Cultural heritage and motherhood : experiences of a Mexican American family : daughters, mother and grandmother

Abstract

An ethnographic study of three generations of Mexican American women was conducted to discover cultural beliefs regarding pregnancy, childbearing and parenting. The study examined ways that beliefs are transmitted from generation to generation, if beliefs are maintained from generation to generation, and if beliefs are maintained, changed or lost between generations. Leininger's Culture Care Diversity and Universality conceptual orientation was combined with Spector' s concepts of Heritage Consistency to guide data collection and analysis. Data were collected using participant observation and ethnographic interviews. Data were analyzed using the ethnoscience method. Findings indicate that the family has maintained many traditional values and beliefs. Cultural beliefs and values were taught by example. Most values and beliefs were retained between generations. A single example of a changed value was found. One mother failed to follow the culturally prescribed 40 day period of rest after childbirth.