Cultural Implications in Treating the Puerto Rican Female

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of Puerto Rican history, its traditional effect on Puerto Rican women, and its applicability in treating the Puerto Rican female drug user. The paper focuses on items of historical and cultural significance and includes data gathered from selected interviews of Puerto Rican females in treatment. What has been compiled here is a description of characteristics, traits, and attributes that distinguish Puerto Ricans from other ethnic groups and those traits traditionally attributed to their women. It takes into consideration such things as the role of the family, religious implications, “machismo” behavior exhibited by males upon females, attitudinal differences between mainland and island females, and changes undergone during migration. There currently exists a paucity of literature concerning the treatment of Puerto Ricans in general and even less exists with regard to Puerto Rican women. This paper, therefore, purports only to present preliminary findings in this area. Its intent is to serve as an initial research effort, to encourage further areas of study, and to contribute valuable information for those who currently treat ethnic populations.