Seeking a Better Life

Honduras is the second poorest country in Central American and also has one of the world’s highest murder rates.
Image Source: http://statue.havefive.site/bring-me-your-tired-your-poor-statue-of-liberty/

Suffer an extraordinary unequal distribution of income, very high underemployment, a high crime rate and 29% of the population is below the poverty line.  Honduras also suffers from bring a point for shipment of drugs and narcotics along with corruption.  (CIA, n.d.)  There are approximately 190,000 displaced people due to violence, extortion, threats and forced recruitment by urban gangs. (CIA, 2017)

Hofstede has Honduras with a power distance score of 80 showing that the people accept that there is a hierarchy to their lives and there is little that can change this.  They are a “we” society where being part of the group is essential to their livelihood.  This may also be seen in the recruitment to gangs for survival in the highly crime ridden country.  (Hofstede, n.d.)

Currently there are “nearly 1,000 Central American migrants” seeking to enter the United States through Mexico. (Linthicum & McDonnell, 2018) Many are from Honduras, seeking a better life, seeking work.  They are coming into Mexico by swimming, by raft and carrying their tired young children and their few possessions in plastic bags through the water.  Neither Mexico nor the United States wants them to continue their journey to America.  However, many are determined and vow to try again even if deported.

If they make it to America there are many differences they will experience in comparison to their home country.  As stated earlier the power distance in Honduras is 80, in comparison to a power distance of 40 in America.  Additionally, American has an individualist score of 91 where Honduras is only 20. (Hofstede, n.d.) The work and social experience of the new immigrants will reflect the views of America.  Where it is okay to be an individual and look out for your own well being beyond the groups.  Additionally, where there are many possibilities for you to move from where you are entering into in the American society to “live the American dream” of success and well-being.

These migrants stand at the gates on the border bridge desperately wanting to move forward with their lives, looking for a new beginning.  They have lived in fear of violence, drugs and gangs their entire lives.  As said before the underemployment rate is nearly one third for the population.  However, the United States is uneasy to allow in people who may still have gang or drug connections.  Washington does not see the violence in Honduras as a refugee issue and has rejected political asylum for these migrants.

We will have to wait to see what will come of this situation.  If these migrants are able to come to America and begin work, there will be many areas in the culture that they will need to adapt to in order to be successful.  It has been done by immigrants for many generations, adapting, overcoming and becoming successful, contributing members of the United States of America.

Linthicum, K., & McDonnell, P. (2018). Hundreds of Central Americans in caravan cross into Mexico. LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-migrant-caravan20181020-story.html

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country/honduras/

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/the-usa/

Image Source: http://statue.havefive.site/bring-me-your-tired-your-poor-statue-of-liberty/

Honduras is the second poorest country in Central American and also has one of the world’s highest murder rates.

Suffer an extraordinary unequal distribution of income, very high underemployment, a high crime rate and 29% of the population is below the poverty line.  Honduras also suffers from bring a point for shipment of drugs and narcotics along with corruption.  (CIA, n.d.)  There are approximately 190,000 displaced people due to violence, extortion, threats and forced recruitment by urban gangs. (CIA, 2017)

Hofstede has Honduras with a power distance score of 80 showing that the people accept that there is a hierarchy to their lives and there is little that can change this.  They are a “we” society where being part of the group is essential to their livelihood.  This may also be seen in the recruitment to gangs for survival in the highly crime ridden country.  (Hofstede, n.d.)

Currently there are “nearly 1,000 Central American migrants” seeking to enter the United States through Mexico. (Linthicum & McDonnell, 2018) Many are from Honduras, seeking a better life, seeking work.  They are coming into Mexico by swimming, by raft and carrying their tired young children and their few possessions in plastic bags through the water.  Neither Mexico nor the United States wants them to continue their journey to America.  However, many are determined and vow to try again even if deported.

If they make it to America there are many differences they will experience in comparison to their home country.  As stated earlier the power distance in Honduras is 80, in comparison to a power distance of 40 in America.  Additionally, American has an individualist score of 91 where Honduras is only 20. (Hofstede, n.d.) The work and social experience of the new immigrants will reflect the views of America.  Where it is okay to be an individual and look out for your own well being beyond the groups.  Additionally, where there are many possibilities for you to move from where you are entering into in the American society to “live the American dream” of success and well-being.

These migrants stand at the gates on the border bridge desperately wanting to move forward with their lives, looking for a new beginning.  They have lived in fear of violence, drugs and gangs their entire lives.  As said before the underemployment rate is nearly one third for the population.  However, the United States is uneasy to allow in people who may still have gang or drug connections.  Washington does not see the violence in Honduras as a refugee issue and has rejected political asylum for these migrants.

We will have to wait to see what will come of this situation.  If these migrants are able to come to America and begin work, there will be many areas in the culture that they will need to adapt to in order to be successful.  It has been done by immigrants for many generations, adapting, overcoming and becoming successful, contributing members of the United States of America.

Linthicum, K., & McDonnell, P. (2018). Hundreds of Central Americans in caravan cross into Mexico. LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-migrant-caravan20181020-story.html

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country/honduras/

https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/the-usa/