Effects of work experiences in the United States on work attitudes of Mexican immigrants

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the work experiences and attitudes of Mexican immigrants as they transitioned into jobs in the United States. The sample was composed of nine Mexican-born adults who had settled and worked in suburban Atlanta. Narratives for each participant were developed, and a Chicano writing style was used to preserve the meaning of interview data gathered in Spanish. The narratives were then inductively analyzed using a multi-step matrix technique to determine the emerging themes. Participants were found to value work, not for its intrinsic worth, but because it provides the means of obtaining things. The participants were focused on upward mobility, and cultural upbringing minimized their view on injustice and exploitation. Although participants enjoyed work better in Mexico, their sense of having no future in Mexico and the low wages earned there convinced them that work in the United States was better.