Modesty in Mexican-American women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discover what modesty means to healthy, middle-aged Mexican-American women living in Tucson, Arizona. Accepted ethnographic methodology was used in this exploratory descriptive study. Three audio-taped interviews of one to two hours in length and field notes were used in data collection. A purposive, convenience sample of three Mexican-American women was used. Modesty emerged as a concept inextricably linked to culture. Women's roles were the domains of meaning through which the themes of protection, respect, servility and conflict were described. Modesty in Mexican-American women and the impact it has on health care situations was discussed. Implications for nursing practice were explored.