Multicultural Psychology. Jennifer T. Pedrotti
I’m in college right now and I go to a private college—my dad went to the same one years ago and I’ve always dreamed of coming here—but there aren’t very many African American students like me here, and almost no professors who aren’t White. Sometimes other students think I’m here on scholarship or that I got in because of my race, but I actually come from a pretty affluent area, and went to a high school that had a lot of AP classes available. I have always been a good student, and so my grade point average is as high or higher than that of a lot of the students here. Whenever I start a class with a new professor, especially if the professor is White, I have a few things that I do so that I get off on the right foot. I’m a big guy, and my skin is very dark. I know sometimes this makes people feel afraid of me before they know me—I see this in their eyes sometimes. So, I always go up on the first day and introduce myself, especially if there is another Black student in the class, so they don’t mix us up. Sometimes I try to get it in the conversation that my dad is an alumnus, so they know I belong here. Then I try to work twice as hard as everyone else, go into office hours whenever I can, and make sure that the professor knows I’m a good student. I’m not sure if it’s annoying to them sometimes, but I want to make sure that they know me for me, instead of via some stereotype about Black people that they may have. It takes a lot of extra time to do all of this, but I feel like I have to if I’m going to be treated fairly. White students still ask me if I’m on an athletic scholarship, or if I’m a first-generation college student, or if I’m from a bad neighborhood, but at least I make sure my professors know my real story. Who knows—this might help me in other ways too. It seems like lately there are so many news stories out there where people call the police because they think an African American person is not supposed to be in a particular place. Having so many professors to be able to verify that I’m a real student and also a good person might help me out if that ever happens to me.
—Alex, age 19
The story above shows that Alex does some things on a regular basis based on his worldview of what he experiences as a “normal” reaction from White people. His worldview impacts his daily activities and the way in which he carries himself, and it also involves some expectations he has for others who may be different from him in some way. Given what we have already discussed about different models of worldview, Alex appears to embody a IC-ER type of worldview as described by Sue (1978). This is clearly illustrated in the high level of control he has over his behaviors in terms of the structure and specificity he provides in this vignette. It is also clear, however, from this description that Alex understands that there are forces here that are out of his control in terms of stereotyping and racism. Alex is attempting to modify others’ initial and implicit impressions of him by behaving in a way that potentially counteracts these types of stereotypes. In addition, he recognizes that even though he makes these efforts, there may still be factors and experiences linked to stereotyping (e.g., someone thinking he doesn’t belong on campus as an African American man) that he cannot control and are thus outside of his responsibility.
Worldview Related to Sexual Orientation
I’m just starting a new job right now and I’m still getting to know my coworkers and my boss. I live in the Midwest in a pretty small town, where a lot of the community is pretty religious and also pretty conservative. I’m used to this because I grew up in a similar kind of town, but as an adult it’s been a little more difficult for me. I’ve been out as a gay man for several years, and my partner and I have been together for quite some time, but until recently we were living in a larger city and it was less conservative as well. We have a long-distance relationship right now, so no one knows us as a couple here. I’ll have to see how things go as I get to know my coworkers a bit more, but for right now I don’t feel comfortable disclosing to anyone that I’m gay. I had a picture on my desk of the two of us when I first started working, and I got several questions about it. One coworker seemed to stare at it for a while and then said, “Oh, that must be your brother, I guess,” and another asked if my partner was a college roommate. I started realizing that this might be a situation in which I have to hide my sexual orientation for a while before I decide if it’s safe to let anyone know. I know in this state there isn’t a law protecting sexual minorities from being fired from their jobs, and I need this job, so I think I’ll keep quiet for a while. I took the picture off my desk too.
—Lou, age 30
Similar to the vignette describing gender and worldview, this scenario also concerns safety, though of a somewhat different type. At the time this book was published, only 22 of the 50 states (and Washington, DC) included protections for sexual orientation in terms of prohibiting discrimination, including being protected from being fired from one’s job for this reason (Williams Institute, UCLA 2019). Though the Equality Act (which offers protection from firing for both sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to other protections) passed the House of Representatives in May of 2019, it remains to be seen currently whether the act will pass the Senate. In addition, only 19 states prohibited discrimination against individuals related to gender identity. (Note: Though being transgender is related to gender—not sexual orientation, as transgender people may be of any sexual orientation—these laws are noted here because transgender individuals’ status is often discussed with respect to laws related to LGBTQ status.) Talking about family and friends, and perhaps especially partners or spouses, is a very common part of one’s ordinary life in both work and personal domains. Lou, however, based on the worldview he describes above, is clearly nervous that exercising this everyday right might not only impact his employment status but likely raise other potential issues for him as well. Thus, Lou’s worldview is that the world is not always safe. Physical safety, or lack thereof, might also be a prominent feature in the worldviews of LGBTQ individuals across the country. The Anti-Defamation League (2020) reports that approximately 16% of hate crimes are recorded as being related to sexual orientation, and many of these crimes victimize personal safety for LGBTQ individuals. Though federal laws have been changed in recent times to give rights to LGBTQ individuals for same-sex marriage, it is important to note that states may not all offer the same protections within this community.
Worldview Related to Nation of Origin
I can’t understand how marriage works in the United States. In my country of India, I am so grateful to my parents that they’ll be able to guide me in making a good decision about my marriage when I am old enough. In the United States, I know that they think that arranged marriages are archaic, but there are so many features to them that I appreciate. For one, I don’t have to look all over the place to find girls my age to date. I know that if I met someone reasonable that my parents liked, I could still make a suggestion that they could talk to her parents, but at least I don’t have to count on this. For several reasons, I want to marry when I’m ready, as opposed to waiting to see if I meet someone. At work, I notice that the boss seems to favor the married guys a little—he might go over to their house for dinner a bit more often, and some of their wives know his wife, so it’s a bit more social. I’m looking forward to having a stronger relationship with him. Also, I want to be a father and I want to do that while I’m younger so I can play sports with my kids and be more active with them as well. My parents know whose families are ones that would make a good match for me, and though I know people in the United States think it’s a forced marriage, I do have some choices. I can say no if I really don’t like their choice, as long as I don’t embarrass her family or mine. To me, there’s no better way to keep families close together and strong.
—Chandra, age 25
Different nations of origin also shape worldview. If a statement about marriage were being written by a 25-year-old man in the United States, you might imagine that it would be pretty different. Chandra’s worldview clearly shows value for his elders and their decision-making process and also shows a strong value for family (within his respect for parents and his desire to start his own family) as well. In addition, there is little emphasis on personal choice, though a bit is noted. There may also be some value for improved social relationships with his boss at work. This example highlights the fact that different worldviews encompassing social behaviors and norms may be impacted by the country in which one is raised, but there may be many