sis of the strongest bonds of blood ties. These bonds are much stronger than those of husbands and wives or fathers and children” (Horowitz, 1983, p.71). The mother is expected to be “the central and most stable feature” in her child’s life (Horowitz, 1983, p.72). “Mexico portrays the Virgin Mother as loving, dependable, and the person with whom the child satisfies desires for nurturing and acceptance” (Horowitz, 1983, p.71). This bond with the mother is life long. The birth mother is viewed as a responsible and respected source in a child’s life, whereas in the flats, the birth mother or a female relative can take upon that role. The father has a small yet effective role on the characterization of motherhood. In The Flats, the father has the choice of claiming the child as his. If he claims the child is not his, all his paternal duties are given to the mother. The mother is left to discipline and financially support her and her child. In some cases, “ “boyfriends” of the mother may assume the paternal duties of discipline and support”(Stack, 1974, p.51). If he claims paternity, the father usually pays part of the hospital bills and obtains the duties of discipline and support, leaving the mother’s duty to be the caretaker of the child; whereas in Mexican society, the father is “described as one of domination and control over his wife and daughters”(Horowitz, 1983, p.68). “Fathers are seen as rigid, closed, and distant”(Horowitz, 1983, p.68). The father leaves the bonding to the mother and just disciplines and supports the child. In The Flats, most mothers take on all the responsibilities, whereas in the Mexican society, the mother takes on the role only as the caretaker. The characterization of motherhood is established by many factors in both cultures. Society establishes an expected behavior of a woman before and after birth....
