1
3. Define family tradition, and provide one or two examples in your family—a cultural tradition and a religious tradition.
4. Define ritual. Design a new family ritual to break a pattern in your family you think requires change. Share these events
Cultural Influences
As a white Hispanic first-generation American, I am intimately familiar with the realities of being a minority descendent of immigrants. Firstly, Spanish is my native language. In school, I struggled with English and my grades suffered accordingly. Additionally, my mother raised her children alone while my father served a 10-year prison sentence as a political prisoner. Finally, I am experienced with the difficulties of being a teenage parent as my brother had two children by the age of 17.
These experiences are unfortunately common among Hispanic families. In the United State, 60% of Hispanic families do not speak English at home (Statista Research Department, 2019). Additionally, Hispanic men are four times more likely to be imprisoned, contributing to the 3.29 million Hispanic families with a single mother and the 25% of Hispanic teens who are parents partly due to a lack of a father figure (CDC, 2021; Statista Research Department, 2021; “The Sentencing Project,” 2003, p. 1). These experiences have led me to see the disparities that exist between ethnicities in the United States. Furthermore, they have left me with the belief that such disparities are incredibly difficult to overcome, although not impossible.
I am a success story. While my previous circumstances may have devastated some, they motivated me to work hard to pursue my dreams. With this motivation, I am now pursuing a graduate education while working a full-time job. My background provides me with a unique perspective on Hispanic and minority issues, which will be extremely helpful in relating to families who will potentially seek my help. Furthermore, I hope to act as a role model, inspiring others to pursue a path towards growth and achievement. However, my perspective on life in spite of my experiences may be different from those I see in my practice, creating a barrier between us. If this happens, I will draw on my habit of working hard to find a solution.
References
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). About Teen Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
Statista Research Department. (2021). Number of Hispanic families with a single mother in the U.S. from 1990 to 2019. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205192/number-of-hispanic-families-with-a-female-householder-in-the-us/
Statista Research Department. (2021). Percentage of children who speak another language than English at home in the U.S. in 2018, by race. https://www.statista.com/statistics/476816/children-who-speak-another-language-than-english-at-home-in-the-us-by-race-and-hispanic-origin/
The Sentencing Project. (2003). 1-3. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/sp/1051.pdf
The post 1 3. Define family tradition, and provide one or two examples in appeared first on PapersSpot.
