Some Important Ethnic Variations

Since there are a great many racial and ethnic groups in the country, this paper will only refer to those who are regularly found in Davis County, Utah. Groups such as the disabled, gay, obese, small persons and the like are already included in the training for human service workers who run the Senior Citizen Centers. The groups that are listed here are for staff reference in areas about which they may be less knowledgeable.

Euro-Americans

Euro-Americans comprise 71% of the total U.S. population but are over 90% in the state of Utah (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p. 53). “Euro-Americans’ informal, direct approach to others may seem brusque, rude, or confusing to people of other cultures” (p. 62).  They often do not recognize the imbalance of privilege that they have in American society, since they do not have to worry about being out of place in most social situations (p.80).

“If women project the typical image, they are not seen as potential leaders. But if they project the “business leader” image, they’re often seen as too hard and masculine, even abnormal” (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p. 7).

Asian Americans

Asian Americans are taught to “control one’s reactions and to become mature enough to put relationships before personal concerns. As a result they may be very indirect about expressing criticism or disagreeing” (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p. 7). Korean Americans have a cultural idea that to smile is to admit to having nothing in their heads (Kottak and Kozaitis, 2002, p. 80). They may seem unfriendly to others. “Latino American and Asian American behavior is often interpreted as ‘too passive’ when managers focus on style, not substance” (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p.105). Most Asian cultures put the whole before their own interests (p. 267) and try to avoid using words such as “I,” “me,” and “mine” (p.269). “To say no is an insult, could damage feelings, and disrupt harmony, and is therefore bad manners. Asian Americans may say yes, meaning ‘I heard you,’ and then go about doing the opposite with little sense of breaking an agreement” (p. 272). 

African Americans

African American’s style may be seen as “too aggressive.” In fact, some studies, such as those by Ann Morrison, have found that different standards of ‘getting along with others’ have been required for African Americans than for others (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p.105). African Americans confront issues directly. “To them this approach is real and honest” (p. 7). African Americans, however, may have habits that confuse whites. While talking, African Americans may maintain eye contact more than whites do, but, unlike whites, they may look away when listening. This pattern is exactly the opposite of that expected by whites (p. 198).

Cagney, Browning, and Wen (2005) report that African Americans report that they have poorer health than whites report in older ages even when controls for education and income are in place. This article claims that the difference is not in genetics but results from neighborhoods in which they live. “When affluence in a community is low, residential stability is negatively related to health” (p. S182). Barnes, de Leon, Bienias, and Evans (2004) studied the difference in social support networks between white and African American older people and found the white elderly had more numerous social support members to help them. However, the white support group was less deeply commitment than the fewer numbers of people in the African American support groups. Becker and Newsom (2005) report, however, that the older African Americans with chronic illnesses seem to have developed more resilience than would be expected in the white elderly. Reed, Foley, Hatch and Mutran (2003) have found that the black church is a useful venue to recruit African Americans in survey research projects (p. 52). Warren-Findlow, Prohaska, and Freedman (2003) also found ways to recruit African Americans into health promotion research. They found that people wanted to join the group, such as at a church-based group, but found it important to reach all of the Older African American population by going door to door to reach physically disabled elderly (p.42). Perhaps the Davis County Aging Services could use some of these concepts to attract older African Americans to the Senior Citizen Centers.

Native American Indians

Interesting differences in cultures exist between Euro-Americans and Native American Indians that can cause hurt or confusion. To the Indian, giving compliments can be used both as sarcasm as well as acclaim. When the proper amount of compliment equals the good that was done, the Indian is encouraged to believe that they deserved the praise that was given and it encourages them to do even better. If the compliment is overly done, however, it is understood as worse than an insult. (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p. 237). Public praise, especially, falls under these rules so it is considered wise to talk with the person privately to get a sense of how they might feel about a public announcement being made (p. 250). As with other groups of peoples, there are many different tribes which have many cultural differences.

Latino or Hispanic Americans

  Latino or Hispanic Americans comprise many differing ethnic groups, with the majority being made up of Mexican immigrants. McChesney, Gerken, and McDonald (2005) outlines factors that have helped park and recreation managers reach out to Hispanic Americans. These ideas may be of value to the Center’s ideas on how to recruit this population. They report that Hispanics involve themselves in leisure and recreation, but usually with other Hispanics (74% of the time). They are most likely to enjoy activities that deal with nature, are very interested in family-oriented activities, often rent or purchase bicycles and RVs, and enjoy spending time at parks. They prefer gatherings over organized types of activities, according to this article.

It is vital to understand that not all Hispanics or Latinos speak Spanish, but it is the native tongue among many and may set them apart from other groups in America, especially if it is the only language with which they are proficient. The Catholic religion is another commonality among many of these people which also sets them apart from the larger number of America’s white protestants. “The spirit world lives alongside Latino Americans, particularly Mexican Americans, in their everyday lives. They perceived less distinction between the living and the dead than do most Euro-Americans. They believe that the dead are just beyond the veil of physical reality and there’s nothing to fear from these spirits of relatives and friends” (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, p. 342).

Latinos are likely to believe in destiny (fatalism) and accept hierarchy and status among people. They are even more likely to trust governments and stress power differences than do whites. They believe in the proper showing of respect and like to hold to closer distances in personal space than do whites (Carr-Ruffino, 2003, pp. 342-344). Family and mutual dependence are stressed in their culture and it is important to them to get along with people (p. 346-347). “Especially for the male, the more the communication is personalized, the more likely it is to be successful. Latino Americans usually trust only those with whom they have a personal relationship, for only those persons can ‘appreciate their soul’” (p. 348).