9/23/14- Talwar 2012

The abstract for this article was actually pretty good so I included it below. I also included some interesting points and observations from the article. 

ABSTRACT:

“Body dissatisfaction is a highly prevalent experience among women across the world; however, there is minimal research relating to this topic for the different ethnic groups in New Zealand. In this study, 45 New Zealand female university students who identified either as Tāngata Whenua1 Māori or New Zealand European completed questionnaires measuring body dissatisfaction and ethnic identity. Although there were many similarities between the groups, there were also interesting differences. Body mass was related to body concerns more so among European than Māori participants. Furthermore, strength of Māori ethnic identity was shown to be associated with lower levels of weight concern.”

The article talked about some things regarding body image and body dissatisfaction…

-Body dissatisfaction is so prevalent among females in western female populations that it’s even seen as normal.

-Body image standards seem to vary across different ethnic groups Here’s an example: Large bodies in pacific communities tend to represent wealth, status, and good health. In Westernized societies, it’s the opposite.

-Something interesting that research has found is that women tend to pick ideal figures that are thinner than what men tend to find attractive, and women seem to think that men prefer thin ideals. So basically, the perspective of most women is totally distorted.

-Research found that across different ethnic groups, body dissatisfaction immerged at different levels of body mass, telling us that a lot of body image is cultural.

-Cultures differ widely on the ideal body sizes

-Thinner ideals may be increasing in Pacifc female populations.

Pretty much what I got from this article is that body image can be heavily influenced by ethnicity and culture. Also, exposure to other cultures/ideals can shift a culture’s ideal. Overall, though, those who have a strong sense of ethnic identity and culture tended to have better body image and less dissatisfaction with weight. 

Maker, 2005

-America’s war on terrorism has done irreparable damage from South Asia and the Middle East.

-Post 9/11 has included tons of discrimination  occurs and the media has created a super negative image of Islam. This target racism might even be compared to that targeted towards Koreans, Japanese, and Vietnamese after other wars.

This chapter hopes to highlight some of the author’s own encounters and interventions since 9/11 as a Muslim, Pakistani, female psychologist.

Using overt and proactive “combat” tactics in session with supervises can serve as an antidote to racism towards therapist of color and have a profound impact on clients and supervisees, this facilitating therapy in a more productive way.

Goals of chapter:

1. How cemented stereotypes of Muslim women (i.e., specific negative gender roles, calues, and cultural norm) emerge I the family therapy session
2. 2. The assumptions of differences between therapist and client based on race, religion, nationality, and culture.
3. the therapist’s use of the self and cultural process dialogue with ckients to confront racism and discuss race and ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, and values.

The author give background about herself:

-first generation South Asian, Muslim, immigrant woman from Pakistan residing in the US.

-Doesn’t fit the stereotype you are thinking of

-she looks westernized and comes from a diverse background.

-her other is from East Africa and her father is from India

-Her parents studied in England and she went to British school

The author goes on to tell about how the cultural hoops she had to jump though in conjunction with being admitted to the University of Michigan. This included her having to take tests which assess for “integration knowledge of American culture, history, politics, values”.

After studying and practicing in America, she returned to Pakistan, she struggled to transfer her Western techniques to an enormously different psyche and community.

Literature Review

-The author did an extensive literature review and identified research focusing on the impact of race, ethnicity, and other cultural factors or the therapeutic relationship.

-few articles were found about racism directed toward therapist of color. The few studies that do focus on therapist of color strongly point in the direction of racism racism and discrimination that significantly interfere with the essence of healing.

-Urgent need to address racism towards therapist of color.

-research has indicated a huge bias towards therapists of color and a view that they are more incompetent except when working with clients that are ethnic minorities. Some therapists experience Clients’ refusal to be seen by them as well as racist stereotypes.

Case Study:

The author talks about a case she saw in which late into therapy the client brought up negative feelings and stereotypes about her Arab neighbors. Originally the therapist was validating and showed empathy, but the client continued to feel stuck on the topic. This is when the therapist realized she was communicating something and talking about her, the therapist.

It was the therapists ability to connect with her anger without using resentment that allowed her to be upfront with her client, discuss how her client felt working with her, dismiss incorrect assumptions, and aid in the therapeutic process.