Maria Araceli Lua

1. I interviewed my mother, Maria Araceli Lua (maiden name Maria Araceli Huerta). She was born in Guadalajara, Mexico on December 9, 1969. She grew up in a working class family migrated to the USA at age 3. Although she grew up in the United States she identifies herself as being Mexican with Mexican culture. 
2. I think that my thoughts during the interview would have been completely different had I not been interviewing my mother. I was definitely comfortable throughout the entire interview. I never experienced awkwardness. I actually laughed a few times because my mom had trouble remembering close relative's names. Had I not been interviewing my mom I would of never known that she forgot to mention a relative. I wouldn't have felt as comfortable as I did and I would of definitely been more nervous. 
3. When my interviewee was young, she migrated with her family to the United States. Her mother is the only person who didn't stay in Mexico (that is, all of her mother's siblings still live in Mexico). Her father is an only child. Therefore Maria would only see her extended family when she went to Mexico for vacation. She was very close to her parents and siblings. Thus I wouldn't say there is an emphasis on either maternal or paternal lines. The biggest age difference between her siblings is about 7 years so they don't really have different attitudes towards each other. Maria talks to her parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, which are all older, with more respect than she would with younger family members. The older generations tend to be larger but the newer generations tend to be smaller. Her father is an only child but that is because his parents were never in a relationship, they just had a child together. Had they been together, they would of probably had a large family since that was common back then. There are no ethnic differences, as of now everyone in the family is Mexican. 
4. I do know my relatives from both my mom and dad's side of the family well. I do socialize equally with them, besides the two aunts on my dad's side that live in Mexico. In my family my mom has the most influence in decisions made. Mainly because my dad is more passive and since  they are the parents she ends up making the decisions. Family members that have been part of the family through marriage for a long time don't get treated differently. Although, the newly added members of the family do get treated differently. Yes there are different attitudes towards family members based upon gender. Women in the family are supposed to be good daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers. While the men are treated like macho men. Family members are content with the women in our family being receptionists or a job of that sort. While the men are expected to have job, mainly laborious, that make good money. I have learned that my family fits the stereotypical Mexican family. We are a big family in which most members still believe in gender norms. I realized that our family has been split apart in several different generations because of our locations. My grandmother left her family when she came to the United States. I also have two aunts on my fathers side that left the US to go back to Mexico. If we all lived closer together, my family would seem much larger.