Ejercicio de los roles parentales en un contexto de emigración entre México y Estados Unidos

Abstract

This article, which is based on field work, shows that the absence of an international emigrant father does not mean that the children will grow without a paternal figure. Throughout the experience of families in a Mexican rural locality a dynamic is analyzed, which involves three generations -grandparents, parents, grandchildren- and allows the paternal role to be adopted by different persons. In order that this dynamic is possible, these families loosen the traditional assignation of the parental role, and involve the grandparents, the siblings and the father himself in activities and behavior proper to the father. Therefore, this group of people educates and provides material goods to the children, and supplies the parental bond to them.