Mexican Farmworker Women's Perspectives on Drinking in a Migrant Community

Abstract

Alcohol use in farmworker communities has not been investigated to any extent. The literature on alcohol consumption and farmworkers is virtually nonexistent. This case study provides information on drinking patterns and problems in a Mexican farmworker community in Northern California. The focus is on Mexican farmworker women's perspectives on drinking in a specific social context: A migrant farmworker housing center. Male responses are provided as a basis for comparison and contrast. The study examines issues related to driving under the influence, public versus private space, and the centrality of considerations regarding children/youth in setting acceptable parameters for drinking. Data collection consisted of observations and 29 interviews of men (13) and women (16) farmworkers over a 6-month period in 1991. We found that most of the women in the camp abstain from drinking. They define male drinking as a problem when 1) youth are allowed and encouraged to drink, 2) an increase of individuals driving under the influence in the housing center becomes evident, and 3) when drinkers serve as poor role models for youth.

Anthropological and Psychological Merge: Design of a Stress Measure for Mexican Farmworkers

“…Many women must share work and financial responsibility with their husbands in order to make ends meet (Munet-Vilaro et al 1999). When women work as farmworkers, for instance, they do not receive maternity leave, are exposed to pesticides while pregnant, and often experience sexual harassment while on the job (Alaniz 1994). Work-related stress, lack of daycare, and stress associated with sex roles were major sources of stress reported by the women in this investigation.…”

“…It is estimated that more than 80 percent of farmworkers in the United States are foreign-born, and more than 70 percent of those are from Mexico (Wallace 2002). Mexican farmworkers often lead transient and uncertain lifestyles with long hours and substandard housing (Alaniz 1994;de Leon Siantz 1994;Hovey and Magaña 2002a, b). The work of Mexican farmworkers is also fraught with hazardous conditions, and despite such sacrifice, many migrant workers are placed among the poorest of the working poor, earning an average yearly income of $5,500 for a family of 5.3 members (Alderete et al 2000;de Leon Siantz 1994;Hovey and Magaña 2002a, b;Wallace 2002).…”

“…The work of Mexican farmworkers is also fraught with hazardous conditions, and despite such sacrifice, many migrant workers are placed among the poorest of the working poor, earning an average yearly income of $5,500 for a family of 5.3 members (Alderete et al 2000;de Leon Siantz 1994;Hovey and Magaña 2002a, b;Wallace 2002). (For comparison, the Department of Labor's definition of poverty for a family of four is $12,000 [Alaniz 1994]. )…”

Shifting from Village-Based Networks to Locally Generated Networks: Undocumented Mexican Agricultural Workers Who Use/Used Hard Drugs

“…. From his first experience with inhalants at age 12, alcohol at age 14-15, marijuana at age [15][16], and pills at age 17-18, Mr. Ramos was familiar with drug use prior to arrival in the states. Working as a fruit vendor in Mexico, he sold pills "on the side," to enable continuation of his craving for alcohol and pills.…”

“…Except for the distinction of founding an AA chapter and ten days of wilderness survival the first time that he 2 Journal of Anthropology crossed the international border, Mr. Gardel's story shares similarities with several generations of men and women in US agriculture from Central America and Mexico: (a) persistent return to this country despite deportation [3][4][5][6], (b) lowpaid employment and little security [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations [10][11][12], (c) investment of earnings to purchase property, consumer goods, and house construction in Mexico [3,5,14,15], and (d) difficulties that accompany consumption of alcohol [16][17][18][19] and drugs [20][21][22].…”