Mixteca Family Structure

Mixteca family structure consists of the nuclear family. This is composed of the father, mother, and children. When the sons marry they will move onto their parents' property or somewhere nearby. Once parents grow old they often will move in with one of their sons and his family. If parents pass away then their brothers and sisters may move in as well. This is also true for orphaned neices or nephews.
The structure is patriarchal. The father is in charge of the decision-making and support of the family. He also works the family's parcel of land, looks after the animals, and may hire himself out as an agricultural or other wage worker. The mother is to take care of her husband, children, and home. They may at times also help out the men in the fields. Due to migration traditional family patterns and gender roles have changed. Women are finding themselves on their own for long stretches of time and so they have started to take on previously male roles.
Tequio means "service to the community". It is traditionally required of all men. It has become more common for women to stay at home to fulfill tequio.

Info and picture taken from: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~mixtec/about.html#family

 

 

The Mixteca also have a hierarchical family structure. In the case that there is extra money the needs of the adults are attended to first, then the children's needs. The younger children are also to obey their older siblings whether they are still in the same household or not. Nonetheless there is cooperation and sharing of workload depending on each individual's role. Although individualism is valued, connection to ones family and village is very important.

 

Above info taken from: http://www.sandiego.edu/esl/teaching/cultures/mixtec/mixtec_bk.html