Social Work Practice with Mexican Americans

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People coexist in different environments based on the theory of the general system and the ecology. The environment is meant for survival of all living things when all conditions are met.

However, the scarcity of resources forces living things to adapt to environmental and ecological changes in order to survive. For economic success of a given population, there is need for government support through provision of basic necessities as discussed in this paper.

Ecological perspective is based on two main biological ideas, the general system theory and ecology. The science of ecology is concerned with the environment in which human beings and other organisms live. The environment is fit for human survival if all the necessities needed are adequate and available.

General system theory deals with variables existing between people and the environment in which they live in which enhance wholeness. Human beings and the environment are perceived as two interrelated phenomena according to ecological model.

The environment provides human beings with resources, which they depend on. On the other hand, human beings have to take good care of the environment by avoiding destruction of resources which they depend on. The two therefore depend on each other (Manuela, 2012).

According to Berrios, Marak and Morgenstern (2011), ecosystem model is universal in social work. The model is widely accepted for it helps people to understand deeply the relationship between the environment and human beings. The principle was adopted because social workers deal mainly with making the environment in which human beings live a better place.

The model is very important in social work whose aim is to determine the relationship between the environment and human beings. Care should be taken to ensure that both the environment and people receive equal attention. Putting more weight in one party bring about negative effects. For instance, children may drop out of schools because of interacting with bad company.

If the teachers in school and the parents at home do not closely monitor the movement of such children, then such children will continue influencing others. Parents should be role models to their children failure to which they grow up being irresponsible.

The origin of Mexican Americans is Mexico a country in Latin America. Statistics collected in July 2009 in the United States of America showed that the population of Mexican Americans makes up about 10% of the total population. The population includes the Latinos and Hispanics in the U.S. The group has a complex cultural system with some of their values being a reflection of the Mexican history.

Mexicans adore their original lifestyle and culture such that they continue practicing it even when living outside their country. Mexican Americans find it easy to interact with their neighboring communities because they share most of the cultural values and practices.

Their culture is mainly a mixture from America and Mexico but they entirely take in what is accepted in their home country. Even though their population is low, it is growing at a fast rate (Black, 2011).

In a state like California, 20% of the total numbers of people trace their origin from Mexico. The fact that the population of Mexican Americans is small compared to other groups implies that the chances of being discriminated against by bigger groups are high. As far as the economy and distribution of resources in the country is concerned, they are among the disadvantaged groups.

On average, their income in the household is below that of non-Hispanic whites by 40%. This clearly shows that the welfare of minority groups in the country is ignored.

Most of the resources are channeled to larger groups in favor of smaller ones. Examination of the living condition of Mexican Americans makes us understand their position in the modern and future American societies. This can clearly be seen from examination of wages and jobs set apart for this group (Manuela, 2012).

In America, wages of whites, blacks and Mexican Americans are determined by the level of education and the working duration. Mexican Americans are further divided into three groups namely immigrants from Mexico, Children born in America by Mexican immigrants, descendants, and grandchildren of immigrants from Mexico.

Education services are limited to Mexican population a factor which contributes to the high levels of illiteracy rate among the population. The result of lack of proper education is the cause of low earnings realized within the group. Mexican Americans born in America are better placed than the rest in educational matters.

An estimated percentage of 28% among the Mexican families complete high school education in comparison to 84% black youths and 87% from the white’s origin. Enrollment in schools is also a challenge in the group. The population of Mexican American enrolled in schools for the whites is very low.

These are schools, which are well equipped with educational facilities, but they are too expensive to be afforded by Mexican Americans limiting the chances of their children from joining such schools. Inequality in accessing resources based on race and ethnicity should be eliminated in America (Census bureau, 2010).

Interaction between Mexican Americans and other communities has had a lot of influence in their culture. As a result of intermarriage with members from other communities, cultural values have been passed from one community to another. They have also absorbed cultural values from other communities especially from Native Americans and Spanish (Thompson et al., 2010).

Migration from one place to another enhances interaction of people from various places with diverse cultural views. Influence is not only on culture but also on religion. They have taken on religious aspects of other societies and also lost some to other communities.

Religion is a major aspect in their life. Roman Catholic, Jehovah Witness and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the common denominations among Mexican Americans with large numbers of followers. Mexican American families are strongly bound together.

Responsibility of taking and caring for the extended family is upon each individual. They work hard and cooperate with each other to better their ways of life (Manuela, 2012).

Dancing and music are essential components of their culture. Mexican Americans dance and sing during special occasions. Songs like mariachis and corridos are passed from one generation to another orally. Living away from home is not a reason to forget carrying out festivals and dances.

Salsa and tap dance are the common dances in the community, which in the modern world have gained popularity in many other countries (Diaz, Saenz & Kwan, 2011).

Discrimination among Mexican Americans is a form of oppression because they are denied their basic rights. The community does not receive adequate and reliable health facilities. The hospitals within their reach do not have qualified personnel to handle medical complications a factor, which leaves some of the patients dying whose complications, should have been handled.

Accessing the hospital is a problem for them since they have to travel for long before accessing cheap hospitals that they can afford. The mortality rate among young children and pregnant mothers is high (US Census Bureau, 2010). Pregnant mothers are not taken good care of during their expectant period which may lead to complications during delivery putting either the mother or child at risk of death.

During the early stages of child’s development, consistent medical care is required for the health of the child. Lack of immunization against diseases put children at risk of death or conducting dangerous diseases (De Anda, 2011).

According to ecosystem model, environment and people are interdependent. In order to live well, the environment in which people live in should be favorable. If the environment does not favor survival, economic development within the region and community is likely to be deterred.

As far as Mexican Americans are concerned, the ecosystem model does not apply to them. This is because they live in an unfriendly environment in which they are discriminated against by the larger communities. The model requires that Whites and Blacks in America should grant minority groups equal rights (Black, 2011).

As a social worker, I will advise them to have equal access to natural resources in the country by schooling in the same institutions with qualified teachers, freedom in accessing medical facilities, and equal opportunities in employment centers. Qualification rather than race and tribe should be the main determinant in securing jobs. People should be paid according to the duration of work and qualification.

Allowing Mexican Americans to access educational facilities will improve their standards of living. Larger groups should be made to understand that minority groups are not lesser in any way. If given the chance, they will excel in all fields (Berrios, Marak & Morgenstern, 2011).

In conclusion, the environments in which people live in very much determine how they live and their relationship with other people surrounding them. It is upon the government to ensure that their citizens are provided with all necessities. This will enhance the economic development of the country by increasing the rate of population. Creation of employment opportunities in the country will boost the economy as people will earn a living (Auerswald, 1968).

References

Auerswald, E. (1968). Interdisciplinary versus ecological approach, Family Process, 7,202-215. Web.

Berrios, R., Marak, A. & Morgenstern, S. (2011). Explaining hydrocarbon nationalization in Latin America: Economics and political ideology. Review of International Political Economy, 18, 327-330. Web.

Black, R. (2011). The challenges of interpreting fragmented landscapes in a regional context: a case study of the Victorian Box-Ironbark forests, Australia. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 19(2), 357-358. Web.

De Anda, R. (2011). Underemployment among Mexican-origin women. Social Science Journal, 48, 36-44. Web.

Diaz, P., Saenz, D. & Kwan, V. (2011). Economic dynamics and changes in attitudes toward undocumented Mexican immigrants in Arizona. Analyses of Social Issues & Public Policy, 11, 146-155. Web.

Manuela, A. (2012). U.S. border enforcement and the net flow of Mexican illegal migration. Economic Development & Cultural Change Journal, 60,214-229. Web.

Thompson, J. et al. (2010). Mediated modeling: Using collaborative processes to integrate scientist and stakeholder knowledge about greenhouse gas emissions in an urban ecosystem. Journal of Society & Natural Resources, 23,355-356. Web.

US Census Bureau. (2010). Equal employment opportunity: Hispanic heritage month. Web.

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