according to census.gov January 2016…
- by 2030, one in 5 American is projected to be 65 and over
- by 2060, nearly one in 5 of U.S. total population is projected to be foreign born.
Whites are … and Hispanics are…
- Whites: oldest
- Hispanics: youngest
12% of
-Asians were poor
13% of
-white children were poor
30% of
pacific islander children were poor
34% of
Hispanic children were poor
36% of
American Indians were poor
39% of
black children were poor
Asians are …
African American are…
- Asians: best of $$ wise
- African americans: are the poorest
white privilege
- skin color does not work against whites in terms of how people perceive their financial responsibility, style of dress, or job performance
- people not assume professional success because of race(of affirmative option programs)
- store security personnel or law enforcement officers do not harass whites, pull us over or follow us because of our race
cultural beliefs
- independence
- youth and beauty
- speed, efficiency – faster is always better; slow is bad
- competition is good
individualism
McMahan
a person places her own desires above those of the broader community
work (McMahan)
- you are what you do
- in most cultures people define themselves in relation to family heritage
McMahan
- the average American workers spends 2+ more weeks a year on the job than s/he did 20 years ago
- limits free time, time with family and friends
- “time saving devices” usually mean people end up doing more work
Family life
- nuclear households- separate ages
- children and elderly cared for by outsiders - OK
- mother responsible for everything (not extended, neighborhood)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-40% of all babies are born to unwed mother
who is living in multigeneration households
- 27% of Asian americans
- 25% of Africans americans
- 24% of Hispanics
- 14% of non-Hispanics whites
Most= Asians Least= Whites
communication styles
- don’t ask personal questions
- informality in interactions
- honesty, assertiveness
- “cut to the chase”
health care and disabilities
- chronic disabilities account for a larger portion of health issues in the U.S. than in its economic peers around the world
- many of these chronic disabilities are cause by bad food choices, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, and alcohol abuse. However, there has been a significant drop in disability and death from HIV/AIDS
It is predicted that…
-by 2040, there will be more than 80 million people in the U.S. who have dementia
In the U.S. we
- separate illnesses of body and mind
- rely on technology
- may get frustrated with families who rely on nontraditional healing methods– we need to work with practitioners from that religion/cultures
In U.S. patients…
- patients are encouraged to learn as much as possible about their illness
- patient held responsible for dispensing some of treatment (e.g., injecting herself w/ insulin , changing her dressings)
- not true in other cultures – family takes care of those things
