Fathering latina sexualities: Mexican men and the virginity of their daughters

Abstract

Mexican men have been traditionally misrepresented in or omitted from fatherhood scholarship, sexuality and reproductive health‐related research, and immigration studies. Based on in‐depth tape‐recorded interviews with 20 immigrant men living in Los Angeles, this study examined Mexican fathers’ views of virginity as they educate their daughters in the United States. Results indicate that fathers’ perceptions of a daughter's virginity are shaped by regional expressions of patriarchy and masculinity, and the socioeconomic segregation of inner‐city barrios. Protecting their daughters from a sexually dangerous society and improving their socioeconomic future is of greater concern to these men than preserving virginity per se. These men's narratives challenge stereotypical images and archetypes of the Latino macho father.

Religion and Gender Ideologies among Working-Age U.S. Latinas/os

“…The studies that have explored gender among Latinas/os have emphasized two dominant themes within Latina/o culture; familism and machismo (Kopinak 1995;Hamilton 2002;Gonzalez-Lopez 2004). Placing a premium on female subordination, these two themes serve as foundational components that help to shape Latina/o gender ideology and family life (Unger and Molina 1999).…”

“…Research suggests that this orientation stems from the way in which the 'machismo' ethos has been deeply woven into Latina/o culture, emphasizing the honor and leadership of Latino masculinity and thereby devaluing women relative to men. Machismo even influences and is reflected in cultural preferences for sons over daughters (Gonzalez-Lopez 2004;Unger and Molina 1999). The Latina/o gendered double standard begins even before adulthood, as is evident in a key cultural rite of passage, the 'quinceanera'.…”

Constrained desires: The romantic partner preferences of college-educated Latinas

“…In addition, Latino parents hold stricter views of daughters' dating and sexuality (Raffaelli and Ontai 2004) and tend to espouse traditional cultural values where daughters' relationships outside of marriage are viewed as potentially dishonorable to the family (Raffaelli and Ontai 2001 that their daughters remain virgins until marriage (Raffaelli and Ontai 2001;Zavella and Castaneda 2005). By contrast, González-López (2004) maintains that parental attitudes around dating are not universally shaped by traditional cultural values and, instead, shift and change in different contexts or with length of time in the United States.…”

Paternidade contemporânea: levantamento da produção acadêmica no período de 2000 a 2007

“…As publicações destacaram a distribuição de renda e as oportunidades de emprego considerando seus efeitos sobre a paternidade (Whitehouse, 2002), as políticas de incentivo à participação dos pais no cuidado das crianças (Cabrera & Peters, 2000;Joseph, 2006), além de investigações acerca da imigração e seus efeitos sobre a paternidade enquanto esforço de adaptação à nova cultura (Gonzalez-Lopez, 2004). Os resumos referem estudos sobre a efetividade dos programas durante a gravidez das esposas (Kao & Long, 2004), famílias de baixa renda (Anderson, Kohler, & Letiecq, 2002), pais separados (Bloomer & Sipe, 2003) e pais presos (MacMillan, 2005).…”