Meera's Blog

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...