Education and family heritage
The school system is the same as anywhere else in the United States. Louisiana's universities are highly regarded and attract many students from other states and from abroad (especially the Caribbean) because of the quality of the French-language courses of study (University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus) or the classical courses. Nevertheless, the state suffers from a general lack of education, especially among the less privileged populations. School dropout and illiteracy are scourges that the Louisiana government is working to combat through various educational programs.
Although parents have less influence on their children's schooling, they take great care to pass on to them the best of Louisiana's heritage: a love of the country and its landscapes, a taste for large family gatherings where cooking and music play an essential role. The grandparents try to pass on the French language, even if the younger ones do not see the need to speak the language outside the home. For many fathers, especially in South Louisiana, going away with their sons for a weekend of fishing or hunting in the swamps is very customary. Finally, young Louisianans are very early sensitized to music. There are countless young Cajun music groups that maintain this heritage with great pride.
At work
Louisiana's labor force consists of over 2 million people with an unemployment rate that stands at 6.9% as of June 2021 (the national average is 5.4%). In some areas of the state, such as New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, unemployment stands at 8.9 percent, the highest percentage of any major metropolitan area in Louisiana. It must 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 with very low salaries, in order to get by.
Social protection
It is the federal government's responsibility and it is traditionally limited in the United States. The issue of state support for the health care 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 a welfare society, 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 receive public assistance such as Medicare, for people over 65 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 beginning of his term in 2016. However, most citizens must purchase private medical insurance plans. The same is true for pensions, which are extremely low in the public sector. The funded system, which uses investment funds, is the most common. 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
Since Louisiana is located in the so-called Bible Belt, a group of very conservative states with a strong evangelical Protestant base, it is not surprising to learn that it scores very low on equality and opportunity for all, with policies and legislation targeting the LGBTQ2 community conspicuous by their absence. That said, the cities of New Orleans and Shreveport have taken local initiatives, including addressing gender discrimination in employment and housing. While these two cities are more gay-friendly, the rest of the state is not quite so.
In New Orleans, the LGBTQ2 community ostentatiously displays its rainbow flags, especially on the Lavender Line. It actively contributes to the vitality and restoration of the historic center. It is very well accepted and attracts many members of the LGBTQ2 community from all over the country and organizes very popular events, such as the New Orleans Pride in June and the Southern Decadence during the 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 still try to understand the concept of the "garçonnière" found on the plantations or in town. Boys from good families would set up shop or entertain their mistresses in peace. The French Quarter kept this sulphurous reputation until the 1960s. A true "city of vice" for the right-thinking American society, it maintained a very active prostitution with flourishing brothels. This era is over, but today New Orleans still attracts many American tourists, because it symbolizes the tolerance towards freer morals.
Louisiana is one of the few states to have made gambling legal in its territory. Many casinos have flourished and helped boost the local economy, but not everyone likes gambling and some politicians are advocating a ban.
In general, rural areas are more conservative, both at the polls 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 walls. Puritanism? Perhaps. But the fact remains that expressing one's ideas is done with tact and respect.
