In respect of this, family relationships are typically very close. There is a general expectation placed upon Mexicans to be loyal and committed to their family by putting the interests of the family above their own. Close-knit family relations provide Mexicans with a network of security and support, particularly in times of need. This is especially relevant to the lower classes as the extended family can be crucial to helping an individual cope with hardships during difficult times.
Neighbours often play a large role in this way. Mexicans are generally very close with extended relatives from all different generations. They tend to mix and socialise a lot. The average Mexican household structure varies between social classes. Most households consist of the nuclear family alone, but multi-generational living is still common in both rural and urban areas. In cities, this usually occurs among lower classes due to economic necessity.
Traditionally, couples sought to have as many children as possible in accordance with Catholic standards. However, this has changed in contemporary times, especially in urban areas and among the middle and upper class, as contraception has become more socially acceptable and popular.
Today, the standard nuclear family size is between three and five people. Children are not always expected to move out of home when they come of age. Broadly speaking, Mexico is a very patriarchal culture, and men have more authority than women. Gender roles and dynamics vary by region, socioeconomic class and also between rural and urban areas.
In some traditional households, mothers will also answer to their adult sons. There are a few female-headed households in Mexico. While machismo is generally not as strong in Mexico as it can be in other Latin American countries, men are expected to be masculine, self-reliant and dominant under these cultural standards. Meanwhile, the ideal for women is heavily influenced by the iconography of Roman Catholicism. The Virgin Mary or the Mexican Virgin of Guadalupe symbolises the epitome of femininity that Mexican women are expected to follow and embody.
