Cultural Background and Identity

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Liberty University *

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Anthropology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Introduction For a professional counselor, cultural awareness is essential. The factors of race, socioeconomic class, religion, place of residence, gender, sexual orientation, and family dynamics all have an impact on an individual's culture. A person's cultural background has much to do with identity and how one perceives the world. Our lineage and family history have a significant influence on both our cultural identity and personal identity. It's important to acknowledge how your culture may have influenced your values, beliefs, and point of view. It is important for counselors to be conscious of their cultural humility and to avoid forcing their own beliefs and values on their clients. I will talk about my own cultural identity and heritage in this paper. I'll go over how becoming conscious of my cultural background has motivated me to delve further into my ancestry. I will also discuss how my exposure to different cultures has influenced my perspectives on cultural humility. Lastly, I will explain how my cultural background has influenced others and how it relates to social justice and client advocacy. Taylor L. Harris I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Taylor L. Harris Email: tharris266@liberty.edu Cultural Background and Identity Our cultural identity and personal identity are largely shaped by our ancestry and family history. People may find a wealth of historical information about their family origins and genealogy by searching through one of the many databases available. Sadly, my family never made much use of these resources, thus the little information I have about our family history comes from my parents and other relatives. I'm a Caucasian woman of 32 years old who has Irish and European ancestry. My maiden name, Roark, is derived from the Irish surname O'Rourke. When we talked about our background, my father did not know much about it. He explained that we are Irish, adding that his ancestors departed Ireland to become farmers in Eastern Tennessee. According to McGoldrick et al.,(2005) There are over 70 million individuals of Irish descent worldwide; of these, over half, or roughly 44 million people (or one-seventh of the US population), claim to be of Irish descent. My mother's ancestry and culture are more recognized to me. Being Hungarian, my mother was raised with a strong Hungarian cultural heritage. On the ship known as the SS Pennsylvania, my grandfather's grandparents, Mike and Mary, traveled from Turterbes, Hungary to New York, NY in 1908. McGoldrick et al., (2005) states in the first wave of immigration, almost 1.7 million Hungarians arrived in the United States. Due to a language problem, the Americans mispronounced their last name, which was initially spelled "Franczia," and instead spelled it "Francia" when they arrived at the dock. They filed for naturalization to become citizens of the

United States on December 1, 1936. Mike and Mary Francia had six children and stayed in New York City; however, it was unclear what their occupations were at the time. When I was a kid, I really had no concept that I was a part of a certain culture. Whenever we visited my great grandparents, Gram and Poppy, we were frequently introduced to the Hungarian culture. Gram would always make her delicious cabbage rolls, and after dinner we would all gather around the kitchen table to play cards. Despite my mom's poor Hungarian, it was spoken often at my Gram and Poppy's house. My mom’s nickname was Chuchi which meant “fancy” in Hungarian. Everyone called her that, and I didn’t realize that it was Hungarian until I finally asked my mom what it meant. It wasn't until I was in my early 20s that I became interested in our family history. I was curious to learn more about Hungarian culture, so I immersed myself in it. Now, my mother is working towards dual citizenship with Hungary. She must not only speak the language well but also produce documentation of her family's past Hungarian citizenship, such as birth certificates and other documents. I also plan to start the process of applying for dual citizenship with Hungary after my mother's application has been completed and accepted. According to Shirley (2023), acquiring Hungarian citizenship by descent is a great way for people to learn more about their heritage and take advantage of all that being Hungarian has to offer. In order to become a citizen of Hungary, one needs to follow the law, study extensively, and obtain the necessary paperwork. My dad and mom got married at the age of eighteen after finding out they were pregnant with me. However, my mom pursued her college education while working part time. My dad drives a truck and is considered a blue-collar worker. Growing up, we were constantly reminded of how crucial it is to attend college. My sister and I were raised to never rely on men and to make our own way in life. My father has always stressed the importance of attending college and postponing having children until later in life. I believe this is the reason why I did not have my first child until a few months ago, and my sister who is 27 does not intend on having kids. I found it quite interesting that a lot of our upbringing reflects that of the irish culture. According to McGoldrick et al., (2005) unlike many other cultures where a woman without a family could have no function or status at all, the Irish have historically permitted women to choose not to become mothers. Irish women appear to be less dependent on males and to exhibit greater independence. In childhood, I was taught not to show my emotions publicly. My father was an emotional repressor who struggled to regulate his emotions. He rarely verbally communicated his emotions and struggled to manage his anger. As McGoldrick et al. (2005) notes, the Irish have always had a natural knack for language, yet strangely, they often find it difficult to express their innermost thoughts. My mother is a dreamer, a person who sees the world through "pink goggles." As we grew up, mom tried to instill in us the idea that anything was possible if we were dedicated and focused. According to McGoldrick et al. (2005), Hungarians have a fierce spirit of life and celebrate joyous moments with a vivacious happiness. Similarities and Differences I was twelve years old when my parents divorced. My dad eventually got remarried to a woman by the name of Selasi Seade. Selasi is an African from Ghana. She entered the country with her

siblings on a visa in search of better job prospects. According to Hays and Erford (2022), The United States awarded permanent status to 111,194 African immigrants who applied lawfully in fiscal year 2019. Out of 111,194 total immigrants, 8,526 were from Ghana. The cultures of Africans and Americans are quite different. Selasi taught me a lot about her culture and would frequently remind me how "busy" America is compared to her country, which is more laid back. I recall telling her how I wish I didn't have freckles and how much I detested them. She told me about the different perspectives people in her country had about beauty. She claims that in her country, women who stand out from other women physically are considered more attractive than those who do not. She asserted that Americans set high social standards for what constitutes beautiful and stated how Africans find freckles, gaps in teeth, and other cosmetic imperfections more appealing and desirable. The different aspects of Selasi’s culture required some adjustments from our household. For instance, American women who opt not to shave are often ostracized and perceived as unconventional. However, Selasi doesn't shave her legs because the natural look is highly favored in her country. Africans are known to be boisterous, emotionally expressive, and inquisitive while ours is said to be more reserved and cherishes privacy. Selasi also liked to cook at home, but the whole house would smell of fish and other spices. It took a while getting used to the African food, she would cook for us at night. Importance of Cultural Identity Development Examining my cultural history has made me realize how important it is to have a cultural identity that defines my worldview, which in turn substantially influences my relationships, thoughts, and behaviors. I never really understood what it meant to have a cultural background and how it influenced my identity. Although I was introduced to our Hungarian culture at a young age, it was not enough to be heavily influenced. Now that I am older, I am fascinated about my family history and how my ancestors came to America. I am so intrigued that I intend to apply for dual citizenship just to become more immersed in the Hungarian culture and learn more about the heritage and customs of Hungarian people. However, I feel like the main influential aspects of my cultural background didn’t come from my roots or ancestors but more of what I was exposed to as a child. According to Aguayo et al., (2021) the majority of what is now known about cultural socialization in early children is based on measures of the attitudes, actions, and experiences of parents. Early cultural socialization may be a key strategy for fostering healthy cross-cultural interactions and reducing the negative impacts of racism and prejudice. I was raised in a diverse household and was exposed to African American traditions as a child. My aunt married an African American, my dad also married an African, and my closest relatives are mixed-race. I suppose growing up in such a multicultural home has made me oblivious to the existence and scope of discriminatory acts. Since my family was so culturally varied while I was growing up, I didn't comprehend the phrase "white privilege" for a very long time. Whenever I heard the phrase "white privilege," I used to associate it with the shame associated with racism. I didn't believe it related to me as I don't consider myself to be a racist. To be

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