Exploring Cultures and Ethnic Groups in America
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Exploring Cultures and Ethnic Groups in America
Team Members: Breanna Lewis, Dana McClary, Lainey Miller, Laney Mills, and Chloe Howell
Ethnic group: Asian Indian 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
) - make sure you address AT minimum each of the following: definition of your population, country(s) of origin for your ethnic group, major religion(s) of your ethnic group.
Asian Indian Americans are people from the United States who have roots in India. India is a country in South Asia known for its diverse culture and religions like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism. The majority of Indians practice Hinduism, which influences their festivals like Diwali and Holi, and customs like arranged marriages. Indian Americans bring their rich culture with them, including traditional dances like Bharatanatyam, clothes like sarees and kurta-pajamas, and delicious spicy food like biryani and curry. They make big contributions to America, working in areas like technology, medicine, and the arts, making our country more diverse and interesting. (word count: 102) (Breanna Lewis)
Sources:
➔
https://library.mtsu.edu/c.php?g=538233&p=3684924
➔
https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/providers/
fl/Medicaid/
resource_FL_AsianIndianCulture_InfluencesAndImplicationsForHealthCare.pdf
Discuss the family structure and gender roles of your ethnic group.
(
minimum 100 words
) - make sure you address AT minimum each of the following: the roles of males and females in your group, is your ethnic group patriarchal or matriarchal, discuss the role of the elderly AND children.
In families of Asian Indian Americans, there's usually a strong emphasis on sticking together and
respecting older family members. Traditionally, these families have been mostly led by men, who make important decisions. But nowadays, things are changing, and women are becoming Revised 2/22
more involved in making decisions and bringing in money for the family. Usually, guys are expected to be the main breadwinners, while girls often take care of the house and family. However, this can be different depending on the family, especially if they're influenced by Western ideas. Older family members are highly respected and looked up to for their wisdom. They pass down cultural customs and values to younger generations. Kids are seen as part of the family's identity and are expected to honor family traditions and do well in school to make their family proud. Overall, while traditional roles are still around, Asian Indian American families are changing to include more diverse ways of doing things. (word count: 158) (Breanna Lewis)
Sources:
➔
https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/asian-american-families#:~:text=Traditional%20Asian%2DIndian%20families
%20live,reside%20in%20the%20same%20household.
➔
https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/providers/
fl/Medicaid/
resource_FL_AsianIndianCulture_InfluencesAndImplicationsForHealthCare.pdf
Describe the role of animals/pets in your ethnic group.
(
minimum 80 words
) – make sure you address AT minimum each of the following: do animals and/or meat hold significance within their religion, how are animals treated - generally OR as pets. Within Asian Indian American culture, some animals hold a significant meaning. In both Hinduism and Buddhism, they believe that humans and animals are on the same plane of existence, sharing cycles of reincarnation. Both wild and domesticated animals play a prominent role in religion. For example, elephants are highly seen throughout India for their religious and cultural symbolism. On the other hand, dogs are seen as unclean creatures that should be on the streets. As a result many dogs have been infected by rabies. However, this ethnic group is slowly starting to change that point of view. It is estimated that about 28 million dogs and 3 million cats are now seen as pets. (word count: 114) (Laney Mills)
Sources:
➔
https://libguides.umn.edu/c.php?g=1315645&p=9674503#:~:text=Both%20Hindu
%20and%20Buddhists%20believe,prominent%20role%20in%20religious%20expression
. What are their traditions and holidays?
(
minimum 100 words
) - make sure you address AT minimum each of the following: what are traditions that they have brought with them, what are their main holidays AND how do they celebrate.
Asian Indian Americans bring a lot of special traditions and holidays to the United States. One of
the big ones is Diwali, also called the Festival of Lights. It's a time to celebrate the victory of light over darkness. People light oil lamps, decorate their homes, share sweets, and enjoy fireworks together. Another important holiday is Holi, known as the Festival of Colors. It's a joyful time that welcomes the spring season. During Holi, people throw colored powders and water at each other, showing how good conquers evil and bringing in a colorful, happy new season. They also celebrate various religious festivals like Eid for Muslims, Christmas for Christians, Vaisakhi for Sikhs, and Buddha Purnima for Buddhists. These show the diversity of Revised 2/22
religions in India. Besides these big holidays, Indian Americans also keep up with traditions like fasting, prayers, and joining in community events and feasts. These traditions help them stay connected to their families and culture while also being a part of American society. (word count: 165)(Breanna Lewis)
Sources:
➔
https://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Asian-Indian-
Americans.html#:~:text=HOLIDAYS%20AND%20CELEBRATIONS&text=Many%20religious
%20celebrations%20are%20also,distributed%20among%20friends%20and%20family.
➔
https://www.apacc.net/aapi-celebrations-and-holidays
What are the main social issues that impact your ethnic group?
(
minimum 100 words
) - make sure you address AT minimum each of the following: their role within American society, issues that happen to them because of their ethnicity. Asian Indian Americans first migrated to America in the middle of the nineteenth century. The majority ended up in careers such as agriculture and construction. Others came as merchants and traders who ended up working in lumber mills and logging camps. Throughout the years their career patterns changed, but after 1965 many Asian Indian Americans came to America as students or through exchange visitor visas. Issues that happen to this group in America because
of their ethnicity are discrimination and having a hard time developing a sense of ethnic and racial identity. Discrimination heightened the most because of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. This resulted in many racial attacks that were focused on South Asians, also known as Asian Indian Americans. (word count: 122) (Laney Mills) Sources:
➔
https://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Asian-Indian-Americans.html
➔
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/
fpubh.2022.955011/full
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
) You are looking for how they define each and the beliefs they hold in regard to health and illness. This can, depending on your assigned culture can include physical and spiritual approaches- Asian Indian American culture defines their health from the Hindu tradition stating, “ health means the continued maintenance of the best possible working of the human body under normal…abnormal, environmental conditions.” They define illness by believing that people are sick because their inner and outer parts of their body are imbalanced and to restore them is the balance of Yin and Yang within the macrocosm and microcosm. This is the key to a person’s health according to Chinese traditional
understanding . Yin and Yang are the four seasons, the root of life and death. This will strive to restore the peace among the mind, body and spirit systems For medicine they use the health practice called Ayurveda which emphasizes physical, mental and spiritual health.
Revised 2/22
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One of the things they regulate in their daily life is yoga. Their main goal is to use herbal
remedies instead of actual medication within pills called the holistic approach to cure illness because the main things that cause illness are caused by the imbalance of bodily humors and cured by meditation, and natural medicine.( word count: 180)(Chloe Howell)
Sources:
➔
https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/
providers/fl/Medicaid/
resource_FL_AsianIndianCulture_InfluencesAndImplicationsForHealthCare.pdf
➔
ecampus.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9780357368244/pageid/0
➔
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2495404/#:~:text=In%20the%20Hindu
%20tradition%2C%20'health,sometimes%20even%20abnormal%2C
%20environmental%20conditions.
What are some of the traditional methods of healing practiced in their culture?
(
minimum 100 words
) This can include traditional, alternative and/or folk medicine. If the culture has special “healers” that are used, please include them in your description.
The traditional medicinal practices of South Asians have a history spanning over 2000 years. One of the oldest traditional systems of medicine used in India is Ayurveda. Ayurveda focuses on individuals' uniqueness and the idea that health is a balance between body, mind, and consciousness. Treatment focuses on holistic medicine, and treatment options include yoga, acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage therapy, and dietary changes.
Siddha is another ancient form of traditional medicine based on a combination of ancient medicinal practices and spiritual disciplines. Practitioners of Siddha medicine are known as siddhars and are considered healers who have obtained spiritual powers. While Ayurveda focuses on herbal treatments, Siddha believes in the combination of plants and minerals.
Multiple other traditional systems of medicine are also used, such as homeopathy, yoga, and naturopathy. Some of these methods, such as yoga, have been extensively studied and are frequently used for several chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. (word count: 157) (Dana McClary) Sources: ➔
https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/traditional-medicine-practice-across-asia-
examples-of-non-western-approaches-2/
➔
https://www.dsir.gov.in/sites/default/files/2019-10/ISM_AS_Intro.pdf
➔
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198827/
➔
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/ayurveda
➔
https://www.britannica.com/science/Siddha-medicine
What are current healthcare problems experienced by people in this culture
? (
minimum 100 words
) Different ethnic groups can experience a higher incidence of certain illnesses. What is seen within your group.
Asian Indian Americans are one of the largest immigrant groups in America, making it meaningful to understand the health risks they face. Asian Indian Americans are four times more likely to experience heart disease than the general population. Cardiovascular disease is Revised 2/22
known to affect younger individuals, as 50% of heart attacks occur in people under the age of 50 and 25% under the age of 40. Additionally, they have increased risks for certain cancers, such as breast and lung cancer. This ethnic group also has a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even while maintaining a healthy weight, and Asian Indian immigrant women are at greater risk for gestational diabetes. (word count: 111) (Dana McClary)
Sources:
➔
https://www.cigna.com/health-care-providers/resources/south-asian-health-disparities
➔
https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/south-asian-health-disparities-
white-paper-final.pdf
What are the traditional birthing rituals of their culture?
(
minimum 100 words
) - make sure you address AT minimum each of the following: describe what you have learned about birthing
and birth, how the pregnant women are treated, are their specific things done during pregnancy, during birth, after birth. The Asian Indian American women have closely spaced multiple pregnancies. It was uncommon for them to take modern medicines. The fetus is believed to be vulnerable to evil spirits during pregnancy. Labor and delivery is assisted by an elderly female family member and men are not present in the delivery room. The biggest thing for them In this culture there is a favor of male infants over female infants. If you have already had two girls then they will usually
abort the third female fetus to try for a male. The seventh month of pregnancy they have a ritual called Seemantham
which is showering the mother with words of wisdom to get her ready for the time of birth. This can be held in the temple or at home with the priest in attendance. Following birth breastfeeding is highly valued. A common supplement is the use of cow’s milk diluted with sugar water. Women who have a hard time breastfeeding use cups called paladai. Another ritual is Hindu families on the sixth day after delivery called “The Sixth” includes the wrapping of the newborn in a religious blanket and the application of holy red powder and water on the feet and hands of the baby. They will do a prayer, a blessing, and to write the fate of the baby. On the eleventh day after delivery they do what is called a “Cradle Ceremony” where the baby is officially named.( word count:241) (Chloe Howell)
Sources:
➔
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26909722/
➔
https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/
providers/fl/Medicaid/
resource_FL_AsianIndianCulture_InfluencesAndImplicationsForHealthCare.pdf
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
– definitions are found in your chapter for this lesson. -
Lainey Miller
➔
In traditional culture, if a person feels “well enough” then there’s no valid reason to go see a doctor. Blood is also considered a nonrenewable energy source, many people are hesitant to get blood tests taken. Lactose intolerance, hepatitis B, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and tuberculosis are very common illnesses/diseases that come about in this
Revised 2/22
culture. Language barriers, low socioeconomics, traditional health beliefs and practices, epidemiological, social support and networks, holistic view of health and illness can all be issues that come along when healthcare is involved. Many Asian Americans have genetic differences when it comes to psychotropic drugs.”Their genetic differences result in reduced absorption and slower metabolism of psychotropic drugs. ‘A good rule
of thumb is to treat an Asian American like a geriatric patient; start low and go slow’”. Many people in Asian American cultures use herbal remedies and other things rather than western medicine and will only go to the doctor if necessary. ➔
(Word count: 156) (Lainey Miller)
➔
Sources:
➔
https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2019.7a20
➔
https://www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/69/1/50.full.pdf
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.
➔
This quote highlights how cultural traditions like Diwali and Holi are crucial for Asian Indian Americans. Healthcare workers must understand and respect these customs as they greatly influence patient care. To effectively work with patients from this background, healthcare professionals must recognize and value these traditions. This could mean adapting care plans to fit religious events, offering culturally relevant meals in hospitals, and showing sensitivity to the importance of these celebrations in the patient's life. By showing understanding and respect for their cultural practices, healthcare workers can build strong relationships with patients, fostering trust. (word count: 94) (Breanna Lewis)
➔
One thing that I learned from my research above that I believe will impact giving care is recognizing what is important to someone based on their religion. I feel as though many people forget to realize what is significant to someone based on religion. What I learned
today is to watch out for those signs. For example with our ethnic group, if I were to have someone come in with an emergency who had a piece of jewelry that has an elephant on it, I would take off the jewelry if needed, but make sure to keep it close/available to the patient. Elephants have a significant meaning to some of the religions that Asian Indian Americans might practice. By showing respect for their religion, you could build a closer and trusting bond with the patient. (word count: 136) (Laney Mills)
➔
Through the research that I have done for this project, I have found one fascinating topic that will undoubtedly impact giving care to patients. The topic is traditional medicinal methods—not only how extensive and extrinsic the methods are, but how Revised 2/22
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important these medicines can be to a culture or individual. What I would need to do as a healthcare professional to understand and work effectively with patients is to listen to what is important to them and their culture, be understanding of the decisions that they
make regarding their health, and find ways to adapt what they require to fit within their medicinal beliefs. (word count: 104) (Dana McClary) ➔
Within my research on Asian Indian American culture one thing that I learned that I believe will impact giving care and what I can do as a healthcare professional will need to do to work effectively with this patient who is getting ready to deliver a child is to be aware of the many cultural traditions and customs within their culture. For example,an elderly female family member is to be present during birth but no men. Knowledge and insights of the patient's cultural traditions can help me give the patient the appropriate care, information and resources to help build a supportive relationship which builds trust and offers a better stay for the patient. Asian Indian culture is rich in tradition, specifically during the perinatal period. Women are trying to get through the new role of
becoming a mom while also trying to incorporate all of the cultural traditions and practice and as a healthcare worker if i know these rituals, one i would not be confused and not refuse there request on doing something different knowing it's a part of their culture and to promote culturally sensitive care to be the best worker i can be and provide the care that will give the patient and the new child a comfortable time during this process. (Word count: 215)(Chloe Howell)
➔
The sources I used did a good job at describing genetic differences that Asian Americans have pertaining to care provided to them. Their beliefs within their culture also weigh heavily on the care provided. One thing I learned is that in their culture, they believe blood is a nonrenewable resource and this leads them to be hesitant of giving blood and
having blood tests taken. They also will only go to a doctor if they believe it is absolutely necessary and if it is something that they cannot handle through their own practices. Their culture uses western medicine but they believe many things can be healed with the help of the earth. I think when interacting with them in a patient and healthcare provider scenario is to do everything I can before I find it absolutely necessary to run blood tests and that if they believe it isn’t necessary then to not try to push them because it can come off as me trying to contradict their beliefs and normal practices within their culture (Lainey Miller) (Wordcount: 174)
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