Overcoming Racism and Barriers to Counseling in Asian and Native Americans Both Asian Americans and Native Americans have faced oppression and discrimination for over two-hundred years (Hays and Erford, 2014). In this paper, I will identify how a counselor can reduce the effects of racism and discrimination that has affected Asian and Native Americans. Additionally, I will address what role a counselor plays in reducing the stigma of mental illness within both Asian and Native American’s community. Furthermore, I will highlight how the reading material from your textbook aligns with the issues presented in the videos, Asian American/Pacific Islanders and Mental Health and The Mental Health of Native Americans as well as how these issues …show more content…
In my opinion, one way to reach Asian Americans is to meet with the Asian church leaders and attend services to build rapport within the community. Furthermore, in the Asian community, a counselor can connect those in need with resources such as language or employment services (Hoang, 2008). Native Americans acculturate on different levels, from non-English speaking and traditional to fully immersed into the United States norms (Hays and Erford, 2014). Like Asian Americans, Native Americans also value to mind-body, harmony, and balance spiritual beliefs (Hays and Erford, 2014). Moreover, Native Americans show respect to their Native elders, not unlike the Asian’s familial respect for the elderly family members (Hays and Erford, 2014). In my opinion, one way to reach Native Americans is in the form of elementary school outreach directed at Native American children. A counselor could discover a resource they need and help the family attain help. Even though Native Americans may distrust the Caucasian race, with purposeful, genuine caring and the desire to help cannot be overlooked.
Textbooks Readings and Videos
The material in our textbook goes into detail regarding both Asian and Native American history, what laws affected the groups, culture, acculturation, and guidelines for counseling both populations. The
This may seem beneficial for Asian Americans at first; however, the model minority myth is actually detrimental to many segments of the population. This is especially true of recent immigrant Asian Americans. These individuals become deprived of resources because they are expected to have the same level of success as Asian Americans who have already lived in the U.S. for generations. Even in academia, the model minority myth causes Asian Americans to be understudied and misunderstood. Because Asian Americans are perceived to be successful and well-integrated individuals, Lee et al. (2001) show how there is “not enough research” that investigates Asian American mental health (160). In other words, even though some current data show higher rates of mental illness among Asian Americans, the model minority myth has distracted scholars from studying Asian American mental health. Thus, to ensure that Asian
Over the year?s minorities have been treated differently in America. There was a point in time when people did not understand people of color and even made assumptions about them. Because of this systemic factors have been established both in the mental health and education system. Counselors had their own perception
I totaly agree you. As an Asian American, I have to say that is true. No women want to say their family is unhappy. We try to hide and cover it with smile face to the public but close the door we may cry. I was taught that domestic shame should not be made public. We may only show the good things to the public. Therefore, as a professional nurse, first thing to establish rapport with Asian Americans is necessary. otherwise, it would be mission impossible to real find the truth aboout
Supporters of affirmative action argue that discrimination and racism have held down minorities in the U.S., and that affirmative action is needed to correct it. In response, critics ask: "If blacks and Mexicans are being held down by discrimination, then why do Asians come to this country and do so well for themselves?" According to this myth, Asians immigrate to America with little or nothing, often as boat people fleeing communism, and through hard study and work become even more successful than European-Americans. Their success would suggest that the U.S. does not really discriminate against minorities.
Racism against African Americans and other ethnicities is still prevalent in our society. Salis (2015) mentions a recent poll of Caucasian and African Americans and found that sixty percent of those surveyed felt racial relationships ha vent improved and forty percent felt they were worse. In this paper, I will identify how a counselor can reduce the effects of racism and discrimination that has affected African Americans. Additionally, I will address what role a counselor plays in reducing the stigma of mental illness within the African American community. Furthermore, I will highlight the legal and ethical issues identified in the video
Native Americans have experienced a “historical trauma” that is characterized by enduring a history of institutional racism and discrimination by the dominant culture in America (Hays & Erford, 2014). Even today, Native Americans are being forced to assimilate or abandon their rich cultural heritage through the policies of our nation. With these ongoing discriminatory actions, counselors have a unique opportunity to lessen the effects of racism and discrimination that impact Native Americans. According to the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), counselors have the ethical responsibility to advocate for people who are faced by systemic oppression and discrimination. In our text, Hays and Erford (2014) suggest facilitating opportunities to advocate for Native people by raising social awareness by educating the masses through writing articles, disseminating educational materials, and even facilitating cultural sensitivity training programs in the community. Counselors may even empower Native people to advocate for themselves, drawing from the strengths of the community.
Affirmative action has been viewed as an effective tool for rectifying the inequalities of racism in our country’s past. It is a set of procedures intended to eliminate the discrimination of an applicant based on their ethnic origin. President John F. Kennedy first introduced the concept “broadly across the United States with his Executive Order number 10925” and “in 1978 the Supreme Court ruled that race could be used as an admission standard” (Wilcher). The utilization of race is a “plus factor” for minority races but it has developed into a disadvantage for Asian-American students who demonstrate academic excellence. They often find their achievements overlooked because of their racial background (Bronner). Although affirmative action
The reading material from my textbook aligns with the issues presented in the video on Mental Health of Native Americans. The video talks about reconnecting adults and youths back into their culture. One issue is that American Indians have a low success rate academically. American Indian children often distrust European American which makes it difficult for cross cultural counseling. According to Baruth & Manning (2012), American Indian adolescents will end up being counseled by European American counselors because there are few American Indian counselors. The video states that there is high use of substance abuse, suicide, and dropout rates for American Indians. The textbook list suicide, alcohol abuse and other substance abuse, and high school and college drop-out rates as being potential problems American Indian adolescents may experience
Another difficulty many Native American students are faced with is high absent rates. “In 2005 Native American eighth graders had the highest rate of absences of any race or ethnic group in the preceding month- 66 % of Native American students had been absent, and 30 % had been absent three of more times in the past month.” (Doak 37) It boils down to the fact that students need to be in school to succeed in school. These absences can be attributed to a uninviting school setting. Often times Native American students are overlooked in classrooms in favor of other students who are seem more likely to do well. A school environment that is unwelcoming can be a strong deterrent for any student. These students need to feel that their education is helping them, and that it is worthwhile.
Native Americans have been neglected, abused, and tormented since the 1700’s when their land was abruptly invaded by Europeans. Europeans declared this “unknown” territory to be their property from then forward and did anything and everything to make sure this would happen. This included forced assimilation, where Natives were stripped of their cultural traditions and forced to assimilate to an english speaking, westernized culture (McLeigh, 2010). This included taking children from their families and sending them to boarding school to learn a new language, new cultural traditions, and new religious practices. Starting in 1860 and lasting until 1970, children were taken from their families at a young age and often lost touch with their family
The Native Indian history of violence and debasement changed their views and self-image as well. This change later affects how they adapt to American culture and education after being dissuaded from embracing their own for so long. The violence and indifference shown towards the Native Americans during the “Trail of Tears” contributed greatly to this change. In this dreadful journey, Natives of all kinds were forced off
The pain and the suffering, the oppression, and the exclusion all describe the history of Asia America. When they arrived to the United States, they become labeled as Asians. These Asians come from Japan, China, Korea, Laos, Thailand, and many other diverse countries in the Eastern hemisphere. These people wanted to escape from their impoverished lives as the West continued to infiltrate their motherland. They saw America as the promise land filled with opportunity to succeed in life. Yet due to the discrimination placed from society and continual unfair
Many Native Americans are unaware of opportunities that are available due to the isolation that they face on reservations. In 1992 only seventy-eight percent of Native Americans received a high school diploma. This makes Native Americans the least likely of all minority groups, besides Hispanics, to obtain a high school degree. One main reason for Native Americans being unable to obtain a high school diploma is having to leave school to get a job. If a member of their family faces an illness or disability that causes them to be unable to work, the younger members of the family are going to need to help provide for the family. In many cases there is not a disability or illness, Native Americans have very poor wages and are unable to survive on only two incomes. Only eleven percent of Native Americans continues on to college after high school and receives a degree. Being a minority student automatically gives Native Americans a
As the immigrant population currently projected to overtake latinxs and hispanics as largest group of residents in the United States of America, Asian Americans have shown their will to survive in a way that many groups have not, and that is by banding together in order to achieve the life they deserve. Taking the overgeneralization of pan-ethnicity and using it as a device for increased numbers and support for the causes of a group of people who otherwise may not have much to do with each other, is a testament to how vulnerable they must have felt as well as how successful they have managed to be many aspects of progress. What I have gained from this course is the understanding that at the root of ethnic studies and the Asian American community is the “for us, by us” sentiment that contributed to the blurred lines between the different part of their communities as social, political and cultural, structures, collectives and groups which came out of an obligation and necessity to protect those immigrants and their future generations from a country which has always pushed European superiority in all aspects of society.
The modern American society is best defined by its education. The “American dream” is founded on going to school, getting a good job, and becoming successful. Ironically, the actual native peoples of this country are actually the least likely to attain this dream. The largest obstacle they face is lack of proper education. The standard educational practices being used for the instruction of Native American peoples is not effective. There are many pieces to this road-block, and many solutions. This can be rectified by having more culturally aware teachers and parents, and by teaching the general population more about the Native American cultures.