Describe some of the differences between family structure of the mainstream culture and those of the ethnic or racial minority cultures.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The family structure of mainstream American culture acknowledges nuclear family as the legal standard and views adult members of a family as independent from each other. Conversely, the family structure of minority cultures is characterized by inclusiveness, importance of the family as a whole, and locating power in the family structure as a whole. For example, in African American families, each family member is considered a member of a household, a clan, and family. Moreover, a family is extended to include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws from both sides. Spirituality and religion play a central role among African American families and communities. Black churches provide social and economic support and avenues for self-expression, community involvement, and protective factors for coping with racism and oppression. Hispanic or Latino/Latina families, though a diverse group, have common characteristics that are unique to their family structure. Such characteristics include strong kinship, the role of extended families, and emphasis on family well-being as opposed to individual well-being. Native American families share some of the characteristics of African American and Hispanic families, such as the importance of extended family structure, spirituality, the role of relatives and extended family members in raising children, and emphasis on the well-being of the family instead of individual well-being. One unique characteristic of the Native American family structure is the matrilineal heritage that allows a woman to inherit power, such as the right to become a tribal ruler. Being aware of and respecting these differences in cultures is imperative for cross-cultural work. Counselors must understand the relative significance of these differences in assessment, diagnosis of concerns, and intervention strategies selected to achieve counseling goals.