Understanding and Serving a Minority Population

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Kenyatta University *

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MISC

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Sociology

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Nov 24, 2024

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Uploaded by SuperHumanElectron8245

1 Understanding and Serving a Minority Population: Insights from a Cultural Interview Student’s Name Department, Institutional Affiliation Course Name Professor’s Name Date

2 Introduction This essay aims to consider the significant learning and insights obtained from a recent cultural conversation with a person from a minority group. This interview not only gave me a better understanding of the struggles, values, and experiences that people from cultures other than mine face, but it also raised important issues regarding how these people have historically been treated, specific instances of oppression, and possible outcomes of their experiences. It also highlighted the extraordinary fortitude and resiliency of this community. I will go into more depth about each of these features in the sections that follow and explain how my perspective on serving this minority community might be drastically changed as a result of the micro, mezzo, and macro realms of social work practice. I will conclude by outlining a few crucial steps I will take to further non-oppressive practices in my professional job. This minority group has experienced institutional oppression and discrimination throughout history, and it has been firmly ingrained in our society. A complicated network of laws, regulations, and experiences marked by glaring disparities and severe biases have hampered their progress (Ortega-Williams & Hall, 2021). Legal discrimination has left a sad legacy for them, with discriminatory legislation that imposed segregation, maintained marginalization, and reduced them to second-class citizens (Dyson & Cross-Denny, 2020). They were often denied access to basic civil rights, work prospects, and education under these restrictions. This legacy of judicial injustice has overshadowed their collective history for a very long time. However, more than simply, the legal system has aided in their exploitation. Deep- rooted cultural presumptions and prejudices have made these discriminatory actions possible. Through the decades, prejudiced ideas about their potential, value, and position in society have been passed down, which has resulted in exclusion, stigmatization, and limited possibilities.

3 Members of this minority group have encountered a long list of repressive and discriminatory behaviors throughout their dealings with various organizations, which has consistently hampered their advancement and well-being. They frequently encounter prejudice and preconceptions in social settings, which limits their social mobility and causes marginalization. With discriminatory hiring practices and income inequities that support poverty cycles, the obstacles are also formidable economically (Wu & Greig, 2022). The issues faced by educational institutions are unique, ranging from underfunded schools to uneven access to excellent education, which restricts students' academic success and career potential. Even in spiritual development and communal support settings, discriminatory ideas can result in exclusion and discrimination inside religious institutions. Disparities in healthcare access and treatment can seriously harm physical and emotional health. Their bio-psycho-social-spiritual well-being is impacted by the structural oppression this minority community experiences on various levels. Disparities in access to high-quality medical treatment and preventative services have a negative impact on physical health, increasing the prevalence of chronic diseases, lowering life expectancy, and raising death rates. People from this demographic also have major mental health issues. Anxiety, sadness, and trauma-related illnesses are more prevalent than they should be due to structural hurdles, ongoing prejudice, and inadequate access to mental health resources. These psychological stresses may hamper their general quality of life. Unable access to high-quality education and learning opportunities causes lower educational attainment. In turn, this restricts their access to well-paying occupations and financial security, prolonging poverty cycles and limiting their opportunities for upward mobility. These differences also profoundly impact their social and spiritual well-being (Wilson & Wolfer,

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4 2020). They frequently experience social exclusion, a weakened feeling of belonging, and obstacles to full community engagement. Understanding these complicated effects is essential for creating successful interventions and support structures intended to reduce these inequities and promote a more inclusive and equitable society. Members of this minority group have shown incredible fortitude and endurance in the face of ongoing adversity and institutional prejudice, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration. They have developed support networks inside their communities characterized by strong links, common experiences, and reciprocal support (Greenfield & Yeh, 2019). By fostering community and empowerment, these networks enable people to take strength from their common identity and cultural history. Their common experience of overcoming adversity, cultural beliefs, and traditions are frequently the origins of this resilience. Their steadfast character is demonstrated by their commitment to protecting their cultural history and identity in the face of outside challenges (Greenfield & Yeh, 2019). It is crucial for social workers working with this demographic to recognize and capitalize on these skills. In social work practice, being aware of the historical persecution and present-day difficulties this minority community faces is advantageous and essential. To address the particular needs and structural inequities that still exist, a multi-tiered strategy is required to span micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice (Greenfield & Yeh, 2019). At the individual level, developing genuine connections with members of this group necessitates a deep understanding of their unique struggles and experiences. Recognizing the intricacies of individual lives, social workers must embrace empathic listening and cultural awareness. The trust and rapport fostered by this micro-level interaction are the cornerstones of good practice.

5 As we get to the mezzo level, advocates are assigned to social workers. Promoting legislative measures that address structural injustices becomes crucial. Collaboration with neighborhood groups and like-minded friends strengthens the group's voice and generates more just and equitable possibilities for this demographic. The larger goal is to eliminate the fundamental reasons for oppression and prejudice. Social workers can act as catalysts in wider social movements aimed at overthrowing repressive structures and eventually promoting justice and equality. This macro-level participation acknowledges that substantial social change is necessary for long-lasting change. Promoting equity and social justice requires social workers who deal with minority cultures to support non-oppressive behaviors. According to Rodriguez and Villarreal 2022, cultural competency is fundamental and necessitates constant self-education about the community's culture, history, and experiences. It entails acknowledging one's prejudices and fostering respect and safety conducive to candid communication. To fight for their rights and have access to resources, disadvantaged people need to be empowered (Rodriguez & Villarreal, 2022). They may need to be guided through intricate procedures, and community organizations may help to make their opinions heard. To eliminate systematic prejudice, cooperation and allegiance are essential. Creating coalitions and alliances with like-minded groups strengthens attempts to confront oppressive structures on a structural level, arguing for legislative reforms and developing support networks for community people. In conclusion, not only have the significant revelations I gained from the cultural interview deepened my knowledge, but they have also brought home how crucial cultural competency is to social work practice. The struggles this minority group faces, which have been influenced by historical oppression and current discrimination, highlight the urgent need for

6 culturally aware and sensitive initiatives. Social professionals can better offer effective assistance and advocacy by understanding the ingrained causes of historical oppression, individual incidents of discrimination, and the exceptional resiliency displayed by this group. Cultural humility is a sign of cultural competency, which calls for constant learning and introspection. Social workers must approach their work with an open mind and a desire to grow with and learn from their clients.

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7 References Dyson, Y. D., FariÑA, M. D. M., Gurrola, M. A., & Cross-Denny, B. (2020). Reconciliation as a framework for supporting racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in social work education. Social Work and Christianity, 47(1), 83-95. Greenfield, E. A., Black, K., Buffel, T., & Yeh, J. (2019). Community gerontology: A framework for research, policy, and practice on communities and aging. The Gerontologist, 59(5), 803-810. Ortega-Williams, A., Crutchfield, J., & Hall, J. C. (2021). The colorist-historical trauma framework: Implications for culturally responsive practice with African Americans. Journal of Social Work, 21(3), 294-309. Rodriguez, S., Roth, B. J., & Villarreal Sosa, L. (2022). “Immigration enforcement is a daily part of our students’ lives”: School social workers’ perceptions of racialized nested contexts of reception for immigrant students. Aera Open , 8 , 23328584211073170. Wilson, B. L., & Wolfer, T. A. (2020). Reducing police brutality in African American communities: Potential roles for social workers in congregations. Social Work and Christianity, 47(3), 66-84. Wu, H., & Greig, M. (2022, July). Adaptability, Interdisciplinarity, Engageability: Critical Reflections on Green Social Work Teaching and Training. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 7, p. 1245). MDPI.

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