Esperanza: an ethnographic study of a peasant community in Puerto Rico

Buitrago Ortíz, Carlos

Book

Esperanza: an ethnographic study of a peasant community in Puerto Rico

University of Arizona Press • (50) • Published In 1977 • Pages: xii, 217

By: Buitrago Ortíz, Carlos.

Abstract
This is a study of the small rural community of Esperanza, part of the municipality of Arecibo in the northern part of Puerto Rico. Esperanza was chosen as the subject of this work since it provides an example of a mid-twentieth century traditional society, exhibiting features that have disappeared or are in the process of disappearing from other communities on the island. This study attempts to throw some light on several questions intimately related to the structure of the Puerto Rican family, such as whether or not there is one pattern or more than one pattern in the structure of the rural family, and what the relationship is between these patterns and such other factors as occupation and religion (p. 4). In addition, Buitrago Ortíz attempts to provide a background against which social change in Puerto Rico can be compared and studied. Data presented in this work relate to ecology and economy, the household, life cycle events, the kinship system, kin conflicts, marriage, religion, social stratification, and community-government relations.

Life history materials

Production and supply

Social relationships and groups

Ingroup antagonisms

Arranging a marriage

Nuptials

Special unions and marriages

Household