Democracy and the Public Service

The microaggression concept has recently galvanized public discussion and spread to numerous college campuses and businesses. I argue that the microaggression research program (MRP) rests on five c...

Microaggressions: Strong Claims, Inadequate Evidence

bajo de investigación exhaustivo sobre la naturaleza de las redes sociales de los inmigrantes salvadoreños recientes en Estados Unidos. La autora combina encuestas a 150 salvadoreños y 50 entrevistas a profundidad con inmigrantes de esta nacionalidad llegados entre 1985 y 1989 con la observación etnográfica en la comunidad salvadoreña de San Francisco, California, durante tres años. Esta perspectiva longitudinal le permite llegar a conclusiones innovadoras, bien sustentadas, sobre la naturaleza de las redes sociales de estos inmigrantes. El libro está estructurado en ocho capítulos, más la introducción y dos apéndices con detalles metodológicos. En la introducción, Menjívar explica el objetivo del libro, que consiste en “entender el funcionamiento interno de las redes sociales de los inmigrantes salvadoreños (en los Estados Unidos) e (...) identificar las razones potenciales para su inestabilidad”. Como eje para la discusión, se parte de la supuesta relación entre la (in)estabilidad de las redes y la estructura de oportunidades que los inmigrantes encuentran en los países de destino. Aquí también la autora discute que la constitución, transformación y disolución de redes constituye un proceso dinámico, sujeto a factores de índole cultural o ideológica y al contexto económico y político de acogida. El capítulo 1 (“Estructura de oportunidades, redes sociales y posición social”) consiste en una revisión muy completa de la literatura sobre las redes sociales. Primero, la autora discute el surgimiento, evolución y crítica del concepto redes sociales, ilustrando esta discusión con investigaciones empíricas que analizan desde diferentes ángulos el concepto (por ejemplo, el uso diferenciado que hacen hombres y mujeres de dichas redes). Segundo, defiende que los factores estructurales de las sociedades de destino afectan decisivamente a la dinámica interna de las redes, de tal manera que estos factores pueden limitar la generación de capital cultural y social entre los inmigrantes. Por último, aborda teóricamente la discusión sobre la naturaleza cambiante de las relaciones sociales que guardan los inmigrantes, vista desde la posición que tienen los individuos en la sociedad, el RESEÑA BIBLIOGRÁFICA

Fragmented Ties, Salvadoran Immigrant Networks in America

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, reports of discrimination and violence against Asians and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have increased substantially. The present article offers a timely conceptualization of how public and societal fears related to COVID-19 may contribute to unique mental health disparities and the presence of race-based trauma among AAPIs residing in the United States. The relationships between media, increasing rates of xenophobia and sinophobia, and racial discrimination are provided. Next, the deleterious effects of race-based discrimination on the emotional and physical well-being of people of color and Indigenous groups (POCI) and AAPIs are described. Finally, the article identifies the clinical implications of counseling AAPI clients, encourages a decolonization of current trauma-focused interventions, and presents specific strategies to heal race-based trauma in AAPI client populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

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"Take your Kung-Flu back to Wuhan": Counseling Asians, Asian Americans, and pacific islanders with race-based trauma related to COVID-19

In his article, “Microaggressions: Strong Claims, Inadequate Evidence,” Lilienfeld (2017, this issue) casts doubt on the veracity of microaggression theory and questions their existence, manifestation, and dynamics. From a selective review of the literature, he finds fault with the current state of the microaggression research program (MRP), lists 18 recommendations that would strengthen such programs, and concludes that the scientific status of the MRP is far too preliminary to warrant its dissemination to real-world contexts. He calls for an end to microaggression initiatives on college campuses until further scientific evidence supports their detrimental impact, and he asserts that not doing so will tarnish the reputation of psychology in the public eye. From the perspective of psychological science, he presents a compelling case in his article and even strikes a responsive chord to some of my own concerns about the state of MRP. In reading his review, however, I am left with a hollow feeling not so much based upon disagreements with the technical aspects of research, but with the invisibility of how Lilienfeld advocates arriving at the truth and what constitutes evidence. Let me address several major concerns. First, Lilienfeld fails to realize that there is more than one way to ask and answer questions about the human condition, that what constitutes evidence is often bathed in the values of the dominant society, and that scientific methods we employ often shortchange real-world contexts. It is not that his demand for more scientific rigor is misguided, but his story comes from only the perspective of the hunter and ignores that of the lion. Let me use an example to illustrate this point. Freshly out of my doctoral program and armed with a strong belief in the principles and practices of psychological science, I met a Nigerian scholar who found my unwavering commitment to empiricism amusing. He shared with me a tale often told to children in his country about a female elementary school teacher who posed a math problem to her class: “Suppose there are four blackbirds sitting on a tree branch. You take a slingshot and shoot one of them. How many are left?” A White student answered quickly, “That’s easy teacher. . . four take away one is three.” An equally eager Nigerian immigrant boy stated with equal certainty that the answer was “zero.” The teacher chuckled at the Nigerian youth, indicated the answer was wrong and suggested he study more math. From that day forth, the young boy seemed to withdraw from class activities and seldom spoke to his classmates or teacher. This story gets to the heart of the unspoken assumptions of psychological science, the epistemological issues it raises, and how power and privilege determines the nature of reality. If the teacher had pursued the reasons behind the Nigerian student’s answer, she might have heard the following: “If you shoot one bird, the others will fly away.” Herein lays a major worldview difference between that of the teacher and the African youth. From a Western science perspective, the math problem represents a hypothetical (abstract) situation that requires a literal (task) answer. From the perspective of the Nigerian student, however, his answer is based upon lived experience, a known relationship between birds, and an understanding of how the real (not hypothetical) world operates. Seen from the perspective of the hunter and the lion, both answers may be considered correct, but unfortunately, it is the hunter’s tale that determines “truth” and can result in cultural oppression (imposing one reality over another) with devastating consequences. For the Nigerian boy, he is left to feel invalidated, inadequate, and alienated from the curriculum and teacher. His school 664437 PPSXXX10.1177/1745691616664437SueMicroaggressions and “Evidence” research-article2017

Microaggressions and “Evidence”: Empirical or Experiential Reality?

Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race is an essential read for anyone interested in alleviating disparities and inequalities through me...

Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race

This article uses gender-role theory to consider the involvement of Latino fathers in their children’s lives as a result of participating in a fatherhood educational intervention. Open-ended interviews (n = 48) were conducted with participants of the program. Findings revealed that the content of the group intervention encouraged fathers to redefine their identity as a male and father by examining their own communication, discipline, and self-control as well as recognizing certain aspects of Latino culture. Implications of this study can be used to design culturally competent behavioral interventions for Latino fathers.

Fatherhood Education From a Cultural Perspective: Evolving Roles and Identities After a Fatherhood Intervention for Latinos in South Florida

The complexity of diversity and importance for equitable philanthropy

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected many already marginalized groups, including the Latinx population in the United States. While preexisting inequities have amplified the negativ...

Latinx COVID-19 outcomes: Expanding the role of representative bureaucracy

Community foundations are uniquely positioned within their localities to provide immediate needs and realize their communities' strengths, resources, and challenges, affording them opportunities to be highly effective in responding to crises. Many community foundations act not only as grant-makers and social investors, but also as community mobilizers, experts, facilitators, and leaders, who work on identifying areas of greatest need to catalyze meaningful social change. As the COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread across the United States, many community foundations are spearheading immediate relief efforts locally and mobilizing millions of dollars throughout the U.S. This article highlights the initial response efforts of specific community foundations to the COVID-19 outbreak, including operations, shifts in funding priorities, and fund allocation oversight. Moving forward, it will be increasingly critical for community foundations and all philanthropists to strategically prioritize funding initiatives, voice local concerns to policymakers, and advocate for both state and federal policies related to nonprofit support.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/nml.21490

Lauren Azevedo

Papers

Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race

Fatherhood Education From a Cultural Perspective: Evolving Roles and Identities After a Fatherhood Intervention for Latinos in South Florida

The complexity of diversity and importance for equitable philanthropy

Latinx COVID-19 outcomes: Expanding the role of representative bureaucracy

Community foundations provide collaborative responses and local leadership in midst of COVID-19