Asian Americans Face Cultural Conflicts

“White privilege was a concept I was unaware of, even though it was intricately woven into the fabric of my life. If someone had asked me then, I would probably have said that I have not experienced racism, and I did not feel oppressed in any way (Sue & Sue, 2013; pg 401).” 

Asian Americans face cultural conflicts and are at pain concerning behavioral and physical differences. They are exposed to the values, norms, and standards of the dominant society. Such exposure leads to assimilation and acculturation. The group is exposed to mass media, schools and peers who uphold the majority culture standards. Asian Americans feel alienated from both cultures and are unable to fit into a single one. Adolescents try to understand whom they are and usually ask the question “who am I?” a majority of the individuals encounter struggles in their racial identity development. People facing acculturation conflicts may seek to be part of the dominant or identify wholly with the Asian culture. They might also retain Asian values and learn necessary skills and values of the majority group. A small group might perceive own culture as negative but feel awkward at adopting the western culture. Identity issues are a problem for some of the members, but others believe that it is not relevant. It is necessary to assess the ethnic self-identity of the client to be able to conceptualize the problems and determine the choice of therapy to use. Individuals who adhere to Asian values are likely to hold negative views towards counseling. Children face psychological distress for not fitting either of the cultures. Parent-child conflicts are the major problems faced by youths who are seeking to counsel and are related to relationship issues. The parent and children can address this issue by discussing cultural standards and what is expected by the society. Family therapy can be used to deal with the problem, but they exhibit particular difficulties. Therapists need to assess the structure of the household and their perception towards a healthy family functioning. They also need to understand the way decisions are made and the manner in which they show respect for each other. They should focus on the positive side of the family and try to reduce confrontations (Sue & Sue, 2013). 

Reference  

Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2013).  Counselling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice  (6th ed.). Hobroken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons