...Culture exist in every society, it is based on attitudes, values, and beliefs. Culture can either be visible or invisible; usually the invisible value-belief system of a particular culture is often the major driving force behind the visible. Culture can be defines as the context for interpreting human experiences such as health and illness and provides direction to decision and actions. All culture has systems of health beliefs to explain what causes illness, how it can be cured or treated and who should be involved in the care process. Cultural awareness can be defines as : “an in-depth self-examination of one’s own background, recognizing bias, prejudices, and assumption about other people”. To provide an effective care, health care provider should be of cultural competence and practice. Cultural sensitive care in nursing is important to provide meaningful and supportive care for clients. Beyond the concept that language can often present a barrier to proper understanding and decision making, every client has a unique background and life story that influences what he or she considers appropriate care. Age, race ethnicity, gender, race, religion, economic status, and other factors such as prior healthcare encounter and recent family event can all affect how an individual sees the world. To discover client’s culture care, values, meaning, beliefs and practices, nurses need to be able to assess social, cultural, and biophysical factors influencing treatment and care of client;...
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...hard to pin down, finding just one specific health care ethical issue to talk about can be considered a daunting task. First we must understand that the word ethics means different things to different people and that in reality its very definition can describe their own version of moral philosophy. It is conceivably much harder to understand the issues between what is right and what is wrong, the problems that may exist between ethics and morality, one’s integrity and the many existing belief systems. It is not as simple as black or white or what constitutes good behavior as oppose to bad. We must remember that one man’s poison may be another’s choice of practicing healing methods. We must remember that we live in world that has vast cultural belief systems, ethical values, and religious beliefs, therefore we must practice our western medicine without inflicting any due harm on our patients. It is with mindset that choosing the one correct health care ethical dilemma becomes almost impossible when choosing to tell the story of young Lia Lee. There are ethical dilemmas the force us to consider the moral consequences of our moral actions especially when it may involve a life or death situation and what occurred during the life of Lia...
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...Cultural Barriers Among the Hmong After 1975 large numbers of Hmong were granted refugee status. Refugees had a different experience than immigrants. American Society expected immigrants to assimilate but refugees weren’t really expected to Americanize. Earlier Immigration policy required immigrant’s cultures and customs to melt away, but after the 1940’s immigrant’s considered white, such as the Irish and Italian, were accepted to have the hyphen of Irish-American or Italian-American. Their ethnicities and cultures were accepted but other immigrant groups that weren’t considered white enough such as the Chinese and Mexicans were considered too different and too strange so their customs weren’t accepted. When these large numbers of Hmong arrived to the U.S. they were also not considered white, so their cultures and traditions weren’t accepted and because of this made it...
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...The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Each culture has their own set of beliefs, values, and traditions. When two cultures come in contact with one another, a few things can happen. The most ideal situation is cultural integration, where both cultures can coexist with respect and acceptance of the other one. On the other hand, cultural assimilation can occur where the minority group/culture comes to adopt and resemble the dominant group. The worst case is a cultural clash. Conflicts can arise from the different cultural values and a lack of effort by either one to truly understand the platform of the other group. A similar cultural collision between a Hmong family and their American doctors is demonstrated in Anne Fadiman’s book called The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. This book examines how this culture clash impacts the...
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...Critique ENG 225 March 17, 2013 Gran Torino Film Critique Gran Torino is a drama about redemption, helping others, and demonstrates how we are all the same regardless of cultural differences. The movie focuses on the relationship Walt develops with his Hmong neighbors. Walt manages to strategically save the life of the boy next door, Thao. Walt helps Thao get his life back on track. Thao has been coerced to partake into his cousin’s gang. The gang forces Thao to steal Walt’s Gran Torino. Once Walt finds Thao in his garage trying to steal his Gran Torino, he knows that something has gone wrong with Thao. At this point, the drama in the story soars, as Walt begins his personal quest to protect Thao. Walt tries his best not to reveal that he has a caring soul but that he is an angry and grumpy old man. Later the film reveals that Walt is the complete opposite of angry and grump. As the story unfolds and the gangbangers return and Walt reaches for his gun, the film moves from comedy, drama, tragedy, and then into something unexpected. Nick Schenk wrote Gran Torino and his inspiration with the Hmong culture. Schenk placed a Hmong family next door to a Korean War veteran. The main story line develops as the Korean War veteran (Clint Eastwood) learns to adapt and interact with the Hmong family. Clint Eastwood directed, produced, and starred in the drama Gran Torino. Clint Eastwood began his acting career in low budget films in 1955. In 1959 he got he made his big...
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...Promoting Cultural Sensitivity A Practical Guide for Tuberculosis Programs That Provide Services to Hmong Persons from Laos U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hla dej yuav hle khau; Tsiv teb tsaws chaw yuav hle hau. “When you cross a river, take off your sandals; when you emigrate from one country to another, take off your hat.” –Hmong Proverb Promoting Cultural Sensitivity A Practical Guide for Tuberculosis Programs That Provide Services to Hmong Persons from Laos Female elder. © Frank Carter. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2008 For Additional Information For more information or for a list of available guides, please contact: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-10 Atlanta, GA 30333 Phone: (404) 639-8120 Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/tb Suggested Citation Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Promoting Cultural Sensitivity: A Practical Guide for Tuberculosis Programs That Provide Services to Hmong Persons from Laos. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2 Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....
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...to treat medical problems. This idea is becoming more problematic with the diverse cultures coming to America. With each culture comes more boundaries for biomedicine to face. Instead of trying to cross these boundaries, biomedicine strictly believes that their knowledge of medicine is far superior to other cultures. The problems that occur due to these barriers could be overcome if the doctors were able to understand their patients’ culture better. This could be done if medical schools were to expand their course curriculum, incorporating cultural classes. In order for a doctor to be successful, he must be able to understand his patients. Without this understanding, the doctor cannot adequately assess the medical problem. Not being able to assess the problem leads to a wrong diagnosis. Understanding their patients involves knowing their cultural beliefs. Doctors will not know about every single culture, but they can still research them. Not knowing enough information about other cultural groups can be detrimental from the start. The Hmong society is a group of people that the doctors do not particularly understand. This is constantly seen throughout Anne Fadiman’s book “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”. The Hmong people are terrified to go to the hospital and only go when they feel that they have no other choice. Stone 2 The Hmong are not use to the differences between how a doctor and Shaman go about their work. For instance they are not use...
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...Hmong culture is a combination of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laos, and Thai, making them very unique in the basics of culture, where they live, and their global landscape. Hmong people are very unique in a few ways and are not well-known as an Asian culture if you were to ask someone. Although they are not a country, Hmong people have lots of pride in their culture and ancestors. From the fancy traditional clothes to living in the mountains between countries and being separated from China and Vietnam, Hmong people are very independent and are influenced by many countries. Hmong is a very independent Asian culture and community and has very unique and colorful traditional clothes. Traditional women clothes contain long black pants or skirts, hand...
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...09/09/2013 Assignment 1 1. What do you think of traditional Hmong birth practices (pp. 3-5)? Compare them to the techniques used when Lia was born (p. 7). How do Hmong and American birth practices differ? I find the traditional birth practices peculiar and very unsafe. The conceiving of a child should be done in a sterile environment by professionals, so that the risks of negative effects like infections, wounds, etc. is minimized. Nevertheless I think the tradition, that the placenta is buried by the father, so that the soul can return to it’s first jacket, in order to continue it’s after death journey, is a wonderful way of believing what comes after death. Professional doctors handled Lia’s birth the American way, with her mother lying on a metal table with sterile drapes and no anaesthetics. This is a big difference to the Hmon customs, where Foua would have squatted on the dirty floor and pulled the baby out by herself, while trying not to touch the floor and not waking her other kids, until the new-born starts to cry. Another difference is that the Hmong bury the baby’s placenta and the Americans incinerate it. After birth a soul calling ceremony officially in order to confirm the quality of Lia’s name and pleasing the soul to reside in Lia’s body to protect her from illness and evil spirits. 2. Over many centuries the Hmong fought against a number of different peoples who claimed sovereignty over their lands; they were also forced to emigrate from China. How...
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...illustration of how culture can clash with American medicine. In the beginning, the reader can see, relate, and even side with the doctors at MCMC. You feel the Lee family is being ignorant and even selfish because they seem to be more interested in doing things their way instead of saving Lia’s life above all. However, later in the book the author is able to present the Lee’s point of view. How they and the Hmong community interpret certain things and the impact that their beliefs have on treating illnesses. Each side with the best of intentions in mind for Lia. Unfortunately, the cultural differences between the Lee’s and the doctors’ were stronger than those well intentions. 2. Identify and discuss three major themes evident in the book 2.1-The importance of cultural understanding and tolerance The most important and obvious theme of this story is the importance of understanding and accepting that there are many different cultures out there. Equally important is learning what these differences are so that both cultures can work together towards one common goal in a respectful manner. In Lia’s case the many misunderstandings due to religious differences and language barrier led to the Lee’s noncompliance of Lia’s medications. At the same time , the doctors’ unwillingness to even consider the Hmong’s beliefs or incorporate any of it in Lia’s treatment and care, also contributed to Lia’s vegetative state in the end. 2.2-Compromise: differences in medical treatment ...
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...Although this book told an unfortunate story of the life of a young girl, it had many beneficial aspects to it. Throughout the chapters there is a blend of Lias story and the history and culture of the Hmong people. The first chapter, Birth, is filled with various elements of culture that gave insight to the Lees family. The pregnancy of a woman is discussed, and shows how their beliefs are different as well as similar from many other cultures. The Hmong people had believed that once a woman was pregnant she could ensure the child's health by paying attention to her cravings. Different cravings mean different things, such as “if she craved chicken flesh and did not eat it, her child would have a blemish near its ear” (Fadiman, 5). The different...
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...discusses many important topics, such as cultural humility and the consequences of miscommunication. The following is a brief response to some of the key topics discussed in the book (Fadiman, 1997). Explanatory Model of Illness: Definition of the Explanatory Model of Illness: An explanatory model of illness is a model that focuses on how the patient understands his or her illness and the factors that are involved. Two Examples of the Explanatory Model of Illness in the Book: The first explanatory model of illness is seen with the Hmong. The Hmong believe in a spirit called the Dab. They believe that many illnesses occur because of the Dab. For example, it mentions in the book that if a woman did not give...
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...COM 301 Reflective Writing # 2 (Verbal and non-verbal) Reflective Writing Two A. Verbal 1. What labels, that you dislike, have been applied to you or to groups (for example: ethnic, social, cultural, professional, etc.) to which you belong? Explain how the labels have or have not affected you. One ethnic label that I dislike is the term “Chino” or “Chinks.” I do not like to be referred to as Chinese as Hmong people are not Chinese (people like to use it even though they know that Hmong people are not Chinese). Neither do I like for people to label me by my eyes (in fact, I do not believe that I have small chinky eyes). Although I do not like this label, it hardly affects me at all because it’s not an accusatory label; no one is accusing me that I’m a “Chino” or a “Chink.” One label pertaining to my religion is that I am a polygamist. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and no, we don’t believe in polygamy (don’t get it confused with the Fundamentalist LDS- they’re different). It’s ironic that people would assume that Mormons are polygamists when in fact, no one assumes that I am a polygamist when I tell them that I’m Hmong. Polygamy plays a role in the Hmong culture; my wife has more grandparents that she can name. In fact, Hmong people still practice polygamy in the United States, though, in secret of course. In contrast to the previous label I mentioned, being labeled a polygamist upsets me because it is used more as an accusatory label;...
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...Hmong Culture vs Western Medicine: A Social Constructionist Analysis Throughout Lia Lee’s medical journey, both her doctors and her family struggled to understand one another’s behavior resulting in misunderstandings, alienation, and distrust between the two parties. The social constructionist perspective and related theories on human behavior, such as symbolic interactionism, can be used to analyze the complicated and confusing relationship between the Lee family and the Merced County Medical Center doctors. The social constructionist perspective, as defined in the book Human Behavior and the Social Environment, states that “people construct meaning, sense of self, and a social world through their interactions with each other,” Hustchison, 2019, p 52....
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...The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. It tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong girl with severe epilepsy, and her family’s journey with managing the condition and the cultural barriers that posed great challenges in Lia’s care. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy during infancy. Her family’s opinion was that the condition was a spiritual gift. Lia’s parents, Nao Kao and Foua, were wary of the American medical system, preferring to care for Lia in the Hmong way. Throughout the considerable conflict surrounding her care, Lia continued to have seizures; at the age of 4 ½, after a particularly devastating episode of status epilepticus, she slipped into a persistent vegetative state that would last...
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