Strengths and Challenges of Mexican Families in the 21st Century

Abstract

This article will analyze some of the strengths and challenges for Mexican families in the beginning of this century. It will start with a description of some of the characteristics of the country, and then will deal with some of the most important challenges families face. Challenges are divided in two categories: external and internal, including in the first one the economic context, poverty, migration and cultural change; in the second one, we consider symbolic and cultural differentiation, the impact of the secularization of values, changes in role structures and changes among generations. The presentation will proceed with a description of some of the strengths Mexican families have, including those based on institutional grounds and based on expressive and individual elements. Throughout the article we will try to consider other family forms, including their challenges and strengths.

Key Words:

• Family challenges
• family cohesion
• family communication
• family flexibility
• family strengths
• Mexican families
• secularization