Kenneth Fishman

Personal Exploration Worksheet

Part 1: From the following list, choose 4 groups of people with whom you are the

least familiar:

• African Americans

• Native Americans

• Latino(a)

• Asian Americans

• Jewish Americans

• Arab/Muslim Americans

• Single mothers

• Displaced homemakers

• People over 60

• Unemployed people over 50

• Immigrants

Part 2: Respond to each question, using 50 to 100 words.

Group 1: people over 60

1) Describe your assumptions, beliefs, and perceptions about members

of this group.

The unemployed and retired people are mostly people of over 60 years old. They

don’t have the spirit and health as the youngsters and need to take medical check-

ups frequently. They are mostly impermeable to alternations and new ideas in their

lives, and grew up believing in racism.

2) When you think about working professionally with members of this

group, are there traits, characteristics, or other issues about the group that

you would be curious about, concerned about, or intimidated by? Why would

understanding diversity issues be important to you as a human services

worker?

The entire health aspects of this group of people would be of main importance to me

while working with them professionally as the age of these people is the time of

many diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and hip and back problems.

Their financial positions would also be of great interest to me. I feel that

comprehending diversity in the members of this group is crucial as members all

hold different ideas, views and expectations about human service workers. Being

intimate and caring personally is also important for these people.

3) How could advance knowledge of the group address concerns and

assumptions?

To help this group, outstanding knowledge in diseases and other medical aspects is

needed. While treating clients of this age, familiarization with the possible health

conditions makes the treatment a lot easier as the clients remain confident about

your understanding of their conditions.

4) What kind of information, learning experiences, contact, and so forth

would you need to increase your knowledge about this group?

To increase the knowledge about this group, information about elderly homes and

disease connected with age would be of great help to me. Additionally, having

practical experience of having elderly people around me would assist in my

widening of knowledge. Moreover, other people who do the same work as me can

share their experiences and opinions about the elderly, which is also an effective

way of gathering knowledge.

Group 2: Jewish Americans

1) Describe your assumptions, beliefs, and perceptions about members

of this group.

My only source of information about this group is the Holocaust. Maximum Jews

have strong religious beliefs and can only make bonds with other Jewish people. The

Jewish families have close relationships. They are also known as smart but greedy

fellows.

2) When you think about working professionally with members of this

group, are there traits, characteristics, or other issues about the group that

you would be curious about, concerned about, or intimidated by? Why would

understanding diversity issues be important to you as a human services

worker?

To me, the Jewish community is no different from the rest. I hold no specific interest

in them although they have strong religious beliefs. However, to get to know the

members of this group is equally important as getting to know other groups, as they

are unique in their culture and lifestyle.

3) How could advance knowledge of the group address concerns and

assumptions?

The Jewish group is not a part of the history because of the Holocaust. To perceive

this idea generally, advanced knowledge is required.

4) What kind of information, learning experiences, contact, and so forth

would you need to increase your knowledge about this group?

Visiting places of religious importance to the Jew and getting to know their religious

and cultural practices are needed.

Group 3: Native Americans

1) Describe your assumptions, beliefs, and perceptions about members of

this group.

I believe that the Native Americans are intelligent and live in harmony with the

nature, away from the modern technology and electricity. Their main sources of

knowledge are their ancestors who taught them how to live along with the nature.

This knowledge made them experts in dealing with the nature. They believe in

afterlife and hence worship many gods. Apart from gods, they also worship the

natural elements such as the sun and the rain.

2) When you think about working professionally with members of this

group, are there traits, characteristics, or other issues about the group that

you would be curious about, concerned about, or intimidated by? Why would

understanding diversity issues be important to you as a human services

worker?

As the Native Americans are different from others, they may tend to disagree with

the ideas the service worker tries to share with them. They may also feel hesitant to

ask for assistance. Moreover, getting government help and using certain medicine

may contradict with their beliefs. The crucial part of a service worker is to

understand these people so as not to offend them in any way and be helpful about

using their knowledge and culture.

3) How could advance knowledge of the group address concerns and

assumptions?

Letting general people know about the genuine beliefs and the development ways

of Native Americans is only possible with advanced knowledge on them.

Additionally, with knowledge on these people, you can confront situations

concerning them without offending them in any way. Getting to know these people

also brings respect and honor from these people to you.

4) What kind of information, learning experiences, contact, and so forth

would you need to increase your knowledge about this group?

To widen your knowledge about the Native Americans, you can visit their

graveyards and museums. Spending time with the Native Americans who live in the

remotest parts with the nature can also bring your fruitful results and interesting

experiences. People who have Native American ancestors can also help you to

learn about them in details if you get in contact with them.

Group 4: Arab Muslim Americans

1) Describe your assumptions, beliefs, and perceptions about members

of this group.

In this group, the females are usually treated as inferior to males. They have strict

restrictions such as veiling and not talking unless talked to. The apparent negative

impression about this group of people is the incident of September 11th, for

which they are not treated much well by other fellow Americans. The Muslims

speak in a different language and are unaware of the equality of all genders in

America.

2) When you think about working professionally with members of this

group, are there traits, characteristics, or other issues about the group that

you would be curious about, concerned about, or intimidated by? Why would

understanding diversity issues be important to you as a human services

worker?

The most curious matter to me would be if a woman of this group comes to me for

help. Would she tell me about her problems herself or would she let a male talk to

me on her favor? Moreover, I would like to know these peoples’ adaptations to

the

American environment and their views about the Americans.

3) How could advance knowledge of the group address concerns and

assumptions?

The September 11th attack has been a terrorizing example to the Americans.

Advanced knowledge on Muslims can change this idea. Learning on Muslims can

also allow human service providers to assist these people without hurting their

culture and beliefs.

4) What kind of information, learning experiences, contact, and so forth

would you need to increase your knowledge about this group?

Cultural and religious history of Muslims can help in comprehending them.

Discussing about these people’s feeling towards the Americans and their

impressions towards the Muslims because of the September 11th attack can also

help greatly. Going to the synagogue and getting in touch with the Muslims can

broaden the knowledge concerning them.