CHAPTER 11

(Red Book)
Individuals and
Families of
Asian Descent

Chen Ke Xian
GS46575
 PREVIEW

East
Asians

Asian
American

South Southeast
Asians Asians
 ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY
Mid-1800s: Large scale arrival of
Chinese laborers Sugar
plantations of Havaii and the gold
mines in California

Countries of United
Origin States
Asian American

Political strife Economic fortunes

Economic instability High Paying jobs
Social persecution Potential to provide
Famine for ones family
War
 ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY

Development of Chinatowns
- Chinese were restricted from
living among Whites, not allowed to
own land, obtain education etc.
Institutional and
Viewed as
legislative discrimination
economic and
social threats - antimiscegenation codes,
housing restrictions,
- Anti-Asian violence Discrimination educational limitations etc.
to Asian
Americans
Shared Psychological
Experiences
- To leave ones country, family,
friends and all that is familiar to a
new country with unknowns
 CONTEMPOARY FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION & STEREOTYPES

Institutional Racism Individual Racism

Regulations, laws, Individuals act based on

policies, procedures the belief in one racial
Restrict the lives of groups superiority over
individuals based on race another group
E.g. English-only E.g. differential
language initiatives, treatment, verbal insults,
income-to-education physical harassment,
disparities, glass-ceiling vandalism and in some
effects in career cases homicide.
advancement.
 CONTEMPOARY FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION & STEREOTYPES
Persistent view of Asian
American as not quite real
Perpetual
Americans
Foreigner
Where are you really from?

To elevate the status of Asian

Americans.
A model community that has
Model overcome its minority status
Minority high academic achievement,
high family incomes etc.
Fails to account the
heterogeneity and diversity.
Overemphasized the success
ASIAN AMERICAN HETEROGENEITY

Ethnicity

Immigration
Language
History

Demographic
Heterogeneity
Educational Familys
Attainment income

Occupational
status
ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURE & VALUES

Cultural values impacts our psychological and

social functioning
Influenced by generational status, immigration
history and acculturation level
FAMILY
Extended family network
Collectivistic value
Protect the honor of the family
Parenting authoritarian &
directive
 ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURE & VALUES
GENDER ROLE
Patriarchal society
Prescribed specific gender roles and
communication rule by family
Within-group differences: E.g., Japanese
Americans more acculturated, more
egalitarian in their roles
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
Maintain harmony
Non-directive, nonconfrontational, silent
Expression of strong emotion - immature
 ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURE & VALUES
INTIMACY & MARRIAGE
Negative perception related to dating
Arranged/ semiarranged marriage
Acculturation level openness regarding
sexuality and marriage based on love
Divorce and interracial marriages are not so
common traditionally
EDUCATION
High regard for learning
Academic achievement & successful career
indicative of a good family upbringing.
View education as the most viable means of
upward mobility
 ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURE & VALUES
RELIGION
Religious teaching important spiritual
philosophies guiding Asian American lives.
Buddhism, Christianity, Catholic, Hinduism etc.
Places of worship & religious figures key
sources of support during time of difficulties
DEATH & DYING
Expression of grief and death ritual vary by
ethnicity and religion
Death communal affair
Burials & cremation ceremonies performed
by males traditionally
 INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES & IDENTITIES
It is misleading to view Asian Americans as a single
homogeneous entity.
To examine the multiple identities that frame Asian
American lives
IMMIGRATION, ENCULTURATION & ACCULTURATION
Reason for immigration, age at immigration, language
abilities, length of stay etc. affect adaption
Enculturation: socialization within ones own ethnic.
Acculturation: contact with the dominant culture (White)
To facilitate success selectively adapt to certain U.S. cultural
norms while holding onto fundamental ethnic cultural values
Generational variation on levels of acculturation
 INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES & IDENTITIES
ETHNICITY & RACE
Frame of reference social interaction
Process of ethnic identification begins at a very young age
family playing a significant role
Dilemma growing up in a bicultural setting the degree to
which ones ethnic identity is valued and must be
retained.
Particular aspects of identify operate in particular
situations - Cultural frame switching
Racial Microaggressions: Microassaults, Microinsults,
Microinvalidation
 INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES & IDENTITIES
GENDER ROLES
Clear and stringent gender roles in tradition
Patriarchal emphasis
Men less stringent rules regarding sexuality & intimacy
A shift in roles and responsibilities after immigrating

SEXUALITY & SEXUAL IDENTITY

Cultural, religious, familial and acculturative influences
Asian cultural norm restrictive and strong emphasis on
silence regarding sexuality, particularly on homosexuality
 GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Racism, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
HELP-SEEKING & COPING
Attitudes & Barriers
- Individual: lack of knowledge or exposure, limited
language proficiency.
- Sociocultural: cultural views of mental health
- Institutional: conflict between Asian and Western values
- Perceived counselor creditability
Sites of resiliency: Alternative healer, religious healer,
family
 GUIDELINES FOR COUNSELING

Counsellor
Training to improve their multicultural knowledge
Self-
Reflect their assumptions and biases
Assessment

Factors that affect the dynamic in counseling:

counsellor, client and therapeutic relationship
Counseling
Aware of aspects in the Western counseling approach
Process that are conflicting with cultural values of the clients
Building trusting relationship is important

Conceptualization Understand different influences such as relationship,

of the Problem systems, environment to the problem
 GUIDELINES FOR COUNSELING

Refer to cultural values of Asian American

Intervention Assess individual differences

Outreach &
Word of mouth & issue of credibility
Nonclinical Knowing counselors at a personal levels feel safe
Visibility

Respect for the integrity and strengths of clients

Social
Responsibility to help clients have access to resources,
Advocacy & minimize bias and discrimination
Social Justice Action contribute personal time to voluntary service
TERIMA KASIH / THANK YOU