Aaron Freitas

Aaron Freitas

Health Quiz

Word count: 577

 

The article "Racial Prejudice and Spending on Drug Rehabilitation: The Role of Attitudes Towards Blacks and Latinos" by Amie L. Nielson, Scott Bonn and George Wilson is a look at how racial prejudice affects people's views on drug rehabilitation spending. The paper concentrates on two racial groups, African Americans and Latinos.  The findings are based on data collected from a nationally representative survey. It's important to note that that the term "color coding" is used to describe the type of prejudice looked for in the study. Color coding is a form of modern prejudice that relies on negative stereotypes and beliefs about a racial groups personal character.  For example, that blacks are poor because they are lazy.  

The results show that there is a significant link between prejudice beliefs and the belief that drug rehabilitation doesn't need more funding. Those who oppose a relative marrying a person who is black or Latino or living in a neighborhood were half the residents are either black or Latino were more likely to say that spending on drug rehabilitation was adequate. Whites who held the prejudice beliefs that blacks were more violence prone also believed spending was adequate. When it came to Latinos however, belief that they are more violence prone had no effect on views about rehabilitation spending. Respondents who believed that differences between blacks and whites was due to individual differences thought spending was adequate where those who believed differences was due to a lack of equality in society believed spending was not adequate. Over all the findings support that prejudiced beliefs affect attitudes toward drug rehabilitation spending.  

"Navajo and autism: the beauty of harmony" by Steven K. Kapp is an interesting cross-cultural analysis of how individuals with autism are perceived and treated in western society and Navajo society. In analyzing the differences between Navajo and western culture the author hopes to foster a greater understanding of how we can encourage and support all peoples in a society regardless of differences.

Navajo culture differs from western culture in several crucial ways. Navajo culture is based on a matrilineal lineage, meaning that, social, political and religious life is lead by women. Families often live together and share in all work and activities and it is common for children to live with their mothers their entire lives. It is also common for a child to be raised by parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. These close ties enable families to better face challenges together and puts less importance on the individual taking care of themselves alone. Navajo beliefs also play a part in how people with disabilities are seen and treated with in their society. There is less emphasis on children meeting a societal standard and more emphasis on them as an individual finding their own path and place in the social structure. More emphasis is put on the strengths of the individual then their weaknesses, and these strengths are engaged and nurtured. Overall, the Navajo social structure is one that embraces diversity and close social bonds.

The overall conclusion finds that Navajo culture in comparison to western culture has a more positive attitude towards people with disabilities and is more able to meet their individual needs. The purpose of these findings is to encourage a more open and human approach to people with disabilities in western culture and to construct a social structure that enables people with disabilities to be valued as equals.