Purpose

To connect a scenario to humanistic, existential or spirituality perspectives.

Instructions

Refer to this week’s readings (the Grande novel, Payne, and Jurkowski & Kurlanska) and respond to the following:

Identify the factors that you observed in Juana’s or Adelina’s narratives that you can connect to the humanistic, existential or spirituality perspectives discussed in your readings.

Justify your assertions by citing information from your readings and offer specific examples from the novel to illustrate your position.

Include how this information relates to social work practice with Hispanic and Latino clients.

Initial substantive post of approximately 300-350 words

Required Readings

Textbook Readings

Payne, M. (2014). Modern Social Work Theory (4th ed.). Lyceum.

Chapter(s) 4, 6 & 10

Novel Readings

Grande, R. (2007). Across a Hundred Mountains: A Novel. Washington Square Press.

pp. 201-255

Journal Articles

Jurkowski, J. M. & Kurlanska, C. (2010). Latino women’s spiritual beliefs related to health. American Journal of Health Promotion, 25(1), 19-25.

In your responses to your peers, compare and contrast your peers’ identified factors and justification. Where do you agree? Where do you disagree? Why? Is there another perspective?

Your substantive responses of approximately 100-200 words

PEER 1

Reading the final chapters of Juana/ Adelina’s story was inspiring. Humanistic, existential, and spiritual approach of social work aims to understand the individual’s personal development (Payne, 2014). In a way, personal identity becomes empowering to support rights in society.

In a humanist approach, Juana as Adelina wanted to inform Jose Alberto that she was his sister. However, she did not want to shock him with news that Dona Matilde was not his actual mother. The idea of being humanistic is respecting and understanding the persons experience and continue to treat them as whole (Payne, 2014). Even though Adelina was close to telling Jose Alberto, she respected and accepted the way he was taking care of Dona Matilde. Adelina however, wanted Jose Alberto to take care of Ama the same way whom is sick. After being taken to the hospital, Ama was in shock and thought he was Miguel, Jose Alberto was accepting and made sure Ama was taken care of (Grande, 2007).

This is also seen in an existential approach, which is the awareness and self-respect to owns identity (Payne, 2014). Adelina, after seeing Dona Matilde being upset with her coming to their house, wanted to tell Jose Alberto she was his sister and the reasoning why she wanted to go together to see Ama. Adelina used self-awareness and knew it would upset Dona Matilde if she would have told Jose Alberto the news. Instead, Jose Alberto went to Antonia to find the news out himself.

For spirituality, there is one that really touched deeply at the end. Spirituality approach incorporates faith, vision, and love (Payne, 2014). The beginning of the narrative, Ama had plates that she wanted to use for the wedding of her and Juana’s father. One evening she broke all but one which was given to Jose Alberto after speaking to Antonia. After Jose Alberto finding out the truth, and both Adelina and him were throwing their parents ashes at the beach, he gave her the last plate for her inheritance. Adelina was in awe that she was given the plate in remembrance of their parents being together (Grande, 2007).

This information would relate to social work practice in understanding the importance of culture and spiritually is with Hispanic/Latino clients. These theories provide an approach that will help identify the client as a whole in a non-judgmental way but also provide a rational way of understanding practice with different cultures.

Grande, R. (2007). Across a Hundred Mountains: A Novel. Washington Square Press.

Payne, M. (2014). Modern Social Work Theory (4th ed.). Lyceum

PEER 2

In reviewing Juana’s narrative and reflecting upon the factors present in her narrative that can be connected to thehumanistic, spiritual, and existential theoretical perspectives several aspects ofJuana’s experience come to mind.

The first noticeable connection to the aforementioned theories is a connection to thespiritual perspective. Juana’s first experiences in her narrative are ones where spirituality/religious beliefs are not only present but play a major role in her and her family’s circumstances. Juana prays with her mother in front of their altar, for the safe return of her father when there downpour and flood (Grande, 2007). The relationship with her and her mother’s spiritual/religious beliefs changes over time, eventually coming to a point where the saints on the altar are turned around and prayers are no longer offered (Grande, 2007). Juana’s mother eventually feels that maybe her prayers are not enough and that she must be willing to offer a greater sacrifice, this view is influenced by her religious and cultural worldview.

While it is hotly debated whether religious/spiritual views should be integrated into social work practice and theory it is important to understand the worldviews and religious beliefs of clients (Payne, 2016). Understanding the religious beliefs of Juana, her mother, and community writ large can help a practitioner understand not only the clients environment but the role those beliefs play in their clients lives (Payne, 2016).

The existentialist view of Juana’s narrative would focus on Juana’s dual roles as simultaneously a subject and object within her environment (Payne, 2016). Furthermore an example of this would be when Juana peers through the gaps in the walls of her mother’s shack when she witnesses Don Elias rape her mother. In this instance she is impacted by the situation, which changes how she views her mother and Don Elias and she is acting, or rather reacting in this case, to being told to leave and locked out of the house (Grande, 2007).

Spiritual, existential, and humanist perspectives relate to work with Latino and Hispanic clients in multiple ways. The spiritual relates to Latino and Hispanic clients because whether the clients themselves are religious or not there are multiple cultural aspects that are tied to a religious system of belief and many are raised in families or communities where religious beliefs play an influential role in shaping worldviews, traditions, and practices (Payne, 2016).

A humanistic view is useful in that it is a human rights-focused perspective where all human beings are inherently viewed as equals (Payne, 2016). This view strives for social equality and complements many other perspectives such as a feminist perspective (Payne, 2016). In seekingequality and social justice among oppressed groups the humanistic perspective is relevant to Hispanic and Latino clients, particularly in the US context wherethey are frequently oppressed, racially profiled, and many have fled human rights abuses only to find themselves in situations where further abuses and rights violations occur whether at the hands of the US government, community members, or exploitative work environments.

References

Grande, R. (2007). Across a hundred mountains: A novel (1st ed.). New York, NY: Washington Square Press.

Payne, M. (2016). Modern social work theory (4th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.