MEXICAN FARMWORKER WOMENS PERSPECTIVES ON DRINKING IN A MIGRANT COMMUNITY

Alcohol use in farmworker communities has not been investigated to any extent. The literature on alcohol consumption and farmworkers is virt ually nonexistent. This case study provides information on drinking pa tterns and problems in a Mexican farmworker community in Northern Cali fornia. The focus is on Mexican farmworker women's perspectives on dri nking in a specific social context: A migrant farmworker housing cente r. Male responses are provided as a basis for comparison and contrast. The study examines issues related to driving under the influence, pub lic versus private space, and the centrality of considerations regardi ng children/youth in setting acceptable parameters for drinking. Data collection consisted of observations and 29 interviews of men (13) and women (16) farmworkers over a 6-month period in 1991. We found that m ost of the women in the camp abstain from drinking. They define male d rinking as a problem when 1) youth are allowed and encouraged to drink , 2) an increase of individuals driving under the influence in the hou sing center becomes evident, and 3) when drinkers serve as poor role m odels for youth.