Education and family heritage
The school system is the same as anywhere else in the United States. Louisiana's universities are highly regarded, attracting many students from other states and from abroad (particularly the Caribbean), thanks to the quality of their French-language courses (University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus) and their traditional curricula. Nevertheless, the state as a whole suffers from an educational deficit, particularly among the less privileged populations. Dropping out of school and illiteracy are scourges that the Louisiana government is committed to combating through various educational programs.
While parents have less influence on their children's schooling, they take great care to pass on the best of Louisiana's heritage: a love of the country and its landscapes, and a taste for large family gatherings where cooking and music play an essential part. The grandparents try to pass on the French language, even if the younger ones don't see the point of speaking it outside the home. For many fathers, especially in south Louisiana, it's customary to take their sons away for a weekend of fishing or hunting in the swamps. Finally, young Louisianans are exposed to music from an early age. There are countless young Cajun music groups who maintain this heritage with great pride.
At work
Louisiana's labor force numbers over 2 million, with an unemployment rate of 4% as of June 2024 (the national average is 4.10%). In some regions of the state, such as New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, the unemployment rate is the highest of all the major Louisiana metropolitan areas. It has to be said that disparities in equal opportunity are still prevalent, and these unemployment rates also mask another reality: that of job insecurity. Indeed, a considerable number of American citizens have to hold several jobs, often at very low wages, in order to get by.
Social protection
This is the responsibility of the federal government, and is traditionally limited in the United States. The issue of state support for the healthcare system - "Obama Care" in 2012 - has provoked heated debate. Conservative Republicans are extremely hostile to federal government intervention, and fiercely oppose the idea of a public welfare system, which they believe would only lead to the creation of a society of welfare recipients, taking advantage of an overly generous system and unwilling to work. This is the prevailing view in the largely Republican-led South.
Specific categories of the population benefit from public aids such as Medicare, for the over-65s or disabled, or Medicaid, for the indigent, which Governor John Bel Edwards has been careful to extend to more than 600,000 additional Louisianans since the start of his term in 2016. However, most citizens must subscribe to private medical insurance plans. The same applies to pensions, which are extremely low in the public sector. The funded system, involving investment funds, is the most widespread. There are also other assistance programs for those who qualify, such as food stamps and unemployment benefits, but there is no paid parental leave in most states, except for federal employees.
Sexual diversity
As Louisiana is located in the famous Bible Belt, a group of very conservative states where evangelical Protestantism reigns, it's hardly surprising to learn that it scores very low on equality and opportunity for all, its policies and legislation aimed at the LGBTQ+ community conspicuous by their absence. That said, the cities of New Orleans and Shreveport have taken local initiatives, notably against gender discrimination in employment and housing. While these two cities are more gay-friendly, this is not quite the case in the rest of the state.
In New Orleans, the LGBTQ+ community ostentatiously displays its rainbow flags, notably in Lavender Line. They are actively contributing to the vitality and restoration of the historic center. Very well accepted, it attracts many members of the LGBTQ+ community from all over the country and organizes very popular events, such as New Orleans Pride in June and Southern Decadence over Labor Day weekend (September).
Morals and conservatism
North Americans have always found the French influence in Louisiana, where morals were more liberal than elsewhere in the country, scandalous.
American tourists are still trying to understand the concept of the "garçonnière" found on plantations or in town. Boys from good families would set up or receive their mistresses in peace and quiet. The French Quarter retained this sultry reputation well into the 1960s. A veritable "city of vice" for right-thinking American society, it was home to a thriving prostitution industry and flourishing brothels. Those days are gone, but today New Orleans still attracts many American tourists, as it symbolizes tolerance towards freer morals.
Louisiana is one of the few states to have made gambling legal on its territory. Numerous casinos have flourished here, helping to boost the local economy, but gambling is not to everyone's taste, and some politicians are advocating a ban.
Generally speaking, rural areas are more conservative, both at the ballot box and on the streets. The north is more traditionally Baptist; discussing abortion in a café would not necessarily be welcome there. Sometimes, biblical and/or vengeful words decorate gardens or low walls. Puritanism? Perhaps. The fact remains that expressing one's ideas is done tactfully and respectfully.
