Human society is evolving, and the pace of this transformation increased considerably several decades ago. Families, being a unit of modern societies, are also undergoing changes that are specifically pronounced in the western world. Adoption, same-sex marriages, or living together without the corresponding legal procedures have become common. The roles performed by the members of the family differ from the patterns established in the twentieth century. The family featured in the popular TV series The Modern Family can serve as an appropriate illustration of the changes that took place in recent decades, making North American families different from the Standard North American Family.
First, it is necessary to consider the concept of the Standard North American Family (SNAF) in more detail. SNAF is an ideological code representing a standard family as a legally married couple who live in a shared household and have specific roles (Mitchell 2017: 6). The husband provides for the family and has a job, while the mother is responsible for childrearing and household chores. This code is deeply rooted in the concepts and constructs of structural functionalism. According to this theoretical paradigm, families ensure the stability of the society that is seen as an organism consisting of certain parts that strive for harmony (Mitchell 2017). These social units also have an appropriate structure characterized by well-defined roles and strict compliance with the established norms. In a family, as seen by the proponents of structural functionalism, each member of the family tries to contribute to the development of their household by following some rules and ensuring the acceptance of the wider community. However, such patterns can hardly be applied to the existing families residing across the United States irrespective of their income or ethnicity.
For example, the family under consideration can hardly be referred to as the SNAF, although it bears major features and principles of a family, as defined in terms of structural functionalism. The family under analysis consists of several nuclear families that live in their households. The head of the family, Jay Pritchett lives with his second wife, a Colombian immigrant, Gloria, who is substantially younger than her husband. Jay adopted Sofias son, and in several years, Jay and Sofia have their child, Joe. Mr. Pritchett still has a central influence on the family and is still the core of this social unit. He provides for his nuclear family, although Sofia starts working after the birth of Joe, trying to self-realize.
Jays daughter, Claire, was a housewife for approximately two decades and completely dependent on her husband, Phil. The family could be seen as the SNAF, but she became the head of her fathers business, which was the start of her career. Household chores were distributed among the spouses and their three children. The major difference from the SNAF is Phils active role in child rearing. At that, this aspect makes the family still adherent to the principles of structural functionalism, with all members contributing to the establishment of harmony. This nuclear family has close ties with Jay, who has the final word and is seen as a good advisor.
The most unconventional part of the family is Mitchell and his partner Cameron who live with their adopted children. Although the couple is legally married, they cannot be seen as the SNAF as they are both males. First, Cameron does not contribute to the family financially, which relates their family to a SNAF where one of the spouses focuses on the household while the other one provides for the family. Later, both partners start their careers, which is also rather consistent with the ideas of structural functionalism, where all members have roles and strive for harmony.
The TV series, as well as its title per se, illustrate the way modern social institutions have been transformed and continue transforming peoples lives and identities. The very concept of marriage has evolved and became free from various restrictions that existed for centuries. People are free to live together without legal limitations. The views regarding adoption and same-sex unions have become revolutionary, which enabled thousands of people to live happily the lives they longed to have. The government supports the development of marriage as a social institution ensuring harmony. In a way, modern families are conventional illustrations of the structural functionalist paradigm, as people are able to live harmoniously in their households and their communities. As featured in the TV series, the community is largely positive about the family in question irrespective of such elements as same-sex marriage, adoption, working females, and immigrants in a white community.
In conclusion, it is possible to state that The Modern Family sheds light on the way American society has been evolving in terms of core social institutions. The SNAF has lost its status as a standard since an increasing number of people do not pay attention to the conventions linked to gender roles, sexuality matters, and others. People have an opportunity to meet the needs at all levels of Maslows pyramid. Structural functionalism is a relevant approach to viewing modern American families where all members contribute to ensuring harmony within their households and a larger community. However, it is also necessary to note that the family in question pertains to the upper-middle class, while the experiences of Americans in other economic strata can be different.
Reference
Mitchell, Barbara A. 2017. Family Matters: An Introduction to Family Sociology in Canada. Toronto, Canada: Canadian Scholars Press.
The primary goal of this reflection is to cultivate the understanding of the three topics, which were acquired during classes, and underline their importance for my future profession as a teacher. Family involvement in classes is an essential attribute, which has to be taken into account, as it determines the individual motivational approaches, the complexity of interaction, students interest, and positive learning outcomes while considering the governmental acts for equal opportunities in education. Firstly, it is important to understand that parents significantly contribute to the childs well-being and play different roles including organizational members, educators, and educational decision-makers (Turnbull, Turnbull, Erwin, & Soodak, 2011).
Parents can affect the learning services and remain the essential attributes of the educational process, as they can affect the educational programs in schools and institutions. Understanding the diversity of the familys roles will help me develop an understanding of the formation of the education process in school while working as a teacher in the future. Moreover, this approach implies that I should devote a significant amount of time to building trusting relationships with families, as they can enhance the educational process and improve the learning outcomes.
Another important point is the fact that the implementation process of parents involvement program requires efficient scheduling and planning, as the process is rather complicated and involves multiple steps (Hara & Burke, 1998). In this instance, participation in various activities and sufficient planning of parents involvement program will help enhance the educational opportunities for my classes. This aspect can make my classes more interactive, as additional funding can be collected for educational purposes. In this case, the usage of new approaches will assist in increasing the learning outcomes in my class. It remains evident that collaboration will be an effective tool, which will determine the goals of the students. Nonetheless, the complexity of the implementation stages has to be taken into account since it reveals that careful planning is needed.
Furthermore, the family involvement motivates the students to reach higher results and increase their attendance in the classes and involvement in the extracurricular activities (Hara & Burke, 1998). It could be said that parents are the primary drivers of the students success and desire to have higher academic achievements than before. It remains evident that I will want to have a high academic achievement of my students and a growing interest in my subjects, as it determines my reputation in the educational circles. In this case, my active collaboration with the parents will help discover the individual traits and characteristics of my students and determine the efficient ways to improve their learning outcomes in my class. Establishing a trusting relationship will help develop individual approaches to each student and enhance their cognitive and learning skills.
Lastly, it remains evident that students with disabilities and with special needs have to be taken into account, as the government mentions that they have to be treated as equal members of society. In this instance, the government of the United States of America emphasizes the importance of the familys involvement in the educational processes to improve the academic achievement of the students. It could be said that the United States of America works towards the absence of discrimination and the presence of the equality of rights and freedoms in American society, as it is important to provide the same quality of education to the individuals. As for my future profession as a teacher, it is apparent that my practices have to comply with the principles and aspects of educational laws and policies.
In this scenario, I have to make sure that all of my students receive the same quality of education during my classes. Moreover, the role of the parents is emphasized by the government, and I should not underestimate the importance of their involvement in the educational process. In this instance, I have to assure that they play a significant role while monitoring the progress of the students and proposing the potential ways of the enhancement of the classes to comply with the educational policies. Lastly, equality has to be considered as the fundamental value in my classes to avoid conflicts and negative consequences.
In conclusion, it could be said that the familys involvement in the educational process cannot be underestimated, as it helps students to be more motivated and reach higher academic achievements. Another point is the fact that it contributes to the establishment of the right approaches to motivate individuals. Lastly, it can help improve the condition of the educational facilities by having additional funding. Consequently, the classes will be more interactive and exciting for students since new technologies will be used. Nonetheless, the complexity of the familys involvement plan cannot be underestimated, as it involves risks and multiple stages due to the essentiality of understanding the goals of the involvement. Moreover, the role of government in the familys participation in educational decision-making remain significant due to the ability to introduce and control regulations to enhance the educational process.
References
Hara, S., & Burke, D. (1998). Parent involvement: The key to improved student achievement. School Community Journal, 8(2): 219-228.
Turnbull, A., Turnbull, R., Erwin, E., & Soodak, L. (2011). Families, professionals, and exceptionality. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Publishing.
Society ordinarily has a divide of two; the rich and the poor; the less privileged and the opportune; the wasted and the significant. Most times, this divide starts at the least units of society that adore the rich and gets disgusted with the poor.
This strong imagery of society is effectively captured in the movie Children of Heaven which attempts to define whether poverty has always meant the unfortunate. Often times than not, the child who starves due to poverty is looked upon as carrying an infection.
This paper seeks to identify family values and norms that make the family stand out unique irrespective of wealth level, and how the norms shape the child during growing up. When considering an isolation of certain members of the family- particularly children; the general differences that set out the poor and the rich in a given society could be very clear; and the effects of having a society socially divided by content of possession would therefore be basic considerations.
Family Values and Ties and Social Network
A majority of individuals who have watched Children of Heaven have always had a reason to applaud the quality of the piece of work. While credit to the quality of the piece of work has been noted to embed the scriptural work and the high performance of the characters who interpreted the story, it has been argued that the quality of the film is depended on the pre-imaging aspect (Mitch, 2008).
Critique is also built around the fact that even though the film capitalizes on inequality, and on social poverty, it fails to clearly identify the basis which morbid the general structuring of the divide (French & Bunkley, 2005).
This film, as it reflects key family values, is a narration that cuts across both the struggling and the established. Ali, 10, and Zahra, 9, are the chief characters whose story is built on repairs and loss of shoes. Ones interest in the story is lifted when the 10 year old child turns into a participant in a race contest to acquire a pair of shoes. This x-rays the length a child could go, based on family motivating factors, to define success.
The movie presents a resounding quality which reassures one of quality of life for all but paints the picture of the injustice that befalls the poor. Perhaps, the poor live quite simply in most cases, but their life is well fulfilled.
A significant quality of the movie that further projects the uniqueness of the production is the non-availability of gunshots, no physical violence, no ops and sound with loud attractions. Of course, the story writer does consider the value of materialism to the ordinary family in Iran as such families go through though thin on daily basis to better their living. Irrespective of what the families go trough, there is a clear drive in them to keep life going on a happier mood.
Urban Isolation among some Family Members
Urban isolation among some family members in the film is strongly presented as it x-rays poor families making frantic efforts to keep life on a happier side. The inter-switch of school attendance of Ali and his younger sister as the alternative option to share a pair of shoes for school is a strong story line which sees Ali always gets to his classes by late hours unlike the rest of the children who come from urban areas.
When he is not going to school, the boy would usually go with his father to the other part of the city where there are the wealthy to lookout for a gardening job- this work, though low paid would make extra cash available to the family. The scene is a sharp contrast of two families, one leaving in luxuries the other managing to keep things going, yet happiness of the families is not defined by the weight of their individual possessions.
Life, as it will always be, seem to create more opportunities for people who are eager to get solutions. Ali found a way out to the challenge he had consistently faced with the shoes through participation in school sports. To get his dream come through, Ali would have to push through several other children at least to a third place of course quite a daunting challenge this is.
Physical Setting between Poor and Rich Neighborhoods
From a personal point of view, the major difference between the wealthy and the lacking is based on acquisition and positions. Although these are capable of suggesting ones happiness, the fulfillment in ones life is not completely resting on them. Several reasons make Children of Heaven an outstanding film, the most prominent of these is certainly the inherent sweetness of the film.
As against what is seen with majority of the children in the United States, Ali truly expressed deep and affectionate love on the younger sister Zahara. Both siblings having become tired of their predicament and decided to confront an issue through a unified approach without placing extra demand to further stress their parents finances.
Of course the familys dreams to have a better standard of living some days gets louder in their minds day after day- some days, they could acquire whatsoever they please. In this way, both the poor and the rich families in the film have one thing in common- to get to an expected end.
I would say that where I find the movie a bit weak is on the fundamental conceit which rather appears to be artificial. Apart from this, the manner in which Ali lost the younger sisters shoes is not quite articulate. However, the rest of the film has a careful touch and reflects uniqueness.
Attitudes and Cultural Differences Between haves and Have-Nots
Cultural differences in the movie between the haves and the have-nots are striking as the haves have an unusual display of wealth, where as the later struggle towards expected ends. This trait in the movie is in line with several other Iranian movies that I have watched as a majority of them are usually gentle and project a relaxed style yet a sharp contrast in peoples wealth.
The lesson learnt from this movie is not that zahara could lost her shoes, nor is it that it is difficult for a dad to find work in Iran, neither is it that Ali could be placed in a race. The lesson is based on the qualities of building a great and happy family irrespective of how rich or poor one is.
Conclusion
This paper discusses lessons learnt from Children of Heaven; a movie defining societys ordinary of classifying people; the rich and the poor; the less privileged and the opportune; the wasted and the significant. Most times, society places a divide between the two which starts at the least units of society that adore the rich and gets disgusted with the poor.
Children of Heaven attempts to define whether poverty has always meant the unfortunate. Often times than not, the child who starves due to poverty is looked upon as carrying an infection. This ugly way of looking at others based on their lack will never make our societies better ones, if not checked.
Why and how should practical reasoning and project-based learning be used in FCS classes?
Several forces have contributed to the ever-changing methodologies used in family and consumer education (FCS). These forces together with the philosophical ideologies changes in society have influenced the FCS curriculum in several ways. These factors have necessitated the use of practical reasoning and project-based learning in FCS classes (Ryburn, 65).
From the early 1980s, FCS experts have spearheaded the adoption of new curriculums in FCS classes. According to these experts, human relationships are equal and cooperative rather than patriarchal. Thus, there is a need to adopt approaches practically focused on FCS classes (Sewell, 54). With the adoption of these approaches, teachers can improve their students learning abilities. Teachers who have used the system have helped their students to solve numerous practical challenges. Similarly, they are able to solve students ethical issues by providing them with various ethical solutions. In this regard, the students become socially responsible. Through FCS classes, experts have identified practical reasoning as a critical thinking process in the education system (Sewell, 76). This is because practical reasoning allows both the teachers and students to consider carefully their appropriate factors, substitute actions, valued ends, and various consequences necessitating ethical actions. Similarly, practical reasoning is useful in effectively solving real-world challenges especially concerning problems requiring intellectual and social approaches. Therefore, all FCS classes should adopt the use of practical reasoning in their curriculums to help the students to become better family members and citizens in the future.
The practical reasoning learning process can be introduced to students by asking questions that relate to their family, school, and community challenges. The students should apply their reasoning skills to obtain solutions.
Project-based learning
Project-based learning can be advantageous in FCS classes as it engages students in cooperative investigations. With this learning framework, students learn to collaborate and work together towards a common goal. In the course of this learning process, students participate by asking questions, arguing ideas, analyzing data, and establishing facts. Teachers should encourage their students to develop and solve questions relating to their family, community, and school. Subsequently, teachers and FCS curriculum developers can develop questions and activities for their students. It is appropriate to advocate this teaching approach in all FCS classes due to its numerous benefits to both the teachers and students.
Overtime, Projects serve as a bridge between the classwork and real life experiences. Thus, through this process, students can appreciate the knowledge gained in FCS classes (Sewell, 76). Similarly, through projects, students obtain the chance to develop facts thus allowing them to expand their knowledge. By exchanging projects, students can scrutinize tasks and develop a better understanding of their families and society. Likewise, projects can provide teachers with a platform to evaluate the level of their students understanding. This enables teachers to analyze and assess how the students have transferred their knowledge in various situations. In this regard, it is considered important for teachers to embrace project-based learning in their teaching endeavors.
Where does the scenario assessment fit in?
In FCS classes, scenario assessment methods are the best-suited means of evaluating and grading students. In each scenario, students are should use their reasoning and apply knowledge to solve problems. This implies that scenario assessment can suit both the practical reasoning and project-based learning methods used in FCS classes. Teachers are required to rate their students responses in relation to every scenario. FCS experts are required to develop scenario projects for homes and career skills that are valid and reliable (Ryburn, 65).
Works Cited
Ryburn, Renee. Mentoring Practices in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. lowa: Iowa State University, 2007. Print.
Sewell, Darby. A Narrative Journey to Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Iowa : Iowa State University, 2008. Print.
The article aims to explore the roles that families play in virtual learning. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced many schools to switch to online learning, families have become an essential part of the learning process. The authors argue that understanding the different roles that families play in virtual learning can help schools and educators provide better support and resources to students. By analyzing the various roles that families play in virtual learning, the authors demonstrate that family involvement and support are critical to the success of their children
The authors begin by discussing the impact of virtual learning on families. Specifically, they highlight the challenges parents and caregivers face in ensuring that their children have access to the necessary resources and support to succeed in a virtual learning environment. They argue that families play a critical role in promoting their childrens academic success by providing a supportive learning environment at home, establishing routines and schedules, and helping their children stay organized and motivated. Moreover, Currie-Rubin and Smith (2014) identify some of the key challenges families face in virtual learning, including technological barriers, limited access to resources, and the need for parents to take on a more active role in their childrens education. As a result, schools and educators can help alleviate some of these challenges through various means. This includes providing families with the necessary tools and resources, and maintaining open lines of communication.
One of the key themes of the article is the importance of collaboration and partnership between families and educators, more so in promoting student success in virtual learning environments. Currie-Rubin and Smith (2014) argue that families and educators must work together to create a supportive learning environment that meets the unique needs of each student. In doing so, they recommend that schools and educators can provide families with guidance and support. On the other hand, families can support their children by providing a positive learning environment, establishing routines and schedules, and helping them stay motivated.
In conclusion, the article provides a valuable perspective on the impact of virtual learning on families and the role they play in supporting their childrens academic success. It highlights the importance of collaboration, communication, and support in promoting student success in virtual learning environments. Finally, it provides practical strategies for families and educators to work together to create a supportive and effective learning environment for students.
As a non-profit organization, the Food Bank provides food for low-income families and individuals (Caraher, 2015). Although this cannot eliminate hunger, providing food can help to manage the problem to some extent. Food Bank can efficiently avail provisions and distribution services by working together with charity groups and other organizations that serve rations. At times, the food stored in the food bank is not fresh. Also, some of it is reported to be moldy. As a result, employees have to throw away a lot of provisions before distribution. However, charities and organizations still receive some spoiled food. According to Schanbacher (2014), organizations like YMCA have to first throw out bad food beyond their mandate.
Consequently, the amount of donated food is reduced, impacting negatively on those in need. Also, bad food can harm consumers (Naylor, 2014). The illnesses include chills, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
The proposal is a project to develop a plan to provide fresh food to low-income families and individuals. Specifically, the proposal will focus on three procedures. The three involve decreasing the amount of bad food received, improving storage conditions, and reducing losses associated with food distribution.
Rationale
Food Bank is an organization that provides food for the hungry (Chen, 2014). The provisions can be distributed directly or through other organizations, such as YMCA. Most low-income families and individuals rely on food rations to survive. Receiving spoilt or reduced rations will worsen their living conditions. The negative impacts will work against the organizations goal of improving the lives of these persons. As such, the Food Bank will ensure that the food is fresh. The entity will also try to serve as many people as possible (Brown, 2014).
Research Plan
In the coming month, the research will focus on improving the quality of services provided by the Food Bank. The research has three stages:
Identifying the causes of freshness problems by gathering situation information and data on all procedures from donation to distribution. Food freshness data will be obtained from Food Bank officers reports and officials from other supporting organizations, such as YMCA and USAID.
Researching to understand the process of food donation:
The origin of food (for example, the kind of food donated and the donors).
How decisions about which food to accept are made.
Conduct research to understand the situation of the food storage flow:
The methods used to store food.
The freshness of food and waste situation.
Data about time length before food distribution.
Research to understand the food distribution situation:
Condition of food delivery (for example, how long it takes to deliver food and its freshness when delivered).
Food recipients (for example, whether or not they receive fresh food and at the right quantities).
List and analyze all the causes of food freshness problems from food donation to food distribution after gathering the information. Conduct research on ways to address the problem of food freshness.
Best practices for the collection of food donations.
Best practices from other organizations that provide food to low-income families and individuals.
Ways to improve food delivery, including transportation.
Analyze all the information and identify the appropriate strategy to improve the quality of food rations and distribution. Finally, a report will be provided in a white paper regarding all the findings and recommendations about food freshness problems.
Resources and Budget
The primary resource to be used will be The Guidelines for Fresh Produce Food Safety. The resource was selected because it improves quality and consistency with regards to the development and implementation of fresh rations and safety programs.
The project will take three months and is expected to cost $200,000. Based on the work plan, the timeframe is not expected to affect the current workload.
Conclusion
The objective of the Food Bank is to help people deal with hunger by distributing food. To solve the hunger problem, food banks should provide fresh food to the beneficiaries. For low-income families and individuals, access to fresh food can decrease illnesses and save money, which improves their quality of life (Murcott, Belasco, & Jackson, 2013). For the Food Bank, fresh food will not only reduce wastage but also increase efficiency. All these benefits can lead to a better society.
References
Brown, M. (2014). Food security, food prices and climate variability. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Caraher, M. (2015). The European Union food distribution programme for the most deprived persons of the community, 1987-2013: From agricultural policy to social inclusion policy?. Health Policy, 119(7), 932-940.
Chen, Y. (2014). Trade, food security, and human rights: The rules for international trade in agricultural products and the evolving world food crisis. Farnham, Surrey, England: Routledge.
Murcott, A., Belasco, W., & Jackson, P. (2016). The handbook of food research. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Naylor, R. (2014). The evolving sphere of food security. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Schanbacher, W. (2014). The global food system: Issues and solutions. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
Time never stands still and changes take place in every sphere of life of humanity. The same is true for food and meals traditions due to quite rapid development of modern technologies, changes related to the pace of living, and influence of foreign traditions that are becoming extremely popular among teenagers in the East, modern ways of cooking in Dubai are quite different from ones that were popular a few decades ago. Considering the important role that cooking plays in our culture, it is necessary to conduct research allowing us to define how family meals and food traditions in Dubai have changed and which processes acted as prerequisites to such changes. The research question that needs to be answered with the help of the given paper is the following: how have family meals and food traditions in Dubai changed with the lapse of time and which factors have contributed to such a situation?
Literature Review
Food culture in Dubai and UAE, in general, has changed due to many factors such as the development of modern technology providing people with access to millions of recipes. Apart from that, it can be said that modern people in Dubai are often pressed in time, and this is why ways of cooking that consume less time are growing in popularity. Also, it is necessary to understand that wide use of social media and online communication remains a factor that encourages a kind of exchange between representatives of different cultures. Due to that, Western food becomes even more popular among teenagers and it may have a negative impact on traditional culture in Dubai and assumptions of the younger generation (Ali, Jarrar, Abo-El-Enen, Al Shamsi, & Al Ashqar, 2015). The culture of food consumption in the United Arab Emirates remains an important topic for many researchers. As it is clear from the article devoted to food atlas of the United Arab Emirates, a lot of food which is popular in the country is not traditional for the region (Al Marzooqi, Burke, Al Ghazali, Duffy, & Al Yousuf, 2015). Traditional dishes popular in the country include kubbe, khema, madhroba, fatoush, balaleet, and many others. Nevertheless, the consumption of dishes from other cuisines such as pizza, pasta, cheesecake, and sushi seems to grow as well due to the popularity of western lifestyle among teenagers. In fact, consumption of traditional food in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, in general, has decreased recently; another reason why such a situation occurs is teenagers and young adults concerns related to body image. Due to the popularity of a healthy lifestyle and willingness to lose weight, many university students in the country refuse to eat traditional dishes (Al Dhaheri, Al Maawali, Laleye, & Washi, 2014). In the past, a lot of attention was paid to family meals at home; having a family meal was both a way to spend time and a symbol of unity. Although it has been proved that family meal frequency influences childrens eating behavior, some families tend to apply other eating practices due to the lack of time (Al Amoodi, 2016).
Conclusion
As is clear from the results of the research, there are certain changes related to food consumption in Dubai. Among younger people, traditional food becomes less popular due to its calorific capacity (Zafari, Allison, & Demangeot, 2015). People of the older generation pay less time to cook and the popularity of foreign dishes grows but family meals with traditional food served still remain an important part of life in Dubai. The most important factors contributing to such a situation include the spread of western culture and lifestyle changes.
References
Al Amoodi, S. (2016). Family food environment and child eating behavior in a private school of Abu Dhabi. Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise, 1(1), 33-50.
Al Dhaheri, A. S., Al Maawali, A. K., Laleye, L. C., & Washi, S. A. (2014). Nutritional knowledge of Emirati traditional foods and body image perceptions among UAE university students. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 26(10), 853-860.
Al Marzooqi, H. M., Burke, S. J., Al Ghazali, M. R., Duffy, E., & Al Yousuf, M. H. S. (2015). The development of a food atlas of portion sizes for the United Arab Emirates. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 43(1), 140-148.
Ali, H. I., Jarrar, A. H., Abo-El-Enen, M., Al Shamsi, M., & Al Ashqar, H. (2015). Students perspectives on promoting healthful food choices from campus vending machines: A qualitative interview study. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 512.
Hussain, H. Y. (2015). Obesity and overweight among Dubai population, prevalence and associated risk factors. Cross sectional analytical study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 44(1), 133.
Zafari, K., Allison, G., & Demangeot, C. (2015). Practising conviviality: Social uses of ethnic cuisine in an Asian multicultural environment. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 32(7), 564-575.
J.M is a 36-year-old female and was born in Cape Town, South Africa. It is a nation located in the south of Africa. It also contains the Prince Edward Islands, a small sub-Atlantic archipelago. The current population of South Africa is about 59 million (Veracini & Verbuyst, 2020, p.261). South Africa is one of the worlds most cosmopolitan countries. As a result, many diverse ethnic groups will make up the population in cities. Like its atmosphere, South Africans are very friendly and accommodating. Although there are 11 official languages, English is most peoples second or third language, thus visitors who are fluent in that language will be comfortable.
As from childhood, J.M has always dreamt of studying in the US. She came to the US as a student in business management. After graduating, she got married to an American and started a family. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. In South Africa, the father works as a bank manager in one of the main banks. On the other hand, the mother is a businesswoman and runs a family business in Cape Town. J. Ms mother also takes on the role of family manager due to the numerous activities that a mother must manage in a household. For the remainder of her life, she must sustain the physical aspects of her familys existence and the intangible qualities, such as maintaining a vibrant environment for her husband and children. J. Ms father has a duty to provide and ensure that the family is safe.
Communication
J.M was glad to share information about her culture and various aspects of her life. She felt quite comfortable giving details about her life and was just a little hesitant about disclosing details about her sons. The interview took place in her break room at her workplace, with us sitting across from each other at a lunch table. She established easy eye contact as she told me about her life and family. Her voice was friendly, with volume, pace, and tone appropriate for the workplace. Her facial expression was appropriate depending on the topic of conversation. When I asked her about her future goals, she stated that she wants to own a larger multinational company. She said, as a mother, I committed to making sure that I perform my roles and take care of the family. She wants to ensure that her marriage is stable and the family is doing well for the family.
Family Roles and Organization
When J.M and the husband became parents, he would go to work, and she stayed at home with our baby. In J. Ms culture, men are considered the providers and women are supposed to be caregivers. Therefore, she spent all of her time with the children to know them more. She believes that men should be the heads of households. She wants the woman to be obedient to her husbands and the households needs. She enjoys reading novels and gaming in her spare time. The sibling resides in Cape Town, South Africa, together with the parents. However, her closest relatives live in Texas, and she communicates with them several times every week, either via phone or in person.
However, J.M stated that the family tend to be more flexible when it comes to role-taking. Since they are both working, they have adopted a plan to handle the family. Today, the roles have expanded beyond yesterdays expectations, and often both parents are working, and fathers are expected to be more present in their childrens lives. For example, when J.M is committed to other activities, the husband takes the responsibility of taking care of the children. He would be there for the kids and ensure that they have eaten, done their homework, and are generally comfortable. She believes that changing roles in the family has greatly helped keep the family together.
Workforce Issues
J.M struggled to find work after completing her studies in business management. She was confident that she would not remain unemployed for long. However, it was not the case because she got a job after several months. Because she was an African American, she had an easier time finding work in hotels dealing with African dishes. After a year of working in the hotel, she was hired by a firm selling utility products to consumers. Within three years, she had advanced to the level of management and was transferred to Georgia. He relocated to Georgia, where she met her husband. In the workplace, she was dealing with people from diverse cultures. As a result, she was forced to start learning the different cultures for effective coexistence in the workplace.
Biocultural Ecology
J.M. is a fair-skinned, medium-built female with black hair and grey eyes. She was dressed in a white silk blouse and blue pants. Because his maternal grandparents died in an accident before she was born, she had no family history of the disease. She claimed that his mother has type 2 diabetes and could benefit from shedding a few pounds. J.M. claims that when she takes drugs for pain, she notices that he becomes exceedingly sensitive and drowsy for hours.
High-Risk Behaviors
J.M and the husband enjoy social drinking but do not smoke. J.M drinks more on weekends while the husband does it throughout the week. She has never been involved in any unlawful drug activity. Her parents drank wine but did not engage in any drug-related activities. Her only sexual relationship is with her husband, and she wants to keep it that way. J.M. claims that she has never gone to the gym, whereas the husband goes to the gyms once in a while, especially when picked by a friend. She always wears her seatbelt and never uses her cell phone while driving, not even with the hands-free feature. She never exceeds the speed limit and tries to follow the traffic rules.
Nutrition
She has no dietary limitations, although she eats in small portions due to her gastric bypass surgery five years ago. She avoids greasy foods and eats as healthily as possible. She admits that her water intake could be improved, but she consumes a lot of vegetables. Her favorite foods include rice, spaghetti, chicken, seafood, and red meat. She is not a fan of desserts or fast food. She sees her doctor once a year, and she does not believe in going to the emergency department for minor ailments.
Interview Areas
Pregnancy and Childbearing Practices: J.M expresses her opposition to birth control methods used to avoid conception. She believes that, as God intended, women should not become pregnant before marriage. She claims she did not become sexually active until after she married. Her two sons were planned ahead of time, as she believes all successful families should do. Their children are three years apart, which she says provided her and her husband enough time to learn about parenting.
Death Rituals: J.M. stated that she is a Catholic and is only familiar with Catholic funeral rites. The body is sprinkled with holy water and covered to remember baptism. When the convoy arrives at the front of the church, an open Bible and a crucifix, both Christian symbols, maybe put on the coffin.
Spirituality: J.M and the husband are devout Catholics who routinely attend Catholic Mass. She claims that she enjoys church services and occasionally attends Bible study on Wednesday evenings. They regard God as a higher being and pray daily. They also believe that God, family, and remaining well provide her with strength. J. Ms definition of life is to be well, to support her family, and to strive to be a better person continually.
Health care practice: J.M is currently a healthy female with only a history of asthma. She mentioned that she did not have much to say about her healthcare methods.
Health care practitioner: L.J. visits a physician twice every year for a physical. She prefers an older Caucasian male healthcare provider. She is vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia.
Degree of acculturation: J.M feels a deep connection to her African ancestors. She has been exposed to various ethnic origins and solely seeks relationships based on their shared culture. She only knows Caucasian, African, American, and Asian Americans, and she claims that where she grew up, people were racist towards whites due to colonization. However, having interacted with different cultures, she does feel at ease in the presence of a varied group. When asked how she identifies herself, she answered that she is an African American.
Health Traditions Assessment Guide
Maintain Health
Physical:
Do you have special clothes that you wear at a particular time of the day, week, and year? No
Are you on special foods that you must take at a given time? No
Do you have some foods that you cannot eat? No
Mental:
Do you have hobbies and activities that you like doing? I like to reading novels.
How often do you visit your family? Not really.
How often do you visit friends: Yes, at least two times a week, especially on weekends?
Spiritual:
Do you observe your religion, go to church, or participate in other communal activities? Yes, I am Catholic, and I go to Mass.
Do you practice prayer or meditation? I make a prayer.
Do you follow religious customs? I do observe Passover.
Are you a member of a secret society? No
Protect Health
Physical:
Do you have any foods that you were cautioned to be eating together? No
Are you on a special diet? No
Do you have a specific type of cloths to wear? No.
Mental
Do you have people or circumstances that you are supposed to avoid? Yes, I was told to avoid extramarital affairs.
Do you have some precautions under some situations? No
Do you always have time for yourself? Yes, I go to a quiet place to relax when I have had a stressful day.
Spiritual:
Do you follow religious customs? Yes, I attend mass on occasion.
Do you wear charms or display them in your home? No
Restore Health
Physical:
What medications do you take before seeing a doctor or nurse? Allergies, colds, and sprays.
Do you consume any herbs? No
Do you employ any treatments? No.
Mental:
Are you aware of any special relaxation techniques that your mother or grandma may employ? She goes out with friends.
Are you aware of how major issues in your community can be addressed? No
Do you take specialized teas to unwind and relax? No
Spiritual:
Are you aware of any religious rites that aid in restoring health? No
Do you practice meditation? No
Do you seek out therapeutic treatments regularly? No.
Are you familiar with exorcism? No, you say (Giger & Davidhizar, 2002).
Cultural Phenomena Affecting Health
Giger and Davidhizars Transcultural Assessment Model
Cultural Unique Individual:
Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa.
Culture: belonging to and following a particular way of life.
Race: African American.
Time spent in the country: ten years.
Communication: English is one of the most frequently spoken languages in South Africa, allowing it to overcome cultural divides more easily than most other local languages. For official papers, each province utilizes English as the most common language in their jurisdiction.
Quality of voice: Average
Pronunciation: Clear and accurate
Application of silence: frequent
Application of nonverbal: nothing.
Touch: J.M accepts touch without difficulties.
How do you convey your message to others? Verbal communication allows me to make my point.
Do you enjoy talking with your friends, relatives, and acquaintances? Yes
Do you usually answer questions with words, body movement, or both? I just answer with words.
Space:
How comfortable are you here? Very comfortable.
The distance of conversation: about two or more feet.
Description of space:
Explain your degree of comfort with closeness when talking with or standing near others: I feel uncomfortable when I am close.
Do objects within the surroundings affect your view of space? The objects do not affect my sense of space.
How close do you stand when you talk with family members? I stand an arms length.
When communicating with colleagues and other friends, how close do you stand? approximately 2 feet or more.
How do you feel when a loved one touches you? Im feeling pleasant and at ease.
Social Organization:
The state of health: Good
Marital status: Married
The number of children: Two sons.
Are your parents living or deceased? They are living.
What do you mean by social activities? are events that bring individuals together.
Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being? Of course, I believe in God.
How do you honor the Supreme Being? I pray, sing, and attend church.
How do you get along with your siblings and parents? I get along with everyone.
From your point of view, what is work? it is a source of livelihood for me.
What is your political orientation? I am Democrat and follow that party. However, I do not know much about politics.
Time:
Time Orientation: Individual who is concerned with the future.
Time perspective: I like spending time with my family and friends.
Physiochemical response to time:
I get at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Sleeps and wakes on a regular program. I usually go to bed at 11 p.m. and get up at 6 a.m. during the week and 8 a.m. on weekends.
Recognizes the significance of taking medications and other treatments on time: I take my meds exactly as directed.
Environmental control:
Internal control: J.M feels that the ability to influence change lies in her.
Value orientation: J.M has a strong belief in supernatural forces. Prayer is used to effect change.
How frequently do you get visitors at home? I usually have guests twice a week, especially on weekends.
What home remedies have you tried and found to be effective? Honey, particularly when treating sore throat.
Biological variations:
Body Structure: Medium framed average height.
Skin color: fair skin
Hair color and distribution: Black and thin.
What ailments are common in your family? Diabetes
The types of foods do you and your family like to eat? Any healthy food choices.
Nursing Assment
J.M lives with her husband and two children in Georgia. She is a kind and welcoming person to people and a loving and supportive member of her family. She is fine with some people invading her personal space as long as they have a good purpose. Nurses should allow her to express her views and aspirations regarding her healthcare. During any periods of convalescence, she should be allowed to include her own desired care practices as long as they do not conflict with medical provider instructions. She will demand that her care and treatment plans be communicated to her. She will also expect her family to be kept informed of her progress when they visit her in the hospital.
Summary
Overall, J.M is a kind and friendly person and I had a great time interviewing her because I got a glimpse into the realm of actual and perceived African American culture and beliefs. During this process, I discovered that everyone is unique and has different perspectives on their own experiences than others. Because I believe I now have a better understanding of this race, the information gathered from this interview will help me to continue to handle myself professionally in my nursing career. As a caregiver, I am sure that I can conduct myself professionally with the understanding that people behave, believe, and conduct themselves in ways that are inextricably linked to their experiences.
Gathering in groups to eat is a well-spread practice in various cultures. In my family, it has also been a tradition to eat together. While we used to gather occasionally in everyday life, it remains a strong habit to share a table on holidays. There are several lessons I learned from such gatherings, including the power of sharing a common experience and the importance of supporting the value of the family.
The practice of eating together creates a foundation for sharing a common experience. Importantly, food draws a natural interest in each person because it satisfies the vital human need and serves as a source of pleasure. Accordingly, food attracts people and makes them share their experiences of taste and flavors. In our family, we always communicate our impressions of dishes and share the joy of tasting delicious meals. While we are all different and there might be few topics to discuss altogether, food can become the central topic and serve as a common ground for all our family.
Furthermore, gathering around the table contributes to stronger family ties. In ancient times, it was challenging to provide families with food and therefore, a meal represented a significant value. Nowadays, it is not surprising that people tend to share delicious foods with their loved ones and consider cooking a way to demonstrate affection. By observing my mother putting energy and effort into preparing meals, I learned how one could share their love through food. Hence, although we did not gather every day, holiday dinners have remained a necessary part of our family life. I learned that such planned holiday-related meetings contribute to a sense of belonging and fulfillment with support from the family.
Overall, in my experience, gathering around the table is associated with the creation of shared experience and support of the family value. The shared table serves to enhance the sense of mutual understanding and belonging, and can help overcome differences between people.
With nearly 1.5 billion people, China has the biggest percentage of the world population based on country terms. The vast majority of the countrys citizens is largely rural, as around eight hundred million people reside in rural areas while the rest, roughly 35 percent reside in urban areas. Since the introduction of new family planning laws took effect, the population growth rate considerably slowed down (Murphey 10).
Family values are very important to Chinese culture. Today, the family harmony still plays a very significant role in the hearts of Chinese people. Most families, even when they are busy, will spend their weekends with each other, doing whole families can get together to eat, chat, and enjoy lives.
The role of family values remains relevant in the Chinese society. In this regard, family harmony is viewed as being pivotal towards attaining success within families. Towards achieving this goal, families make efforts to meet and spend weekends together. Apart from holding talks on family issues, members drink, eat, and enjoy in such parties (Sang 21).
Social life is a function of economic wellness. As a result, the income due to a family influences the levels of consumption. Just as it is the case in almost all countries, the urban population is always better off, and thus able to spend more since they earn relatively higher incomes in comparison to the rural people.
Geography
China is situated in the eastern part of Asia. The country stretches around three thousand four hundred miles from the North to the South while stretching approximately three thousand two hundred miles from the East to West.
Fourteen countries border the Chinese Republic; they include Vietnam, Burma, Lao, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, North Korea, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. The country also borders with the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
China is rich in deserts, deltas, plains in the western part while its eastern part is predominantly hilly. Finally, it is important to mention that the countrys cover is largely covered with high plateaus and mountains. The countrys climate is reflected by changing temperatures as one moves from the south to the north. The temperatures are higher in the south in comparison to the north. A yearly range of approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit between the two poles corroborates this fact (Sang 23).
Social Institutions
Family
The Chinese way of life revolves around living together as a family. It is hence little surprising that children (daughters and sons), parents, and grandparents generally reside in one home. It is, however, clear that on reaching the marriage age, daughters and sons, do not always prefer staying with the parents.
At this stage, the children move out of the family homes to go and begin new lives away. In some cases, economic difficulties have forced people to prefer families without kids. However, until recently, the big family setup was the most dominant in the Chinese Republic (Thurston 94).
In order to get a clear view of the family institution, it is imperative to digress to the ancient times. During these times, men were the focal points in the family setting. The men made all decisions affecting the family, as the role of the women was only supportive. The women were lowly ranked and they had to focus on household chores such as parenting.
Women never ventured into business outside their homes. However, things have changed and women are more empowered. In this regard, women are able to seek work outside homes and are thus in positions of making decisions. Despite the developments, one aspect of the Chinese culture remains the expectation to respect the elderly (Thurston 95).
Education
China instituted a long-term project in 1986 to provide children with mandatory education which lasts for 9 years. By the turn of 2007, there were around hundred thousand secondary schools and four hundred thousand primary schools. In 2000, ninety-nine percent of the male population aged between fifteen and twenty-four were literate while ninety-eight percent of the female population in the same age category was also literate (Thurston 96).
Education Statistics
Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2004-2008*, male 99
Number per 100 population, 2008, Internet users 22
Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, male -111
Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, female -116
Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, net, male 100
Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, net, female 100
Survival rate to last primary grade (%) 2005-2009*, admin data 100
Secondary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, male 74
Secondary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, female 78
Political System: Structure, Parties, Stability, Tax Rates, Local Government
The country is under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) (Terrill 63). The party draws its power from the constitution. Other parties in the country are the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National Peoples Congress (NPC).
The leadership is largely dictatorial and dissenting parties are rarely allowed to have things their way. Despite the closed nature of the political system, the country remains very stable. It is worth noting that the role of the local government is largely limited, as the central government holds immense powers over national and local matters. Tax rates remain higher for rural populations although attempts to reduce them have been made.
Legal System: Judiciary, Code or Common, Intellectual Property
The legal system of China is relatively tied to the political wing of government. The legal system is tailored to serve the ruling partys interests. However, it is important to underscore the importance of the legal framework in reference to the role it plays in streamlining relations in the country by settling all disputes in the country. Regarding intellectual property, there are minimal measures put in place to protect intellectual property (Thurston 97).
Economy
Up until 1970, the Chinese economy was small. Nevertheless, from this time, the countrys economy has been on an upward trend. Augmenting this view, the country has increased global interactions in terms of trading. Additionally, the countrys GNP has risen annually since 1970 (Cateora and Graham 46).
Further, the shift of the Chinese economy to advanced technology also supports the development idea. However, the growing economy has led to other problems hitherto un-witnessed in the country. Such problems include limited energy sources, transport and communication facilities, etc. the setbacks aside, the Chinese Republic continues to be a world leader in the production and supply of rice, crude oil, coal, soybeans, tobacco, wheat, etc.
Table 1 proves that average disposable income and the consumption levels in the Chinese Republic are relatively low when compared to other developed nations. Another aspect that springs up centers on the expenditure patterns of the Chinese people. Unlike other people from different parts of the world, the Chinese people prefer saving their money than spending. This is based on the Chinese tradition, which lays emphasis on saving for the future generations.
Table 1 Shows Consumption Rates in 2007
Urban families
(Yuan/person)
Rural families (Yuan/person)
Disposable income
3934.94
1280.5
Consumption expenditure
2619.55
1072.2
Social Organizations
Recent developments have contributed to the growth of various classes. There are the high social classes, middle and the lower classes. The presence of around thirty ethnic groups also contributes to the shape of relations in the country. Business practices and customs have continued to change from a collective to an individualistic focus (Thurston 96).
Religion and Aesthetics
Religious intolerance was common in China. However, there is a considerable religious freedom in the country, because many states allow certain religious organizations to operate. By 2007, 23 percent of the people were believers. Chinese folk religions, Taoism, and Buddhism are the most popular religions in the country.
The role of visual arts, music, drama, ballet, folklore, and symbols remains heavily rooted in the Chinese culture. In reference to these aesthetics, the Chinese Republic rank among the most sophisticated countries across the globe (Selden 79).
Living Conditions
Diet and Nutrition
The Chinese diet remains diverse. Traditional foods such as Tianjin are preferred although acceptance of meat is on the rise. Malnutrition rates are high in the rural areas, although there has been a decline in the recent times. However, the diet differs from one social class to the other since the level of income heavily influences the meals consumed by locals (Selden 79).
Housing
Housing in the Chinese republic cuts across different categories. There are groups of people who own houses and others that rent houses. In the rural areas, the vast majority with few exceptions own the houses they occupy while in the urban houses a good proportion rent the houses they occupy (Murphey 19).
In terms of clothing, national dress and work clothing are put into perspective. The national dress is uncommonly worn. The use of western style official clothes is uncommon in China as the preference of casual ware is high. It should however be noted that most people prefer observing the tradition of living in family houses (Murphey 22).
Recreation, Sports, Leisure
The government of China provides recreational facilities and services. Such facilities as playgrounds, showgrounds, parks, and stadia are in most instances run by the government. China encourages its nationals to participate in sports.
Martial arts, along with swimming, table tennis, basketball and some others are very popular in China. Traditional sports including dragon boat, horseracing and Mongolian wrestling are also common. The holding of the last Olympic games is perhaps the hallmark of the position of sports in the country (Thurston 97).
Social security is available mostly to the people who work with the government. However, a bigger percentage of the private organizations do not offer pensions as work is contract based. The percentage of income that goes to pension ranges from five to fifteen percent.
Health Care
The Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Bureaux are in charge of health matters in China. Since 1950, public health has been directed by public policy. The inefficiency witnessed during this time led to complaints on the long-term role of government in the provision of health services in the country. After 1978, Deng Xiaoping reforms improved health provision as healthcare became privatized (Selden 89).
Language
According to Selden, there are two primary languages spoken in China. Mandarin or standard Chinese are predominantly preferred in the republic and as such, they are the official languages (90). However, other languages such as Yue (Cantonese), Minnan (Taiwanese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Gan, Xiang, among other minority dialects are used. There are no major discrepancies between the spoken and written languages. However, the written language is more official than the spoken language.
Works Cited
Cateora, Peter and Graham, John. International Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2006.
Murphey, Robert. East Asia: A New History. Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1996.
Sang, Ye. China Candid: The People on the Peoples Republic. California: University of California Press, 2006.
Selden, Mark. The Peoples Republic of China: Documentary History of Revolutionary Change. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1979.
Terrill, Robert. The New Chinese Empire, And What It Means For The United States. New York: Basic Books, 2003.
Thurston, Alfred. China Bound: A Guide to Academic Life and Work in the PRC.