from Mexico. The study does not include other Latin countries

Euro American: The person or his/her family originate from European countries. The person has no Mexican, Asian, African-American, or Native-American ancestors.

Eligibility required that all three family members had to be either Mexican American or Euro American.

The two ethnicities were defined as follows: Mexican American: The person or his/her family originally came from Mexico. The study does not include other Latin countries

Euro American: The person or his/her family originate from European countries. The person has no Mexican, Asian, African-American, or Native-American ancestors.

Our Mexican-American Generational Sample

Our Mexican-American Generational Sample

1st Generation – Individuals who were born in the Mexico and who received all their education in Mexico

1.5 Generation – Individuals who were born in Mexico, but received their education in the U.S.

2nd Generation – Individuals who were born in and educated in the U.S.

1st Generation – Individuals who were born in the Mexico and who received all their education in Mexico

1.5 Generation – Individuals who were born in Mexico, but received their education in the U.S.

2nd Generation – Individuals who were born in and educated in the U.S.

Mexican-American Fathers by Generational Status

Mexican-American Fathers by Generational Status

Generational Status - Fathers

21.51

Per

cent

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

N=104 N=13 N=72

Dimensions of Group Discrimination

(Keefe and Padilla, 1987)

Dimensions of Group Discrimination

(Keefe and Padilla, 1987)

Group Perception

• Hiring practices • Discrimination in schools• Access to public services• Need to work harder than Whites to succeed• Treatment by law enforcement

Dimensions of Individual Discrimination

(Keefe and Padilla, 1987)

Dimensions of Individual Discrimination

(Keefe and Padilla, 1987)

Individual Experience

• Rudeness • Poor service• Unfair treatment• Disrespect• Witness of unfair and/or disrespectful treatment of friends

1st generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination along arena specific dimensions centering on issues of employment opportunities and labor expectations.

2nd generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination across multiple social arenas.

1st generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination along arena specific dimensions centering on issues of employment opportunities and labor expectations.

2nd generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination across multiple social arenas.

Differential DiscriminationDifferential Discrimination

Differential DiscriminationDifferential Discrimination

Generational Status 1st 2nd

Individual (scale mean) 1.97* 2.30*

Rudeness & poor service 1.63* 2.17*Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Personal 1.88 2.04Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Witness 2.41* 2.71*

Group (scale mean) 2.62 2.47

Hiring practices 2.53* 2.29*Teaching quality 2.36 2.30Access to public services 2.56 2.40Need to work harder than Whites 3.03* 2.80*Treatment by law enforcement 2.57 2.53

* Sig. .05

Generational Status 1st 2nd

Individual (scale mean) 1.97* 2.30*

Rudeness & poor service 1.63* 2.17*Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Personal 1.88 2.04Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Witness 2.41* 2.71*

Group (scale mean) 2.62 2.47

Hiring practices 2.53* 2.29*Teaching quality 2.36 2.30Access to public services 2.56 2.40Need to work harder than Whites 3.03* 2.80*Treatment by law enforcement 2.57 2.53

* Sig. .05

DemographicsDemographics

Generational Status 1st 2nd

Income 28414* 35816*Hours worked 51* 45*Full-time employment 90% 85%

Craftsman 33% 24%Operatives 26% 22%Laborers 23% 17%

Work (satisfied) 93% 93%

* Sig. .05

Generational Status 1st 2nd

Income 28414* 35816*Hours worked 51* 45*Full-time employment 90% 85%

Craftsman 33% 24%Operatives 26% 22%Laborers 23% 17%

Work (satisfied) 93% 93%

* Sig. .05

Coping with Discrimination: The Role of Religion

Coping with Discrimination: The Role of Religion

Consistent with research on immigrant populations and the importance of religion we found strong positive associations between religious participation, faith, and God, and one’s work satisfaction among 1st generation Mexican fathers.

Extending understandings about generational status, discriminatory experiences, and their impacts, our research investigates how fathers cope with discrimination and specifically address the mediating effects of religiosity on the family system.

Consistent with research on immigrant populations and the importance of religion we found strong positive associations between religious participation, faith, and God, and one’s work satisfaction among 1st generation Mexican fathers.

Extending understandings about generational status, discriminatory experiences, and their impacts, our research investigates how fathers cope with discrimination and specifically address the mediating effects of religiosity on the family system.

Understand the experiences and impacts of discrimination and religion among 1st and 2nd generation mothers.

Assess the impacts of alternative coping strategies.

Investigate the impacts of discrimination and religiosity on additional outcomes.

Understand the experiences and impacts of discrimination and religion among 1st and 2nd generation mothers.

Assess the impacts of alternative coping strategies.

Investigate the impacts of discrimination and religiosity on additional outcomes.

Next Steps: Additional Considerations

Next Steps: Additional Considerations

Next Steps: Preliminary Model

Next Steps: Preliminary Model

IndividualDiscriminationIndividualDiscrimination

GroupDiscriminationGroupDiscrimination

ReligiosityReligiosity

WorkSatisfactionWorkSatisfaction

MaritalProblemsMaritalProblems

Generational StatusGenerational Status

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