Advocacy for Diverse Clientele Essay

Bell-Tolliver, L., Burgess, R., & Brock, L. J. (2009). African American therapists working with African American families: An exploration of the strengths perspective in treatment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 35(3), 293-307. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220979644?accountid=35812

Poverty stricken women are forced to live in communities with high crime and drug activity, increased unemployment and poor education school system. These adversities affect African American women at larger degrees throughout her lifetime. African American women are more likely to become a teen mother compared to other groups of women (Ukockis, 2016). This will place her at risks for economic hardships and physical, mental and emotional abuse.

Working Title An exploration of the socio-cultural and socio-economic discriminations faced by North African American women. Disciplines: - History, Sociology, and Psychology - First, to understand the origins of those discriminations, the discipline of history will be involved in this essay. Indeed, to better understand the social issue, it is important to understand the history that creates this issue.

On this day our guest speakers were a group of community activist, mental health workers, and a few professors. For the hour we discussed intersectional systems of oppression that affect black women (and people of color), ways as activist that we may combat these inequalities, and the psychological impact of unbalanced power structures create for the individual.The discussion was thought-provoking; as always, however I found myself in a conundrum.

The Strong Black Woman schema is linked to an increased risk of psychological distress among African-American women and effects emotional regulation which could result in greater susceptibility for depression (Watson & Hunter, 2015). Consistent with findings on the Strong Black Woman schema, African American women are less likely to seek psychological services to manage to distress. The Strong Black Woman scheme incorporates a belief that African American women should be strong and not portray weakness particularly when it concerns emotional difficulties; emotional difficulties such as neutral illness would indicate weakness and furthermore, sharing such personal and vulnerable information to individuals outside of the family is viewed as prohibited (Watson & Hunter, 2015). The resistance of African American women to seek help for psychological distress contributes to them being "often invisible, misdiagnosed, and ineptly treated" for mental illness (Walton & Gyewuwo-Gassikia,

There were thirty-eight African American women who participated in twenty questionnaires and eight interviews in the State of New York. To evaluate their responses the expectancy theory was used. There were two key findings in this study (a) even though the subjects identified ethnicity as a major stumbling block to advancement, they did not view gender as a serious barrier (b) these participants had very little problems establishing supportive relationships, mentors and sponsors, these are people who provide moral support and genuine

Family values and traditions are very important in maintaining social bonds in African American families. In addition, it is clear that African American families are matrifocal and matriarchal. Matrifocality is present in Burdy’s Bend – Miss Pearl is a great example – (Stack, 1996), in the film The Language You Cry In, and as discussed in Dr. Stevenson’s in class lecture (J. Stevenson, personal communication, November 18, 2013). The community members in Burdy’s Bend, all knew they could count on Miss Pearl whenever they needed help. As noted

In order to understand the meaning of what Patricia Hill Collins calls the matrix of domination it is necessary to consider how identity politics; such as civil rights, feminism, and the LGBT movement could be considered a response to domination. Domination are forms of power evident in control, exclusion, and discrimination. Patricia Hill Collins ‘ideas of intersectionality and the matrix of domination are important because they present an analysis claiming that systems of race, social class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, and age form mutually constructing features of social organization, which shape Black women’s experiences and, in turn, are shaped by Black women” (Collins, 2000). Collins focuses on the influences of intersectionality of Black women.

Black women were recruited for the study through web-based advertisements distributed through university listervs, social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and electronic mail. Women were also recruited through in-person solicitation and snowball sampling at the university and senior centers within the Houston area. Multiple means of sampling were employed in efforts to obtain a diverse sample of Black women in terms of socioeconomic status, age, sexual orientation, and other demographic characteristics. All women were told that they have an opportunity to take part in a study focused on Black women’s racial and gender identity and experiences and attitudes associated with Black womanhood. All women were provided with a web-based or one-page printed advertisement briefly outlining the study’s title, purpose, incentive, and necessary contact personnel. At the end of the web advertisement, women were provided with the link to the web-based survey. The print advertisement not only included the link to the web-based version of the survey, but also informed women of the potential for completing the survey in paper-and-pencil format.

Gladding in chapters 3, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 16 looks at working with culturally diverse, therapeutic approaches of psychodynamic, Bowen, Structural, Solution-Focused and Narrative Family Therapies, the ethical, legal and professional issues in family therapy and working with substance related disorders, domestic violence and child abuse. Multiculturalism is a term used “to refer to distinct cultural groups within a region or nation and their needs” (p. 55). In providing family therapy to culturally diverse families, it is essential for one to develop “openness to diversity and cultural competence” (p. 56). Additionally, the success of family therapy in working with the culturally diverse is dependent on factors including that of sensitivity, experience, acceptance, ingenuity, specificity and intervention. Accordingly, the influence and importance of extended family and kinship ties are essential considerations for working with culturally diverse families. In working with gay and lesbian families, family therapists need to remain open, and aware of their beliefs and biases associated with gay and lesbian lifestyles. Likewise, with African American families, therapists need to have an understanding of multigenerational family systems, and address social and institutional issues such as racism, poverty and discrimination which have adversely affected African Americans.

Growing up as a black female the images of women like us are controlled. Not only do we not fit the mold of the “good” or “ideal” woman, but when we do, we are told how we should look and what we should wear. Black women, their issues, and their differences are marginalized in order to keep hegemonic femininity intact. Through the use of the Rogers v. American Airlines case and the development of the black Barbie I will show examples of how the womanhood does not fit the mold of what a real woman should look like in the eyes of Western Society.

Black women in America are faced with many challenges. Sexual discrimination and outspoken anger were some of the oppressions that African-American women had to contend with. They were marginalized even on the political aspect. Nobody was ready to come to their rescue. They were marginalized and frustrated by claims about a universal sisterhood that was oppressive. They were discriminated along racial, ethnic, class and social lines drawing them as half-humans. They had to go through difficulties in their daily lives, but the challenges to some extent helped them become tough and strong. This paper will use information from the books Still Brave and Sister Citizen to bring out the oppression of the black women in America. The oppression is based on race, gender, and sexuality.

In conclusion, the fight for equality for black women have proven difficult throughout history because of their conflicting intersectionality. While black women have been steadfast in their battles for both racial and gender equality with both black men and white women; their efforts have been continually disregarded. Black women’s perseverance in these movements shows their dedications to those around them and issues relating to their wellbeing and that of their people.

Black Feminism has proven to have a profound effect on society’s history, and is now beginning to impact even more this day and age. Black feminism is broader than what comes to mind. It is an essential component of black struggle against oppression and authority. Generally Black feminism is used to empower and liberate black women. Throughout the years many liberals have tried to exclude and silence black feminist. Black feminist have demanded for social, economic and political equality, and desire a compatible and progressive vision of social justice (Freedman 2002). This is based on the historical and ongoing struggles against the race and gender of black women across America. It can be experienced within the home, in an occupational setting, in the communities, and more so within the culture. Today African women, especially those on college campuses have accepted feminism as representation for all women. Feminist perspectives seem to be appealing African female writers who present African life through the favored feminist ideologies of African male as overbearing and instinctive. Feminism has always looked to influence popular culture by its presence and by its persistent demands to be recognized as the official voice of all women. Black feminism nowadays is somewhat based off of things that are seen through the eyes of poor women, women of immigration, and lesbian women. The struggle of black feminist comes from black women not only being equal to black

Audrey a 47-year-old, African American, heterosexual, and female identified client, referred by her church for major depressive symptoms after her daughter left home. Audrey explained her family structure as complicated diverse group of individuals. I noticed in our first few weeks of therapy she described her family in some detail, I felt this idea could assist in creating a treatment plan for Audrey in efforts to cope with her daughter leaving home. Understanding Audrey’s family structure will give her the opportunity to bridge the gap between her immediate family such as, her husband and daughter Sharonda. I acknowledged from our sessions that Audrey may feel isolated and abandoned by her family. She explained her relationship with her husband