Make Generalizations When it Comes to Culture

Whenever the endeavor to discuss culture is undertaken, one has to engage in generalizations. If I said, for example, because of the machismo factor, the masculine cult, in Mexico, Mexican men won't cry when they are upset, it would most certainly be a generalization. If I said, Mexican culture is group-oriented and not individual-oriented like we Americans, that would also be a generalization. Not every Mexican man without exception ascribes to the Machismo mindset and not every Mexican without exception is group-oriented. There are always exceptions. However, when discussing culture, there are certain generalizations, you might even say stereotypes, about cultures that must be made in order to express sometimes-accurate folk wisdom about a social reality. There are certain "social realities" that must be expressed in generalizations.

What is interesting about the quote I have included above is, culturally this is so typical for an American to demand a "disclaimer" when one makes perfectly legitimate generalizations. The root of this is that Americans, generally speaking as a culture, cannot stand ambiguities. This is because an ambiguity creates a contradiction. Americans cannot stand this. This is, by the way, is something Mexicans culturally do not understand about Americans. Why do Americans become all bent out of shape over a simple ambiguity? An ambiguity, so a Mexican might reason, will work itself out if it is meant to.

Americans email me and sometimes ream me out for making "such broad sweeping statements." They often have meltdowns over something that seems a bit vague. Even as I write this, I feel I have to make disclaimers to keep my inbox from filling up with diatribes. Mexicans rarely understand the anger Americans display over contradictions, ambiguities, or generalizations.

You cannot possibly talk about cultural differences without engaging in generalizations. It is impossible. The only group of people who seem to fall apart over this consists of Americans. They seem to want you to point them out as individuals (another cultural affectation) and say, "Oh, while such and such might be true, there certainly are exceptions to this issue." It can become positively tiring and it should be unnecessary.

I wonder if some Americans who read an anthropology, ethnographic, or cultural analysis text send emails to the authors demanding they stop making generalizations? Probably.

What Americans have done in Mexico, in the Prime Living Locations to which they've traditionally been attracted, is essentially created sub-cultures. There are certain "social realities" that can be expressed in generalizations that describe these Gringo Enclaves or Sub-cultures. Some are positive and some are negative stereotypes but are all essentially true. What can be said, and here comes a generalization—for those who need a disclaimer: NOT ALL AMERICAN EXPATS ARE LIKE THIS—these Americans do not learn Spanish. Now, while as a freelance writer I do not have the means to verify this on a statistical basis, there are academics with whom I am in contact who not only agree with my conclusions but who have grants to fund a scientific study to see how and why within this sub-culture (gringo enclaves) they do not learn Spanish as a something which might typify their behavior in Mexico as a social reality which courses through the Gringo sub-culture.

I am glad there are some American expats who do learn Spanish (how's that for acknowledgement: "I am American hear me roar!").

My wife and I are a couple of the exceptions: we speak Spanish. However, I can take you to the gringo enclave in this town and show you the "vast majority" (that was a sweeping generalization in case you missed it) in this town who do not. I could also take you to San Miguel de Allende and show you three things that prove my point exactly.

Number one is you will not have to utter one word of Spanish in this town. The Mexicans of San Miguel de Allende had to become bilingual because the Americans refused to learn Spanish. Thus, in order to serve this American Sub-Culture, the locals had to become bilingual. If you come, you will see for yourself. (This is also true in Puerto Vallarta.)

Number two is, according to the locals, the number of Gringos who do speak Spanish in SMA is very small. There are some. Again, I also get hate mail from SMA Gringos chiding me for my "sweeping generalizations." They want some sort of disclaimer-acknowledgement that they are the exceptions.

Thirdly is to talk to the locals. Ask them about how many of the gringos they think speak Spanish? "Casi nada" is what you will hear—almost none!

In addition, if I were making false sweeping generalizations, you could go into the Prime Living Locations in Mexico and find the gringos speaking Spanish on a massive scale instead of English. You would not find the Mexicans necessarily bilingual on a massive scale. There would have been no need for the Mexicans to learn English. There would have been no need to create an American enclave since the Expats would naturally live in Mexican neighborhoods. They would have been absorbed into the culture through the linguistic doorway or portal. However, the reality is when you come to these towns, it is like going to a resort in America. All you will hear is English.

The Social Reality of the generational Gringo sub-culture within the Prime Living Locations is that they do not learn Spanish. Why should they, they will tell you so to your face, when all the Mexicans speak English?

To the few who have put in the hard work to learn the language, I commend and congratulate you. To those who have lived in these Gringo sub-cultures in Lake Chapala, Ajijic, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and San Miguel who have the attitude, "Why should I learn Spanish when those who work for me have to adapt to me and speak English." – Shame on you!

The social reality, which can be summed up in a generalization, is that Gringos generally and typically will not learn Spanish.

Come see me in Guanajuato and I will show you.

See you soon?