Job Discussion Forums

[Guy Courchesne]

I don't have 10, but maybe we can come up with a list.

One of the top misconceptions I had about Mexico, and perhaps picked up from US pop culture, is that Mexicans are lazy. I've met some huevones but for the most part, I've been impressed by how hard-working people are, and how much pride they put into work.

[john_n_carolina]

[GueroPaz]

Generally, Mexicans are hard workers. Those who migrate to the USA or Canada are especially motivated, and work even harder. My old houseboy migrated from Honduras through Central America to Chiapas, paused for a year or two, and continued on to Houston. The lure of high wages and white skinned women kept him moving north.

[notamiss]

When I read the U.S. discourse on Mexicans, I feel as though most of it almost completely ignores the fact that there are Mexicans, a Mexican culture, and a whole country of Mexico that exist outside the United States.

This one seems to be held as much by Mexicans (in the U.S.) as by others. All Mexicans are brown. Everyone who is not Mexican is white.

[john_n_carolina]

[MELEE]

There is hot sunny beach weather all the time in all of the country!

When I've returned to the US for a visit in the past, people often say to me, "well you're not very tan."

[MO39]

[Phil_K]

Coming from Europe:

...that Mexico is, as a latin country, in South America, and that N. America stops at the US border (Central America doesn't exist!)

Proof? I went to the Robbie Williamd concert at the Foro Sol, and he said "I hope to come back to S. American very soon"

So? what's that to us?

Footnote: It is said that around 95% of Mexico is in N. America, and that anything East of the Strait of Tehuantepec is in Central America for geographical (look at the map!) and cultural (Mayan) reasons...

Discuss.

[Phil_K]

[TheLongWayHome]

[Phil_K]

I think another problem is that they are creatures of habit as well. To change a routine, skip a lunch break, eat a big meal in the evening etc doesn't come into the equation.

[Prof.Gringo]

I think that the Mexican immigrants in the US are especially motivated to work. They have come a long ways, usually by crossing the border illegally, avoiding the border patrol, paying off a smuggler etc... Coming back to Mexico is something that they often wait years to do, after having saved money or achieved a financial goal.

Mexicans here have explained to me that they are more willing to work a manual labor job or clean toilets all day or flip burgers while working in the US for US wages. the same people would never do such work here in Mexico, because its "beneath" them.

I don't think that people here are any harder working than other people. Its a matter of incentive. As long as the corruption and low wages exist here and the safety valve of illegal migration and the remittances keep coming back to Mexico the Federal Mexican government and the upper class are never going to change a thing. Americans won't work jobs that require hard work and low pay while there are those who are willing to come from other countries and take such work. If fast food jobs paid $15.00 an hour (like they did in New Orleans after Katrina) than Americans would have no problem taking those jobs. And if Mexico provided for its citizens instead of increasing corruption and the profits for a few, Mexicans would stay here and work to improve Mexico.

American businesses like to have cheap labor and an entire under class that are oppressed and abused right in the US. Nothing like being able to say "Made with pride in the USA" with the sweat and hard work of underpaid, and oft abused migrant workers, Mexican and otherwise.

[Prof.Gringo]

Oh...yeah. Some other misconceptions about Mexico.

1. Mexico is incredibly dangeorous. Kidnapping occurs all the time.
2. There are a lot of street gang members in Mexico (like in Los Angeles).
3. Mexicans consume a lot of drugs because so many are shipped to the US from Mexico.
4. Cinco de Mayo is Mexican independence day.
5. Everyone takes a siesta in the afternoon.
6. All Mexicans are brown.
7. All Mexicans are poor (except the drug traffickers).
8. Mexicans still ride burros (seriously).
9. All Mexicans are Catholic.
10. All Mexicans love hot sauce, salsa and hot food.
11. Burritos are Mexican cuisine.
12. Mexico doesn't have a functioning legal system.

[Phil_K]

I was doing an adjective exercise once, which involved finding a different adjective to describe people from various countries. British (cold) , Australians (vulgar), Americans (superficial)...(totally un-PC I know, but it wasn't mine, it was in a book). The student was a very educated person (Doctorate in Mathematics) and I asked him, "What about Mexicans?"

.... "Lazy!"

[TheLongWayHome]