Reconstructing culture: A latent profile analysis of Mexican-heritage young women’s cultural practices, gender values, and ethnic identity.

Abstract

Objective: In the U.S., Mexican culture has been characterized as inherently traditional in its gender values. However, we aimed to highlight the heterogeneity of Mexican culture within the U.S. by testing whether Mexican-heritage women who reject traditional gender values necessarily disavow other cultural connections (i.e., practices, identity). Method: Mexican-heritage young women (N = 322; M age = 20.42) attending a U.S. university completed a survey evaluating their cultural practices, gender values, and ethnic identity. Results: Latent profile analyses revealed five profiles based on cultural practices (either high [immersed] or moderate [participating] levels) and gender values (either traditional, moderate, or nontraditional): (a) immersed/nontraditional, (b) immersed/moderate, (c) immersed/traditional, (d) participating/nontraditional, and (e) participating/moderate. Regardless of gender values, the immersed profiles were generally stronger in Mexican ethnic identity than the participating profiles. Conclusions: Contrary to some prior views linking Mexican cultural practices with traditional gender values, many Mexican-heritage women rejected traditional gender values while maintaining strong immersion in cultural practices and strong ethnic identities. Public Significance StatementMexican-heritage women attending a U.S. college engaged with their culture in different ways but maintained strong ethnic identities. Most Mexican-heritage women were strongly immersed in their culture's practices (e.g., attending cultural events, interacting with other Mexican-heritage peers) but tended to reject restrictive components of gender values. Discussions about Mexican-heritage women should highlight the potentially different ways women may engage with their culture's gender values while maintaining strong cultural ties.