A generalist social worker will come across and help clients that come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. The struggles and resilience, as-well-as the relationships made throughout an individual’s lifetime, and their environment help in shaping who they are. This paper will focus on an adult Hispanic male, who will be referred to as Hector Lopez in order to protect his privacy. This papers author meant Hector while attending group sessions with her spouse at their local Veterans clinic. The interview for this paper took place at a park in the city of Jacksonville, Florida. This location was chosen in order to provide some privacy to the interviewee. It will describe the ecological, systems, and cultural context in which this person
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Both play an important part in who I am” (H. Lopez, personal communication, September 23, 2015). His parents immigrated to the United States in 1975 and play an important role in his life. Hector states that he is very respectful of his father and his place as the patriarch of the family, but that personally, “He does not buy into the whole Hispanic machismo culture” (personal communication, September 23, 2015). At the same time he does not feel that his gender has any affect on who he is as a person. Unlike his father and mother who grew up in a different country surrounded by a community who shared a specific culture, Hector was born and raised in a community where there are various cultures. Researchers Oyserman and Lee have found that, “Culture matters to the extent that individuals living in different societies are likely to have differing experiences and, more ambitiously, that culture matters to the extent that a cultural perspective provides new insights into psychological processes” (2008, pp.311). His family unit consists of his father, mother, a younger sister, and her three children, all of whom he respects and loves …show more content…
A smile comes to his face when he talks about growing up in the small town of Yulee, Florida, which is outside of Jacksonville. It was not uncommon, due to the town’s size, for him to be the only person of Hispanic origins in his classroom and among his friends. He recalls how his parents worked hard in the tourism industry to make a living in order to provide for their children and at the same time instilled a sense of community in their children. “Even as a kid, I had a strong sense of nationalism and always identified as a Hispanic-American,” (H. Lopez, personal communication, September 23, 2015). Still, He did not feel as though he fit in with his friends from various cultures. This could be due to Hector trying to acculturate into two differing cultures. “In addition to the changes in communities and the society overall, cultural changes that individuals go through can have many facets because of the countless combinations of traits people can retain or adopt from the original and new cultures,” (Fitzgerald, 2010, pp.29). His Hispanic friends views differed from his and many of his American friends came from different socio-economic status and religion. Because of this Hector spent much of his time by himself during his childhood. By the time he had reached adolescence, Hector had made a small group of friends and became quite interested in politics
Both play an important part in who I am” (H. Lopez, personal communication, September 23, 2015). His parents immigrated to the United States in 1975 and play an important role in his life. Hector states that he is very respectful of his father and his place as the patriarch of the family, but that personally, “He does not buy into the whole Hispanic machismo culture” (personal communication, September 23, 2015). At the same time he does not feel that his gender has any affect on who he is as a person. Unlike his father and mother who grew up in a different country surrounded by a community who shared a specific culture, Hector was born and raised in a community where there are various cultures. Researchers Oyserman and Lee have found that, “Culture matters to the extent that individuals living in different societies are likely to have differing experiences and, more ambitiously, that culture matters to the extent that a cultural perspective provides new insights into psychological processes” (2008, pp.311). His family unit consists of his father, mother, a younger sister, and her three children, all of whom he respects and loves …show more content…
A smile comes to his face when he talks about growing up in the small town of Yulee, Florida, which is outside of Jacksonville. It was not uncommon, due to the town’s size, for him to be the only person of Hispanic origins in his classroom and among his friends. He recalls how his parents worked hard in the tourism industry to make a living in order to provide for their children and at the same time instilled a sense of community in their children. “Even as a kid, I had a strong sense of nationalism and always identified as a Hispanic-American,” (H. Lopez, personal communication, September 23, 2015). Still, He did not feel as though he fit in with his friends from various cultures. This could be due to Hector trying to acculturate into two differing cultures. “In addition to the changes in communities and the society overall, cultural changes that individuals go through can have many facets because of the countless combinations of traits people can retain or adopt from the original and new cultures,” (Fitzgerald, 2010, pp.29). His Hispanic friends views differed from his and many of his American friends came from different socio-economic status and religion. Because of this Hector spent much of his time by himself during his childhood. By the time he had reached adolescence, Hector had made a small group of friends and became quite interested in politics