Multicultural Psychology

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Poverty Myths

Within this TedTalk Mia Birdsong speaks about the common myths that are believed around the topic of poverty, such as the misconception that those who are impoverished just need to "work harder" and their financial situation will change. This particular point of view does not take into account the ways that poverty is a cycle, or the systemic oppression that occurs in relation to socioeconomic class. A good example of these systems that are in place was found within the video we watched in class where students from who schools switched places for the day. The students who came from families who were well-off had a lot more resources available to them, such as computers and AP classes, and well as a larger focus being put on college readiness. Mia does note that strides are taken to change this cycle, as there has been work done to change policies, however, one of the most interesting things she mentions within this talk is that, in trying to make these changes the most im...

It's Not About the Cake

A case recently went to the Supreme Court regarding a business that refused to make a wedding cake for two men who were planning to get married in 2012. This case isn't really about cake, however, it is about civil rights and freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation. The baker argued that they, "only serve heterosexual couples." If the Supreme Court sides with the bakery on this case, there are implications that may affect anyone who is part of any marginalized group, as it would mean businesses are free to serve only those who have particular (most likely dominant) identities. Unfortunately, this kind of discrimination is not uncommon, and may lead to those who belong to sexual minority groups to feel as if they have to abide by certain societal rules that allow them to be "passing" as heterosexual. This action of passing may also be utilized by those who do not conform to the gender binary. This focus on "passing" may be done to avoid ...

Is Julian Going to Hate a Post about Kanye?

Kanye West is known for many things from his interruption of Taylor Swift at the VMAs to his twenty-one Grammy's to his marriage to Kim Kardashian. While some of his behaviors have been incredibly destructive and have been widely reported (especially all things in relation to Taylor Swift), I have not seen much discussion around the mental health difficulties he faces and often talks about within his music. Several of these references include the ways others have called him "crazy," however, there seems to be a lack of real understanding about his situation. While mental health concerns do not absolve all responsibility, it is interesting to see the way this facet of his life is continually glossed over. Instead, it appears several media outlets would rather paint him as an "angry black man." This is an example of operating on harmful stereotypes, and may contribute to people of color not seeking out resources in relation to mental illness. Mental health need...

Veganism and Privilege

A vegan diet has (seemingly) become more popular over the recent years, or at least has had more people discussing it than ever. While there are definitely pros to adopting this diet, such as the ethical treatment of animals, the environmental impact of not participating within the meat industry, and health benefits for those who have made proper changes to their eating habits that cover their nutritional needs, there are aspects of veganism that are deeply rooted in privilege. This topic came to mind when I saw a user on Twitter arguing with another about whether or not everyone could afford to be vegan. It is clear that fast food is much cheaper than buying vegetables or organic foods, as in many cases you can purchase a whole meal for less than a couple dollars. Prices of healthy/not heavily processed foods are also raised when one lives within a food desert, or an area that doesn't have a grocery store within one mile of most residents as well as a high concentration of r...

WOC in Psychology Career Panel

Being involved in I Am Psyched! led to a lot of cool experiences that were offered in addition to the actual museum installation, such as panels and hearing opening remarks by Dr. Shari Miles-Cohen. One such panel included three women of color (Dr. Karen Tao, Dr. Alicia Hoerner, and Dr. Le Ngu) who are mental health professionals within the Salt Lake valley. This panel focused on important topics ranging from representation, which was incredibly important as that was largely what IAP! focused on, to what it looks like to be a therapist, or other form of professional, on a day-to-day scale. Psychology has traditionally been seen as (and has acted as) a White space, most likely due to the ways in which academia in general is structured, and this is largely reinforced by who has been championed or even mentioned within the field, regardless of the great accomplishments of women of color within the field. This lack of representation can lead to things such as imposter syndrome, or fe...

Migrant Deaths at the Mexico Border

In comparison to former years, deaths of migrants near the Mexico-United States border has increased by 17%. This is largely due to the current the administration's views on immigration, in the form of both hateful rhetoric as well as policies and future plans (i.e, the wall), that ends in less success in crossing the border. One such strategy used is referred to as "prevention of deterrence," which focuses on heavily controlling areas that have resources, and in turn, forcing migrants to travel through the most harsh parts of the desert, leading to many never crossing the United States border. This route is often taken out of fear of detainment. This increase in deaths is incredibly troubling, and is a prime example of the dehumanization that may occur when one thinks in ways that are "us vs. them" and view citizenship as something that is more important than life itself. It is very important to note that many migrants do not have dental or medical...