WISE AND NOT SO “WISE LATINA WOMEN:” FAMILISMO, MARIANISMO, RESPETO AND OTHER CULTURAL SCRIPTS

Castleton College, Castleton, VermontMarch 18, 2010

Dr. Evangelina HolvinoPresident, Chaos Management, Ltd.

© Evangelina Holvino, 2010 Chaos Management

WHAT DO THESE WOMEN HAVE IN COMMON, OR DO THEY?

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WHAT DO THESE WOMEN HAVE IN COMMON, OR DO THEY?

Jennifer López Nancy López Maria Elena Lagomasino Dolores Huerta Julia Alvarez Sonia Sotomayor Antonia Novello Ellen Ochoa

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KEY MESSAGES

Importance of social identity and cultural scripts “at work.”

The meaning of cultural scripts and examples: valuable and challenging.

Learning about our own and others’ cultural scripts.

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SOCIAL IDENTITY & WORK (THE PERSONAL IS PROFESSIONAL)

“…but you don’t look Puerto Rican.”

“You are the first Puerto Rican professional I’ve ever met!”

“…oh, I won’t even bother.”

“With that accent she would never be hired in this company.”

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HIGHLIGHTS OF STUDY

3 focus groups: 20 Latina middle managers Boston, New York, Houston

Sample questions How would you describe your career? What has helped and hindered your career, e.g.,

mentors, networking? Dilemmas or difficult decisions in your career? Recommendations for other Latinas?

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FINDINGS: 8 CULTURAL SCRIPTS

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GIFTS CHALLENGES

CULTURAL SCRIPTS VS. STEREOTYPES

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CULTURAL SCRIPTS Assumptions about

ways of interacting and communicating - what one can/cannot do or say - particular to a “cultural” group

Express values and beliefs

STEREOTYPES Beliefs towards a

group or its members based on over-generalizations

Prejudgments about a group or its members

FAMILISMO AND MACHISMO-MARIANISMO

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FAMILISMO AND MACHISMO-MARIANISMO

“Family members are my greatest source of mentoring. Without the support of your family you just can’t work.”

“I’m very ambitious, but I was taught that family comes first. It was a problem when I wasn’t around to cater to my husband. That’s a battle you fight not only outside your culture, but inside your culture.”

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PERSONALISMO AND SIMPATÍA

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PERSONALISMO AND SIMPATÍA

“The feedback that people like to work with me was great; that’s something that is very important to me.”

“My challenge had to do with that need to help and be friendly; it was hard to give someone bad news or let someone go.”

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CAN THESE CULTURAL SCRIPTS EXPLAIN…

Why your friend has a hard time understanding your family or vice versa?

Why spending time with your family seems more important to you than to many of your peers?

Why the New England communication style does not feel comfortable to you?

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COLECTIVISMO AND EL PRESENTE

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COLECTIVISMO AND EL PRESENTE

“As a Latina, you have to help open the door for others. That’s been such a driver—to pave the way for others. For me it was hard; maybe for my daughter it won’t be so hard.”

“I think we have a certain spirit, a certain energy as a people. Sometimes you feel something is impossible and draw on resources that you didn’t even know you had. That comes from being Latina.”

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RESPETO AND ESPIRITUALISMO

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RESPETO AND ESPIRITUALISMO

“I said to my manager several times, ‘I know I’m an IT person and I’m not supposed to talk to people, but I love talking to people. Can you give me this opportunity so I can learn about relationships and finance?’”

“All happens according to God’s plan.”

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4 WAYS IN WHICH CULTURAL SCRIPTS MAY IMPACT YOU

Career choices Hispanics prefer jobs that offer

opportunities to work with diverse people and help others. (Stone, et.al., 2006, 2007)

Leadership style Latinas act as a bridge between cultures,

between generations, between people.…It involves skill sets that have been honed since childhood.” (Hewlett et. al., 2007)

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IMPACT OF CULTURAL SCRIPTS IN THE WORKPLACE

Work - life integration “…the only way I can balance my work and

personal life is by living close to my parents for childcare. I have limited my mobility because I have chosen to stay close to my support system.” (Catalyst, 2008)

Sense of well-being “I always feel I have to chose between my

personal and psychological health - who I want to be and who I am - and my career.” (Catalyst, 2007)

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Understand your and others’ cultural scripts

“The cultural scripts contrasted with the Anglo assumptions was a ‘wow’ moment for me. It explained so much about who I am and the work world that sometimes baffles me. Now I know why. I wish every young Latina and Latino could know this ‘secret’ of living and succeeding in an Anglo world.”

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RECOMMENDATIONS

2. Enhance/utilize your biculturalism- bilingualism

“I have been in this country for 14 years and I can be concise, clear; I can get to the point. But I also have that Latino warmth and if I see that you are having a bad day, I’ll go and hug you.”

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RECOMMENDATIONS

3. Be aware of dominant cultural expectations and supposed “lack of fit”

Toot horn vs. work hard Dominant models of leadership vs. non-

dominant styles

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RECOMMENDATIONS

4. Identify stereotypes and assumptions and their impact on career and leadership opportunities

Familismo ≠ “Will not relocate” Accent ≠ “Can’t communicate” Wanting flexible arrangements ≠

“Lack of commitment to the job.”

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OTHER CULTURAL SCRIPTS AT WORK?

“Sometimes I’ll leave work to do other things…things I don’t feel they’ll value. For example, to do some community service stuff in the ‘hood.” (African American woman manager, Catalyst, 2008)

“Like respect for elders, even in the workforce, including your superiors and managers. I’m less confrontational than most Americans would be.” (Asian manager, Dhingra, 2007)

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BUZZ GROUPS: HOW DO YOU SEE CULTURAL

SCRIPTS PLAYING OUT AT CASTLETON?

Familismo Machismo-Marianismo

Personalismo Simpatía Colectivismo El Presente Respeto Espiritualismo

Others? 25

Q & A

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THANK YOU

Evangelina Holvino, Ed.D.PresidentChaos Management, Ltd.178 Meetinghouse Lane Brattleboro, VT 05301

802.257.5218holvino@chaosmanagement.com

www.chaosmanagement.com

© Evangelina Holvino, 2010 Chaos Management