Discrimination, Job Satisfaction and the Role of Religion in the lives of Mexican Fathers  Eric Vega, Ernestine Avila, Mario Garcia, and Shoon Lio

Latino Family Perspective (Hildalgo 1999)  Sociohistorical Context  Socioeconomic Class Position  Cultural Citizenship  Sociohistorical Context  Socioeconomic Class Position  Cultural Citizenship

Sociohistorical contexts (Smith 2006)  Immigration/Migration  Different geographical points of entry  Colonial history  Immigration/Migration  Different geographical points of entry  Colonial history

Socioeconomic Class Position  Economic Status  Work History  Work Status  Housing Conditions  Community’s economic vitality (Massey, Zambrana and Alonzo Bell 1995; Hidlago 1999; Roosa et al 2002; Dohan 2003  Economic Status  Work History  Work Status  Housing Conditions  Community’s economic vitality (Massey, Zambrana and Alonzo Bell 1995; Hidlago 1999; Roosa et al 2002; Dohan 2003

Cultural Citizenship  Ethnic identity  Familism  Language  Ethnic identity  Familism  Language

Perceived Ethnic Discrimination  Finch, Bohan and Vega (2000)- Transnationals were more likely to perceive discrimination than native residents  Native people claiming the United States as their primary residence are less likely to perceive discrimination at higher levels of English Acculturation  Keefe and Padilla (1987) Found no decrease in perceived discrimination among first and fourth generation immigrants  Finch, Bohan and Vega (2000)- Transnationals were more likely to perceive discrimination than native residents  Native people claiming the United States as their primary residence are less likely to perceive discrimination at higher levels of English Acculturation  Keefe and Padilla (1987) Found no decrease in perceived discrimination among first and fourth generation immigrants

Research Questions  How do Mexican fathers differentially perceive and experience racial/ethnic discrimination?  What are the effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on Mexican fathers and how do they cope?  How do Mexican fathers differentially perceive and experience racial/ethnic discrimination?  What are the effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on Mexican fathers and how do they cope?

Ethnic Breakdown of Our Sample Eligibility required that all three family members had to be either Mexican American or Euro American. The two ethnicities were defined as follows:  Mexican American: The person or his/her family originally came from Mexico. The study does not include other Latin countries  Euro American: The person or his/her family originate from European countries. The person has no Mexican, Asian, African-American, or Native-American ancestors. Eligibility required that all three family members had to be either Mexican American or Euro American. The two ethnicities were defined as follows:  Mexican American: The person or his/her family originally came from Mexico. The study does not include other Latin countries  Euro American: The person or his/her family originate from European countries. The person has no Mexican, Asian, African-American, or Native-American ancestors.

Our Mexican-American Generational Sample  1 st Generation – Individuals who were born in the Mexico and who received all their education in Mexico  1.5 Generation – Individuals who were born in Mexico, but received their education in the U.S.  2 nd Generation – Individuals who were born in and educated in the U.S.  1 st Generation – Individuals who were born in the Mexico and who received all their education in Mexico  1.5 Generation – Individuals who were born in Mexico, but received their education in the U.S.  2 nd Generation – Individuals who were born in and educated in the U.S.

Mexican-American Fathers by Generational Status N=104 N=13 N=72

Dimensions of Group Discrimination (Keefe and Padilla, 1987) Group Perception Hiring practices Discrimination in schools Access to public services Need to work harder than Whites to succeed Treatment by law enforcement

Dimensions of Individual Discrimination (Keefe and Padilla, 1987) Individual Experience Rudeness Poor service Unfair treatment Disrespect Witness of unfair and/or disrespectful treatment of friends

 1 st generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination along arena specific dimensions centering on issues of employment opportunities and labor expectations.  2 nd generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination across multiple social arenas.  1 st generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination along arena specific dimensions centering on issues of employment opportunities and labor expectations.  2 nd generation fathers tended to experience and perceive discrimination across multiple social arenas. Differential Discrimination

Generational Status1st2nd Individual (scale mean)1.97*2.30* Rudeness & poor service1.63*2.17* Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Personal Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Witness 2.41*2.71* Group (scale mean) Hiring practices2.53*2.29* Teaching quality Access to public services Need to work harder than Whites3.03*2.80* Treatment by law enforcement * Sig..05 Generational Status1st2nd Individual (scale mean)1.97*2.30* Rudeness & poor service1.63*2.17* Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Personal Unfair treatment & Disrespect - Witness 2.41*2.71* Group (scale mean) Hiring practices2.53*2.29* Teaching quality Access to public services Need to work harder than Whites3.03*2.80* Treatment by law enforcement * Sig..05

Demographics Generational Status1st2nd Income28414*35816* Hours worked51*45* Full-time employment 90%85% Craftsman33%24% Operatives26%22% Laborers23%17% Work (satisfied)93%93% * Sig..05 Generational Status1st2nd Income28414*35816* Hours worked51*45* Full-time employment 90%85% Craftsman33%24% Operatives26%22% Laborers23%17% Work (satisfied)93%93% * Sig..05

Coping with Discrimination: The Role of Religion  Consistent with research on immigrant populations and the importance of religion we found strong positive associations between religious participation, faith, and God, and one’s work satisfaction among 1 st generation Mexican fathers.  Extending understandings about generational status, discriminatory experiences, and their impacts, our research investigates how fathers cope with discrimination and specifically address the mediating effects of religiosity on the family system.  Consistent with research on immigrant populations and the importance of religion we found strong positive associations between religious participation, faith, and God, and one’s work satisfaction among 1 st generation Mexican fathers.  Extending understandings about generational status, discriminatory experiences, and their impacts, our research investigates how fathers cope with discrimination and specifically address the mediating effects of religiosity on the family system.

 Understand the experiences and impacts of discrimination and religion among 1 st and 2 nd generation mothers.  Assess the impacts of alternative coping strategies.  Investigate the impacts of discrimination and religiosity on additional outcomes.  Understand the experiences and impacts of discrimination and religion among 1 st and 2 nd generation mothers.  Assess the impacts of alternative coping strategies.  Investigate the impacts of discrimination and religiosity on additional outcomes. Next Steps: Additional Considerations

Next Steps: Preliminary Model Individual Discrimination Individual Discrimination Group Discrimination Group Discrimination Religiosity Work Satisfaction Work Satisfaction Marital Problems Marital Problems Generational Status

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