Meera's Blog

 Throughout learning about Asian, Black, Native American, and Latinx individuals and families, I’ve noticed both important similarities and meaningful differences among these minoritized groups. One major similarity is the strong emphasis on family, community, and cultural pride, even in the face of systemic racism and discrimination. Each group has endured unique forms of historical oppression, but all have shown resilience through preserving traditions, maintaining close family bonds, and fostering strong cultural identities. However, their histories differ in significant ways. Native American families, for example, are Indigenous to the land and were subjected to forced assimilation and cultural erasure through policies like boarding schools. Black families have endured the legacy of slavery and ongoing systemic racism rooted in that history. In contrast, many Asian and Latinx families often face the immigrant experience, which comes with challenges such as language barriers, cu...

 Transracial adoptees are individuals adopted by parents of a different race or ethnic background than their own. These adoptees must live with growing up in a family and possibly a community where their racial identity is not fully understood. This dynamic can cause them to feel “othered” both within their adoptive family and in their racial or ethnic community. Within their family, physical differences often make their adoptive status visible to outsiders, and without intentional conversations about race, adoptees may feel isolated, misunderstood, or disconnected from their cultural roots. At the same time, they may struggle to fully integrate into their racial or ethnic communities, especially if they lack cultural knowledge, shared experiences, or if others question their authenticity. This dual sense of otherness can significantly impact their self-esteem, identity development, and overall sense of belonging. In families with a transracial adoptee, it is essential that racial ...

I think it's important to have these centers on campus because it allows everyone to have somewhere to go. Often, those from marginalized communities struggle to connect with others, due to their being a huge difference in upbringing and lived experiences. CAPS may be a resources available for all students, but students from marginalized communities find it difficult to relate to the person trying to help them. A white person can't possibly understand someone who is black just they have two very different lived experiences. We have to consider intersectionality and that culturally, black Americans and white Americans have very very different lived experiences. Putting aside racism and classism and sexism, they have two very very different cultures, and someone who is white may not know how to be supportive while also supporting their culture. Not just that but black Americans face problems that white Americans cannot even begin to understand. By having a black cultural center, ...

LGBTQ+ youth face numerous challenges at individual, family, peer, and societal levels, all of which have heavy impact on their mental health. at the individual level, they may struggle with identity acceptance, internalized stigma, and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In fact, "a national study of high school students, found that nearly half of sexual minority youth (and a third of those unsure of their sexual orientation) seriously considered suicide in the past year, and nearly a quarter of sexual minority youth reported suicidal behavior in the past year" (Kann et al., 2018) . At the family level, rejection, and conflict are common, leaving many without essential support. Among peers, bullying, social exclusion, and difficulties in forming safe relationships contribute to isolation and low self-esteem. Societally, discrimination, violence, and a severe lack of representation create additional stressors. These challenges lead to higher ...

How does socioeconomic status influence romantic relationship stability and satisfaction, parent-child relationships, and child development? Socioeconomic status has a huge influence on romantic relationship stability. "The two most disadvantaged groups reported the greatest marital instability whereas the most prosperous couples reported the lowest probability of risk for divorce. The upper middle class couples also reported the lowest levels of marital conflict and relationship problems" (Conger et al., 2010, pg. 5). I believe this has a lot to do with the effects of stress. If you're worried about where your next meal is gonna come from or worried that you can't afford rent, then your relationship is gonna be the least of your worries. Stress effects your physical, emotional, and mental health. If you are working 2 jobs just to make ends meet, you're beyond stressed and by the time you get home, you're emotionally checked out. You're too burnt out to de...

Beliefs like colorblindness and a refusal to acknowledge White privilege make it harder to address disparities. Colorblindness assumes race doesn’t matter, which ignores systemic barriers and prevents targeted solutions. Ignoring racial differences in educational experiences prevents meaningful reform because it denies that students of color often start at a disadvantage. Affirmative action has been a tool to counteract these inequalities by increasing diversity in higher education and employment "In higher education, it has meant giving preferential treatment to people who are members of historically disadvantaged groups." (Golash-Boza, 2021 pg. 240). It aims to level the playing field by considering race as one of many factors in admissions. This is so crucial considering how much of advantage white people have over people of color. Regarding personal experiences in school, exposure to diverse classmates can impact social understanding, empathy, and preparedness for multicu...