Mexican Expatriate Stepfathers’ Perceptions of the Mexican Stepfamily

Abstract

Through qualitative phenomenological inquiry, the study was intended to identify, understand and describe the unique cultural dynamics of developing a Mexican expatriate stepfamily through the unique lens of Mexican expatriate stepfathers who were previously unmarried and without children. Since the Mexican culture is firmly rooted in longstanding traditions surrounding marital development, sustaining patriarchy, the sanctity of the family nebulas, and continual sacrifice by the mother, understanding the interplay between Mexican stepfamily development and these factors seemed appropriate. Unfortunately, the bulk of stepfamily development studies have been conducted primarily with focus on the majority culture population in the USA. Fewer studies have been conducted on stepfamily development for the majority culture and even fewer on minority stepfamily development in the USA. The narratives of Mexican expatriate men discerned the unique factors involved in the development of a Mexican stepfamily and to what extent cultural schemas impacted the new family.