Читать книгу Counseling the Culturally Diverse - Laura Smith L. - Страница 102

1 If this were one of your clients in counseling and therapy, what thoughts or reactions would you have as you listened to Jaylen's story?

2 Is life as hard as this Jaylen describes? Are these experiences real or is he exaggerating and misreading the action of others?

3 Some may say that Jaylen is oversensitive and even paranoid. As a mental health professional, how would you ascertain the legitimacy of his assertions?

4 He seems to imply that others (White people) do not want to listen to his explanations. What would lead him to such a conclusion?

5 Jaylen appears angry and resentful. Are these responses dysfunctional and pathological?

Melanie, a recently hired White female faculty member

 I don't know what it was … I should have felt excited and honored to be at (Ivy League Institution), one of the top universities in the country. The Program Chair made me feel welcomed during the interview process and during my job talk. However, during my first week here, I felt unwelcome, isolated, unsafe and alienated. It started with the new faculty orientation. We were all standing during a tour of the main conference room, and I noticed that every single past president of the university were White men. When I scanned the group of new faculty, I also noticed that there was only two other women in the group. The men in the group, even though they not know one another, seemed to make friends quickly. They were talking about sports and especially the football playoffs. I tried to enter the conversation but was ignored. At least, that's what I felt. Was I being oversensitive?

 I noticed the other two women were also by themselves and considered going over to them, but didn't want to appear antisocial to the men. Later that week, I was introduced to a senior faculty member in the Department. “Oh, he said, ‘you must be the new female faculty member we hired to replace Jess. Welcome, but I always believe a hiring decision should be based upon competence and not gender or race. I hope you are up to the task. Men don't stand a chance these days. We take pride in being on the cutting edge of scholarship, and don't tolerate ‘slackards.” He was very abrupt and unfriendly. I couldn't believe it! His comments made me so angry. It was insulting! Does he think I'll sit in my office and eat bon bons all day? I thought, what have I gotten myself into?