What Young Sexually Active Latino Face in Society

Assignment #2

There are many issues that young latino/a youth may experience in regards to being sexually

active. Negative consequences may arise from being sexually active such as being shunned by society

in which they are a part of. The latino culture plays a big role in creating norms and values in which

young latino/as are expected to follow. Sexually active Latinos/as also may run into issues regarding

their own self wellness. According to Marcela Raffaelli and Lenna L. Ontai's article, "Compared to

other ethnic groups in the USA, Latino populations are at high risk for negative sexual outcomes,

including unplanned pregnancy and HIV/AIDS infection." The latino/a culture looked upon pre-marital

sex as taboo and that puts a huge burden on the latina females. According to the article by Patricia

Zarella, the "social meaning of sexual practices is culturally constructed."

Parental Communication plays a role in the sexual choices that latina/os make. With good

communication, it can make it more clear on what is expected of the child and it helps keep them better

grounded. Communication may also promote a stronger bond between the child and the family, which

may further discourage the child from doing anything that will hurt the family. Lack of communication,

however, may discourage the child from talking to their parents about issues that are troubling them.

For example, in the movie "Quinceniera", the daughter Magdelea has refrained from mentioning her

boyfriend to her family members and it has led to destructive outcomes between her family and her

boyfriend. With more communication with the family, Magdelea may have made better decisions in

regards to her actions with her boyfriend, and she probably would not have left the house. The lack of

communication in the past may have influenced why her father did not believe her and automatically

jumped to the conclusion that she slept with the boy.

The sexual choices that latino/as make may be influenced by the judgement and perception of

others. Their actions may impact the reputation of themselves and their family. In latino cultures, the

family image and reputation is extremely important and it is considered a terrible thing when that

reputation is tainted. In the movie "Quiceniera", the father disowned his own daughter when he found

out she was an unwedded pregnant teenager and didn't even bother to hear what she had to say. This

shows how much the family reputation meant to him and he was willing to disown his own daughter to

protect that family reputation. Also, the decisions latino/as make may cause them to be shunned by the

environment around them. Their own reputation may be ruined and it may affect their future in regards

to their self-esteem, well-being, future goals, etc.

There are external systems of oppression that influence the sexualities of young latino/a youths.

One of the systems that youths get burdened on is the church because the church discourages youths

from participating in behaviors that the church finds deviant. The church is very important in some

latino/a cultures. Following the ways of the church may bring honor to the latino/a families and plays a

role in the family image. The family reputation is also considered important in the community in which