Mexican American women: Impact of culture and education on work patterns

Issue title: Women, Work and Culture

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wells, Shirley A.

Affiliations: University of Texas Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA

Note: [] Address for correspondence: 5105 Sugar Mill Road, Brownsville, TX 78526, USA. Tel.: +1 956 541 4152; Fax: +1 956 381 2476; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The lives of women of Mexican descent are being profoundly affected by their changing workforce participation. They are expected to make up the majority of the female workforce in service occupations by 2010. Based on the literature and personal clinical interactions two factors – cultural values and education attainment – consistently appear to have a strong impact on the occupational choices of Mexican American women. This article will explore the interdependence of work, culture, and education on women of Mexican origin.

Keywords: Mexican American, women, culture, work, education

Journal: Work, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 395-400, 2005