Pocahontas goes to the clinic: Popular culture as lingua franca in a cultural borderland
Introduction
The article focuses on the challenges, experiences, and opportunities of the ethnically diverse and minority groups, especially in the treatment of the children, in the fringes of Mexico and the United States (Mattingly. 494). At the border, the populations draw from different cultures, races, and nationalities who interact in various social places such as schools, hospitals, and workplaces. A unique problem of racial and ethnic stereotyping, culture shock and resilience strategies manifest in the hospital settings underscores the research. In particular, children with a chronic ailment such as sickle-cell anemia and mental illnesses bear the brunt of culture shock and stereotyping. Stereotyping and communication failure has been suggested to play a crucial role in the determination of health outcome, thereby impacting negatively on low incomes and minority groups (Mattingly. 496). However, the localization and contextualization of global story character as occasioned in Pocahontas continues to positively shape and improve pediatric care in highly ethnically diversified border hospitals
Methodology
Importantly, the study employed a longitudinal ethnography methodology by using interviews and observation in Los Angeles in January 1997 and lasted for nine years. A team of anthropologists and occupational therapists coordinated the initiative in clinical settings where they interviewed the medical officers and the patient’s family members. The quotes, opinions, and related responses were captured and qualitatively analyzed. The first phase interviewed 30 African American families from the Los Angeles area whose children (ages from birth to eight) were being treated in several clinical sites. In that group, a good number of interviewees were low-income earners further, the eighteen of those initially recruited continued to participate. Other participants joined in the subsequent interview session. It was noted that as some families left the study for various reasons, such as moving out of state (Mattingly. 497).
Results
The research found that significant challenges existed in the treatment of children with chronic medical conditions since the success of the treatment is based on collaborative assistance from the children, kings, and medical professionals. Stereotyping and racial profiling were suggested to have a counterproductive effect on the successful treatment of children. It was however noted that racial incidents by physicians were implicit as occasioned in the taxonomy of phrases such as difficult client, neglectful parent commonly appended to low-income minorities. In one unique case, a physician admitted that the medic was explicitly racist or indifferent by suggesting that a sickle patient was unimportant and would be sent on the floor. Another involving a mother documented inhuman treatment meted on her based on skin color (Mattingly. 499).
Discussion
The cases of racial profiling, stigmatization were shown to negatively impact health care outcomes in the health sector in the border region. The study emphasizes the need of professionals to recognize, acknowledge, and build on commonalities that cross lines of race, class, and culture to improve the health outcomes. Children’s popular cultures, such as Pocahontas as a share culture and narrative, are essential in connecting with children to produce desirable health outcomes. These films provide emotional support for children by standing frightening treatment such as injection and breaking the boredom in the hospital setting (Mattingly, 500).
Conclusion
The Children’s popular culture provides opportunities for reconciliation among groups who are culturally fragmented and suspicious of each other but are faced with the need for collaborative problem-solving concerning children ailment. Pocahontas is one of the famous films that has helped shape children’s behavior and emotion while being attended to by clinicians. Health professionals who are new in the setup can use the globalized children’s stories to connect with children and minimize the frightening treatment process (Mattingly, 500).
Bibliography
Mattingly, Cheryl. “Pocahontas goes to the clinic: Popular culture as lingua franca in a cultural borderland.” American Anthropologist 108, no. 3 (2006): 494-501.
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