Ethnographic interviews with West Indian families and a workshop for practitioners.
Item
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Title
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Ethnographic interviews with West Indian families and a workshop for practitioners.
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Identifier
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AAI8914798
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identifier
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8914798
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Creator
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Thrasher, Shirley Patricia.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Rebecca Donovan
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Date
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1988
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work | Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies | Sociology, Individual and Family Studies | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare
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Abstract
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This research project conducts ethnographic interviews with West Indian families in the natural environment of their homes to discover the cultural distinctions, particularly as it relates to the parent-child relationship. West Indians are those Blacks who were born in one of the English-speaking Caribbean Islands and subsequently immigrated to the United States.;The geographical area of the fieldwork is Brooklyn, the borough with the largest population of West Indians.;The informants of the ethnographic interviews were self-selected from a pilot study of past or present recipients of a Prevention Program mandated to prevent the abuse and neglect of children and the placement of them in foster care.;The research design of ethnography follows a cultural anthropological approach of language decoding and analysis based on descriptions by the informants.;A major theme of West Indian culture is the extended family play a major role in the the child-rearing and socialization of children. Although the immigration process has caused the separation of biological parents and children over prolonged periods, there continues to be a closeness, sharing, and commitment to the family unit of extended relatives which is maintained across geographical boundaries.;Another emerging theme in the culture is the importance of a spiritual and religious experience whether that is expressed formally through church membership and rituals or informally.;Respect is a dominant core symbol defining the relationship between parent and child in establishing roles and appropriate boundaries for child-rearing practices.;The technique of disciplining by the use of physical punishment is a theme that has emerged as a culturally sanctioned value and an appropriate child rearing practice. However, this practice has resulted in conflict with the dominant culture where the hitting may be viewed as child abuse.;Education has emerged as highly valued for the families in achieving their migration goals and for upward mobility in the United States. However, the children are experiencing a range of problems in the educational setting which has made this goal elusive for them.;The themes formed the base for the workshop in understanding West Indians and the implications for practice.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
