Families share a kinship that distinct them from others through beliefs systems, values, religion, culture, rules, love, and other. “La Familia” is one of the most important things there is to value especially in a Mexican American family. In the book, Next of Kin: the Family in Chicano/a Culture Politics Richard Rodriguez discussed the issues of family structure in a Chicana/o family and how “la familia, as an organizing principle and symbol for cultural empowerment”(Rodriguez, 20). In my photo collage, I chose six different photographs that illustrates a bit of my family. Throughout the pictures, you can see both my parents Manuel and Paula Castellanos, and also my two older sisters Melissa and Pamela Castellanos along with my “primo/hermano” (cousin/brother) Giancarlos. I also added photo of my dog Missy who is very important in my family and a photo of our culture food. The photographs in the collage describe how my family is composed of mostly women since my two older brothers both died at infancy. My “primo/hermano” is considered as the son they never had since he also grew up with my sisters and I. To me, my family are the most important people I value my in life.

As my sisters and I grew up, we were raised in a bicultural home because both my parents emigrated from two different countries. My father was born in San Salvador, El Salvador while my mother was born in Nayarit, Mexico. As a result, my sister and I grew exposed to both cultures through our parents different but similar culture beliefs and traditions. However, my mother’s Mexican culture had a higher influence in my life than my fathers. Since I was a child, I remember going to Mexico every year throughout my childhood. The Mexican culture dominated in our home especially because my father assimilated to the culture when he married my mother. My parents have been married for over thirty years now. His accent and beliefs shifted from Salvadorian to Mexican. In the photo collage, I decided to add picture of “Tostadas de Carne” which a typical Mexican food that is served in the village where my mother is from in Nayarit, Mexico. As a child, it was difficult for me to identify with Salvadorian because I knew more about the Mexican culture despite my father efforts to input his culture on us. When I came of age, I learned to embrace both cultures. As a result, I identify myself as Chicana/Latina women.

As I previously mentioned, I grew up with both my sisters and my cousin/bother. The photo collage shows a couple of pictures with my siblings and as well of my mother and father. Since kid’s we have maintain a close relationship. While my father was at work, my mother was a stay at home mother for many years. Although my father was very helpful with raising my sisters, my cousin, and I, my mother spent most of the time raisings us. Like many stay at home mothers she cooked, cleaned, washed, and made sure we went to school everyday. In most patriarchy Chicana/o Latina/o families, the women has the typically role of taking care of the family. My mother was one of the many women who followed the typical gender roles that women in a patriarchal culture are force to follow. Even though my father most of the time was helpful with trying to help my mother with cooking, cleaning, or watching over us, most of the hard work was done my mother while my dad worked most of the time.

When my siblings and I grew older, my mother began to work full time. She worked as a domestic worker taking care of children. As a result, she became very independent. She challenges the Chicana/o Latina/o family structure by demonstrating she was an independent women not having to depend on my father all the time. As Marcela Christine Lucero-Trujillo mentions, “machismo is part of culture”: because the males are use to being the dominant leaders. Like in the film, A Crushing Love my mother is a woman that works hard while having to still comes home and continue to handle the family. My father has never liked my mother working full time because he felt challenged with the idea of my mother being independent and did not like that she was not home as often but with time he learned to cope with it.

Furthermore, in one of the picture in the collage, there is a picture of my entire family together at my high school gradation in 2013. In our home, we valued education because my parents were able to provide us with the education they never had growing up in their native countries. With their support and motivation I was able to go on to college and pursue a career to become an educated Chicana/Latina. However, like in most Chicano families my parents implemented rules, traditions, and beliefs for my siblings and I to follow. They made sure for us to follow the rules they told us such as being respectful to everyone and religious beliefs. I was raised in catholic home where my parents made us go to church every Sunday as kids. Since my family is mostly composed of females, our parents were very protective with us because they wanted us to be safe and protect us from all harm. Despite the family structured challenges, every family shares different dynamics, social, and culture issues within themselves. In Chicana/o Latina/o families constantly have to deal with the obstacles of living in a patriarchal ideologies and gender structures family. My photo collage demonstrates how my family is the most important thing in my life including the picture of my dog Missy who is also a big part of my family. Although my family may have some challenges among them, they continue to be what I value most in life because family is forever.