Apparently, almost all cultures are associated with some kinds of stereotypes. While some of these stereotypes hold water, they are, in most cases inaccurate since they are biased generalizations based on subjective judgments. In the following arguments stereotyping will be presented as inaccurate with a special reference to the Mexican Americans, who, according to many researchers are among the most prominent victims of ill treatment, thanks to the stereotyped information available in American circles (Worthman. et al.2009:389). The findings of this paper can be used in relevant studies as it has been observed that the cultural group of Mexican American with a darker skin complexion are discriminated against, along the lines of racial stereotyping – a concept that has seen the members of this ethnicity suffer lack of access to the opportunities offered by both the social and economic platform of the united states (Miranda. et al.2006:377).
As required by the research topic Mexican Americans were chosen as the cultural community that faces stereotypical association. Within the United States this cultural group comprises of full or partial Mexican descent with a 10 percent make up of the overall population of the United States standing at 34 million with the dominant group being Hispanics and Latinos (Brian, 2010:98). There has been a barrier of racial aspects in the play of experiences with a hot debate with a radicalization of Mexican Americans in the history of the United States with limitations in their participation in society with evidence of the continued disadvantage related to education opportunities from generations of the racial group.
Among the primary stereotypes associated with the Mexican Americans is the presumption that all Mexican Americans are lazy and will always want to evade duties, especially those involving physical effort at whatever cost. Secondly, there is a stereotypical presumption that all Mexican American people are unintelligent, and have a low level of literacy (Telles & Ortiz, 2012:41). Associated with this stereotype is another one, which assumes that all people of Mexican American origin are usually bilingual and almost always have an accent. The fourth stereotype revolves around the assumption, however unfounded, that all Mexican Americans usually cross the border because they want to become Americans, or simply because they want to be integrated into the unique American culture.
With regard to the first stereotype – that one of laziness – it is substantially inaccurate to argue that all Mexican Americans are lazy (Olivia & Benard, 2007:223). In point of fact, Mexican Americans cannot be referred to as lazy because, essentially, they come to America to perform all the physically involving jobs that the Americans are actually too lazy to do. In point of fact, the Mexican Americans that come to the United States engage in many types of jobs including gardener’s duties, and mechanics and so on. As such, this stereotype is inaccurate. Secondly, it does not make sense to refer to the Mexican Americans as lazy, when their staple food requires to be cooked twice (Paul, 2006:44). Tortillas, the staple food of the Mexican Americans requires a lot of effort to prepare. In counterargument, the proponents of stereotypical accuracy argue that it is due to the laziness of the Mexican Americans that they fail to perform exemplary well in education. In refutation, however, I do not think laziness is the cause of the poor performance, rather, language barrier is.
The stereotype that the Mexican Americans are unintelligent and tend to indicate low levels of literacy is as well inaccurate. There is a lot of researched evidence indicating that the main reason why the Mexican Americans fail to perform is because they are naturally affected by language barrier (Kelly, 2009:30). As such, all factors held constant, the Mexican Americans are as intelligent and capable of literacy as are their white counterparts. In counterargument, however, the proponents of stereotypical accuracy argue that most Mexicans have been in the United States long enough to overcome language barrier and be in a position to perform equally well in their academic endeavours (Amodio & Devine, 2006:652). In refutation, however, I think that the proponents of stereotypical accuracy are clearly wrong because, despite being in the United States long enough, the average performance of the Mexican American students will always be affected by the influx of Mexicans, both legal and illegal.
The presumption or stereotype that sees all Mexican Americans as people that are bilingual and have an accent is an accurate generalization because, as a matter of fact, those Mexican American children brought up in the United States rarely develop an accent (Farley, 2005:220). While the skin colour will remain a conspicuous indicator of their ethnicity, the accent is a factor that fades with time, especially when the individual is born and brought up in the United States. Those arguing that accent are a common characteristic of the Mexican American people; believe that language learning is a matter of nature rather than nurture (Lee,2008:44). This counterargument is considerably weak and pedestrian because the nature-nurture debate supports the actuality that language is a matter of nurture. In refutation of the counterargument, I believe that that the environment tends to shape the language and verbal skills of an individual.
The fourth, and no doubt the most controversial stereotype is the presumption that all Mexican Americans cross the border to become Americans, to gain American identity or to get integrated into the supposedly ‘superior’ American culture (Stacey, 2006:529). Research indicates that most people immigrate to the United States from Mexico because they seek to attain social development. Speaking of social development, the immigrants do not seek American identity, but rather such important factors as education, proper healthcare and so on. Other factors as to why they immigrate are economic stability (Krause & Elena, 2011:397). The people associated the United States with what is referred to as job opportunity pull. They consider the united sates a source of economic strength. Other factors why people immigrate into the United States are because of family reasons (Meredith, 2011:704). People whose families are in the United States will be willing to travelinto the USA. As a counterargument, the proponents of stereotypical accuracy argue that these resources are found in Mexico and that there should be no need to move. In refutation, I think the reasons for migration are justified, and run beyond American identity.
In conclusion, it is clear that stereotypes are not accurate at all, because they are false generalizations. In the present world, where globalization is a key determinant, such fallacious generalizations have no founding. Using the Mexican Americans case, it is clear to see that all the stereotypes are unfounded and unrealistic. For instance, it is clear from the research carried out that the Mexican Americans are not lazy, are intelligent, are not all affected by accent, and are not desperately in search of the American identity.
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