Text Journal 4 - Knowledge Acquisition

May 7, 2008
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Text Journal 4 – Knowledge Acquisition

Until the 1990’s, the problems of multi-ethnic and cultural diverse female population faced had never been acknowledged. However, it was during this era that women of color practitioners performed thorough studies and provided reports of their findings. Prior to these studies, information concerning the particular issues for these particular groups was minimal because of the unawareness of white female writers. Nevertheless after this information was provided, the white female writers acknowledged that these particular issues should be added to the concern of gender opposition.
The 1990’s era also marked the onset of further studies to understand and to help improve the conditions of the multi-ethnic cultural diverse female population. Brown (1990) expressed the urgency for minority women therapists to become more involved in the research. These women involvement would offer a more introspective view for these particular groups of women, which would help to provide a better understanding for proper care and assistance.
Values are essential to an overall view of life for the multi-ethnic and cultural diverse populations. The dimensions of values vary in each culture. However, there are five fundamental values in every culture: family, respect, harmony, spirituality, and cooperation. Each of these values serves to give each culture a sense of meaning, a stronger bond between them, and focus on the things that are most important in life.
Social construction is a theory that helps the worker to understand the influences that a person has experienced in their life and how they understand and perceive things. It encourages healing to the client because the worker learns to “talk with rather than talk to” the client. This helps to give the client and voice and an understanding that what they have to say is important and the worker wants to hear them.