Personal Communities in the City: Support Networks among Mexican-Americans and Anglo-Americans.

Abstract

Support networks among Mexican-Americans and Anglo-Americans surveyed in three southern California communities are compared. Interand intraethnic differences are demonstrated: Immigrant Mexican networks are the smallest, are kinand friend-based, and include almost exclusively people of Mexican descent; native-born Mexican-American networks are the largest, are kin-based, and are ethnically mixed but include primarily other Mexican-Americans; Anglo-American networks are relatively small, are friend-based, and include almost exclusively other Anglos. Yet for both ethnic groups, urban life is characterized by enduring and supportive primary social relationships. The lack of strong neighborhood ties indicates that social life in cities might be best conceptualized as interacting personal communities or networks rather than spatial communities. Finally, contrary to assumptions in previous studies of MexicanAmericans, there is neither evidence of breakdown of kinship ties nor evidence of extensive social interaction with Anglos as a result of the processes of urbanization and acculturation. The extended family is inevitably regarded by researchers as a fundamental feature of Mexican-American life (Clark 1959; Gonzalez 1969; Grebler, Moore, and Guzman 1970; Madsen 1964, 1969; Rubel 1 966). It is a bilateral kindred augmented by affinal kin and traditionally consists of a localized group of related households whose members interact together frequently and exchange mutual aid (Keefe 1979). The extended family offers protection, advice, guidance, nurturance, and support during major crises as well as day-to-day problems. Compadrazgo, the ritual bond between parents and godparents of a child, brings additional members into the kin group as compadres who are accorded the duties and privileges of relatives and are treated with deferential respect.

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