ABSTRACT
The Chicano family has generally been viewed as forming a totally patriarchal situation characterized by the unquestioned and absolute supremacy of the husband and the absolute self-sacrifice of the wife. Since very few systematic and empirical studies have been done on the Chicano family, many social scientists have merely relied on their own ethnocentric misconceptions of machismo and other aspects of Chicano culture and created a distorted view of the Chicano family. This chapter discusses decision-making, household chores, and attitudes towards machismo. One of the major implications of the present study is that the findings call into question the previously held assumptions of the Chicano family as being a completely patriarchal system. In future research, Chicano family structure should not be seen as exhibiting certain patterns only because of adherence to a particular culture, but as a result of interaction with many different factors or as a reponse to certain conditions.
