Team 6 _ Pakistani Americans
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Apr 3, 2024
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Exploring Cultures and Ethnic Groups in America
Team Members: Tori Saunders, Ethan Szpak, Dal’shanae Taylor and Kevin Tharrington
Ethnic group: Pakistani Americans
Important information for getting started:
∙
For EACH section you MUST INCLUDE WHERE you found your information (i.e. URL to the site where you got your information). Remember, you need this for EACH answer!
∙
You must
ALSO PUT YOUR NAME AT THE END of EACH section you completed
. This allows your instructor to see which group member completed what portion of the assignment.
∙
To complete this template LEAVE IN the topic (i.e. Describe your assigned ethnic group and their culture) AND required word count (i.e. minimum 100 words). Type your response UNDER that heading.
Section 1: Basic culture information:
Describe your assigned ethnic group and their culture.
(
minimum 100 words
) -
As you might expect, “Pakistani American” refers to individuals who have immigrated to America from any of the four major regions of Pakistan, as well as their descendants. While their
four major regions have a fairly broad scope of perspective, the majority of their population is united under Muslim faith. Other common traits shared between their subcultures include an emphasis on education among both men and women, with a heavily family-oriented mindset. They tend to form tightly knit communities, and many first-generation immigrants will readily and generously provide financial support to their family in America, their family in Pakistan, and
to charities benefitting their country of origin.
(word count - 107)
https://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Pakistani-Americans.html
Ethan Szpak
Discuss the family structure and gender roles of your ethnic group.
(
minimum 100 words
) -
The family structure and gender roles among Pakistani Americans often reflect a mix of traditional values and adaptations to American culture. In many Pakistani American families, there is a strong emphasis on family unity and respect for elders, with extended family members playing a significant role in upbringing and decision-making.
Gender roles within Pakistani American families can vary widely. While traditional patriarchal norms may still be present in some households, many Pakistani American women have also pursued higher education and careers, leading to a more equal division of labor within the family.
In some cases, Pakistani American women may experience pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, such as prioritizing family responsibilities over career ambitions. However, there is also a growing trend towards greater gender equality and empowerment within the community, with more women taking on leadership roles and challenging traditional norms.
(142) Kevin Tharrington
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jmmh/10381607.0013.101/--predictors-of-quality-of-life-for-
pakistani-americans?rgn=main;view=fulltext
Describe the role of animals/pets in your ethnic group.
(
minimum 80 words
) – Animals are an important part of people’s lives in Pakistan. They serve people such as transportation, food, and is also included in religious practices. Pakistan’s find it morally wrong to hunt animals strictly for game. They believe it is unethical to kill just for sport, so they raise majority of their meat. Pakistan's eat only Halal, which is a sanctified meat. They do not eat blood, porcine meat or Haram, which is non-sanctified meat. All forms of pork such as bacon and ham are forbidden. Most Pakistani food is curry based and spicy. Staples in the culture consist of a meat and vegetable curry with basmati rice. Pakistani food is high in salt and fat content. ( Word Count 115)
Tori Saunders
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/5/927#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20animals%20are%20an
%20integral,being%20part%20of%20religious%20practices
.
What are their traditions and holidays?
(
minimum 100 words
) - The main holidays Pakistani culture celebrates are Eid-ul-Fitr and Pakistan Day. Eid-ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, this is a holy month of fasting. The religious Eid
is a single day and Muslims are free to not participate in the fasting on this single day of the month. This holiday is a celebration of 29 of 30 days of fasting all of sunlight hours. From sunrise to sunset, they may only have water. Pakistan Day is a national holiday to celebrate the adoption of first constitution of Pakistan during the Dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. On March 23, 1956 Pakistan became the world’s first Islamic republic. This is celebrated by a parade and the president of Pakistan concludes a meeting with national awards and medals. (Word Count 134)
Tori Saunders
https://www.world-festivals.net/pakistan/pakistan-festivals.htm
What are the main social issues that impact your ethnic group?
(
minimum 100 words
)
The main social issues that impact Pakistanis are:
Poverty which is pretty common for a lot of places but Pakistan's economy fluctuates daily. 24.3% of their population lives below the poverty line. This is due to unchecked inflation, endemic corruption, breakdown of democracy, and not being able to manage their natural resources correctly.
Child Labor is something that I don’t necessarily believe is right but in Pakistan many children work to support their big families. In severe cases some children beg in the roads and on the streets This causes them to miss out on their dreams, education, & childhood. Child labor can also lead to childhood trauma. Illiteracy is also a social issue that they face. Pakistan is in the 138th position in terms of literacy rate out of 167 countries. This is an issue because they are in a state of poverty and education is not the top priority for them. If they were to attend school they wouldn’t have the best of teachers. Poor Health Infrastructure, the healthcare system in Pakistan is known to be one of the most corrupt sectors. This is mainly due to the government not being able to build new hospitals or upgrade the existing facilities. They also have a shortage of trained doctors due to a lack of literacy.
https://healthwire.pk/healthcare/major-social-problems-in-pakistan/
(Word count:217)
Dalshanae Taylor
Section 2: Perspectives of healthcare within your group:
What are their traditional definitions of health and illness and the health and illness beliefs of their culture?
(
minimum 100 words
) According to the Koran, it is the belief that one can project harm or misfortune on
other by admiring that person’s possession with jealousy or envy. To avert the evil eye Pakistanis
wear blue beads or charms with verses from the Koran. These are called taawiz. The taawiz are symbols of Islamic faith, given by the Moslem priests and are worn by adults to cure and prevent
illness caused by the evil eye, ghosts, or spirits. Consultations with holy men and visits to shrines
and tombs are believed to prevent and cure many physical and mental illnesses, including those caused by ghosts and spirits. Holy water from Pir tombs can be drunk or rubbed on the body of the sick. These practices vary by education, social class, and degree of religiosity; many from professional families lean toward Western medical practices and do not visit shrines
. (Words count: 145)
https://geriatrics.stanford.edu/ethnomed/pakistani/fund/pakistani_americans.html
Dalshanae Taylor
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What are some of the traditional methods of healing practiced in their culture?
(
minimum 100 words
) In Pakistani American culture, traditional beliefs around health and illness are often influenced by a combination of Islamic teachings, folk medicine, and modern healthcare practices. The concept of health is seen as a holistic state encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual well-
being. Illness is often viewed as a disruption of the body's balance, caused by factors such as supernatural forces, evil eye, or bodily imbalances.
Many Pakistani Americans believe in the power of prayer, faith healing, and traditional remedies
such as herbal medicines, cupping therapy, and dietary modifications to treat illnesses. Islamic practices, such as recitation of the Quranic verses for healing (Ruqyah), are also commonly used to ward off evil spirits and promote recovery.
While traditional beliefs play a significant role in Pakistani American communities, there is also a growing acceptance and utilization of Western medical practices and treatments. Many Pakistani Americans seek healthcare services from doctors and hospitals, incorporating a blend of traditional and modern approaches to address health issues.
https://geriatrics.stanford.edu/ethnomed/pakistani/fund/pakistani_americans.html
(161) Kevin Tharrington
What are current healthcare problems experienced by people in this culture
? (
minimum 100 words
) Pakistani Americans have healthcare problems just like everyone else. There were a few that stuck out to me mostly with new Pakistani Americans and they are: Submucosal Fibrosis- This is a condition related to chewing paan, this can also lead to increased chances of oral cavity cancer. Hepatitis B- It is more aggressive due to co-infection with delta virus. Pakistanis have a 10% to 14% carrier rate of hepatitis B. Thalassemia- This condition reduces the amount of hemoglobin in the human body leading to anemia and is one of the most common inherited hemoglobin disorders in Pakistani Americans.
Tuberculosis- Pakistan ranks 8th on the list of 22 high- burden TB countries in the world according to The World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Control 2009. https://geriatrics.stanford.edu/ethnomed/pakistani/health_risk_patterns/
healthproblems_pakistani.html
Word Count: 124
Dalshanae Taylor
What are the traditional birthing rituals of their culture?
(
minimum 100 words
) - Pakistani women now are seen in hospitals or go to the doctors for prenatal care. However, there are still some women who have a midwife, Dal, who still attend their birth. About 24 percent explore this option of a midwife and have the midwife come to their home. Women while pregnant are very well taken care of, in the traditional setting the Dal or midwife would be with the pregnant women most of the time. The midwife would ensure the babies safety and the mothers as well. After the baby is born the midwife will still be there for several days even up to weeks to help with newborn care and help the mom get on their feet. (Word Count 118)
Tori Saunders
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8138426/#fn-group-a.d.btitle
What culture phenomena (biological variations, environmental control, social organization,
communication, space, and time orientation) can impact the care provided in this culture? (
minimum 100 words
) – you must address AT LEAST TWO of these areas
– Pakistani cultural norms surrounding communication are quite different from those of Americans. An easily noticeable example of this is their perspectives on personal space - or rather, the lack of it. While standing or sitting quite close to and/or touching your conversation partner can have rude, aggressive or intimate connotations for Americans depending on the circumstance, doing so isn’t
considered anything abnormal among Pakistanis. However, it is important to note that this only occurs among individuals of the same gender - men and women are expected to remain a further distance apart in social situations, and public touching across genders tends to be frowned upon or outright forbidden.
A more subtle set of cues lies in indirect communication. As an example, many Pakistanis traditionally prefer to communicate in groups, and reserve one on one conversation for those they have familial bonds with or have a great deal of trust in. A willingness to meet and speak with you alone can be considered a sign of great respect. Additionally, many Pakistanis prefer a more roundabout style of conversation. Direct refusal of a proposition or question is rare, and instead tends to be met with something along the lines of “perhaps” or “it is possible”.
Additionally, many gestures with innocuous or friendly meanings among Americans have rude,
sexual or otherwise inappropriate connotation within traditional Pakistani culture. For example, gesturing solely with the forefinger is considered rude - it is preferred to point using the entirety of one’s hand, with the palm facing down. Another example is the thumbs up or “ok” hand signs (thumb and forefinger forming a circle, with the rest of the fingers facing up). Both of these hand
signs have rude and/or sexual connotations, although as time goes on, many Pakistani Americans
have come to understand their more friendly American meanings. Lastly, it is generally
considered respectful to use the right hand, rather than the left, for tasks such as gesturing, offering items, or eating.
(word count - 325)
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/pakistani-culture/pakistani-culture-communication
Ethan Szpak
Section 3: Each team member is required to do the following:
Identify at least one thing learned from your research above that you believe will impact giving care
AND what you as a healthcare professional will need to do to work effectively with this patient. EACH item must focus on a DIFFERENT concept.
∙
EACH person in your group needs to contribute at least 1 item (
ALL points need
to address different concepts
), AND
∙
EACH point needs to be a minimum of 75 words.
I have learned that Pakistanis are very private and there is a cultural practice of keeping problems
inside the family so they don’t bring shame to the family. Therefore, counseling an individual within this cultural background can be potentially difficult because they might have a closed mind or fear of stigma about seeking help for their mental health. As a mental health student, I have learned about the stigma that comes with mental health and addiction. There may be hesitation trying to get to the root of an individual problem because the person may not want to be open about very personal issues, especially addiction.
(105) Kevin Tharrington
Pakistan, despite being one unified country with one central religion, presents several prominent languages and subcultures. Although their official language is Urdu, only about 30 percent of Pakistani Americans speak it. Many immigrants and their children speak and/or understand one of their four major regional dialects, in addition to English.
Language isn’t the only way this diversity is displayed. Depending on which of the four major regions a Pakistani American traces their origin back to, their perspectives on their native subculture, American culture, the other Pakistani subcultures, and the way all of them should (or shouldn’t) be intermingled will vary to a surprising degree. And this is only among first generation immigrants - naturally, this is further exemplified in second and third generations.
As a result of this diversity, one can’t simply hear “Pakistani American” and be immediately confident in a general caregiving strategy. In order to fully respect the depth of their culture, you must invest time and effort into learning about your patient’s subculture, their views on its traditional role and importance, and how it will influence their receptiveness to your suggestions.
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(word count - 176) Ethan Szpak
I have learned that as a culture the elderly community has major health issues. Hepatitis B in America is only 1 to 2 percent verses in Pakistani people it is up to 86 percent. With such a high rate this puts their rate of getting liver disease or liver cancer at an extreme high risk. Pakistani adults living in the United States almost more than half don’t even have health insurance. These elderly people are dependent on their children to afford their health care. Most Pakistani people living in America are having to pay out of pocket. This is one major thing I was not aware of and
I think we as a whole need to focus more on, is getting everyone the medical care they need especially since they are at higher risk for medical conditions. (Word Count 137)
Tori Saunders
I have learned that Pakistani culture emphasizes a family unit, which means that decisions are made collectively big or small. So when someone gets sick in the family they rely on a son or daughter. They try not to upset the family member if their diagnosis is serious by not disclosing it to them. The family member will tell the doctor that they want their family to make all the health care decisions for them. The doctors will then have to respect their wishes. I think it’s really cool that physicians often get inducted symbolically into the family due to them being the authority in matters related to disease and medical interventions.( word count: 113)
Dalshanae Taylor