Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 146 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (245 download)
Book Synopsis An Ecological Counseling Exploration of Common Marital Issues Faced by African Immigrants in the United States by :
Download or read book An Ecological Counseling Exploration of Common Marital Issues Faced by African Immigrants in the United States written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African immigrants experience higher rates of separations and divorces compared to other immigrant groups in the United States. However, family plays a central role in the life and identity of Africans. The goal of this study was to explore the marital issues African immigrants (AIs) face through the ecological counseling model. Six participants were interviewed through an open-ended, nondirective interview structure, giving the opportunity for participants to tell their stories from their perspectives. The results revealed six common areas of difficulties among married African immigrants. These are: difficulty managing family finances, extended family needs and demands, the difficulty in open communication about money and extended family, the struggle of childcare, problematic immigration policies and laws, and the dominance of the male spouses. In further analyzing these themes, male dominance or the need for the male spouse to possess some control appeared to be the undercurrent for most of the issues identified. All the difficulties that AI couples experienced could be traced to the different expectations for men and women in African worldview and Western culture, with the former favoring the male spouse taking charge and leading his family, and the latter valuing more equality between men and women. These findings also revealed the necessity and challenge for both African men and women to renegotiate their roles and find effective ways of communicating with each other.