What Are The Effects Of Discrimination On Native American Adolescents
Historical trauma, discrimination, and the high rate of cultural stressors found on Native American reservations inhibit the healthy development of its adolescents, reservations do however, inspire a strong sense of tribal identity as well as family and community-oriented culture. These supportive aspects of living on the reservation can help to combat the difficulties facing these adolescents. Poverty, substance abuse, drop-out and violent crime rates are especially high in this area, which can affect the Native American youth’s state of mind. Adolescence is a time period of development when individual identity and social habits are being formed, causing the experiences, relationships and pressures during this time to be especially impactful.
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Findings
Historical Trauma Facing a cultural past full of hardships and strife can set the stage for whole community’s future generations. Native American adolescents face the adversities their ancestors had through historical trauma. During a survey given at an art-centered workshop for Native American adolescents, researchers found that “although American Indian youth are generations removed from many traumatic historical events, trauma associated with such events can remain in their families and their emotional lives” (Soto, Baezconde-Garbanati, Schwartz, & Unger, 2015). These findings opens a window into the life of adolescents’ perception of events on the reservation. The adversities of their ancestors are well-known to many American people including mass death by disease, relocation to reservations and forced assimilation to the dominant language and culture, especially by forced entry of their children into boarding schools. “genocidal policies, pandemics, forced, relocation, removal of children from their families to boarding schools and government bands against ceremonies” (Soto et al., 2015). These horrible experiences can loom over cultural practices as taking part in the culture of the tribe is often closely followed by a stronger realization of what was lost to their people. Historical trauma leads to such problems as “impaired family communication, PTSD symptoms, survivor guilt, anxiety, depression, cultural identity and substance use” as the study on historical trauma as a mediator of ethnic identity listed (Soto et al., 2015). These adverse effects of past cultural trauma are not good for the overall development of individuals on the reservation. The toll this takes on families and individuals mental problems are especially damaging during adolescent development. As much as 66% of 969 Native American adolescents taking part in a study “endorsed at least some HT (historical trauma) on one or more items” (Soto et al., 2015). This aspect of the adolescents’ experience on reservations is an unhealthy one because the important family and community aspects of the culture are tainted by historical trauma.
Discrimination
Many researchers found discrimination against Native Americans to have an adverse effect on adolescent development.
In a study on the needs of Native American adolescents, discrimination was found to be linked to many issues including low self-esteem, impaired mental health, weakened tribal identity, becoming more vulnerable to depression, risky behavior and acculturation pressures (Hartshorn, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2012). Adolescence is a sensitive time when “clinical levels of depression and suicide attempts” are already at greater risk than earlier developmental stages making the added stress of discrimination especially harmful to Native American adolescents (Meschke, Peter, & Bartholomae, 2012). This crucial time in development for establishing identity is hindered by the discriminatory treatment that creates a negative view of their own Native American culture. In a survey of Native American fifth through eighth grade students from reservations in the Midwest, 49% “reported significant discrimination” (Hartshorn et al., 2012). These reoccurring circumstances of discrimination are not limited to nonviolent interactions as Native Americans are more likely victims of interracial violence, “committed 60% of the time by white perpetrators” than any other ethnic group (Hartshorn, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2012). As Native American youth suffer from discrimination, a sense of their safety and cultural identity may be disturbed. An unsafe environment is not good for adolescent …show more content…
development. While investigating the relationships of discrimination on anger and aggression among Native American adolescents, researchers found that perceived discrimination led to the impairment of “healthy functioning” to “delinquent behavior” including “adolescent aggression” (Hartshorn et al., 2012). These behaviors are contrary to what a developing child needs in order to function well in society.
Substance Abuse, Alcohol, Tobacco, Common stereotypes of Native Americans include extensive substance abuse, especially of alcohol and tobacco, which too often are backed up by discouraging statistics. Adolescents are often exposed to these unhealthy substances earlier than other ethnic groups in America (Basto, Warson, & Barbour, 2012). Once again, a whole array of problems follow these unfortunate circumstances including “increased risk of health problems, anxiety and depression, increased victimization and accidents” interfering with “the adolescent’s social intellectual and psychological development” (Basto et al., 2012). Depression in particular, can take hold of individuals, crippling their ability to develop healthily. The use of alcohol was specifically linked to “a sense of emptiness, or spiritual disconnection” among Native Americans (Basto et al., 2012). Native Americans on reservations, when compared to the general U.S. population, had higher occurrences “of alcoholism (579%)” and the “highest prevalence of commercial tobacco use over any other ethnic group ((Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012) and (Soto et al., 2015)). This puts adolescents at high risk of exposure to these harmful substances. A study even found that about “one third of American Indian youth began to use alcohol by age 11” (Dickens, Dieterich, Henry, & Beauvais 2012). The peer groups are also affected by these statistics as they translate into the friends and adults they spend time with. In a survey of 969 Native American adolescents, 40% of whom lived on reservations, 52% reported that their “close friend(s) got drunk or high” and 46% that “a close family member or someone you live with got drunk or high” (Soto et al., 2015). Alcohol, tobacco and other recreational drugs are widespread on the Native American reservations leading to early exposure for adolescents both by peers and adults.
Poverty, education, unemployment Poverty, education and unemployment are all interconnected in the Native American community.
The number of dropouts among Native American youth is especially high with a graduation rate “46% lower than the graduation rates for all ethnic groups” (Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012). These low graduation rates are accompanied by an unemployment rate of “50% or higher” and a poverty rate of 30% on Native American reservations (Mileviciute, Trujillo, Gray, & Scott 2013). These conditions can greatly affect adolescent’s learning environment quality and ability to become thriving individuals. Even when varied levels of education were found, job opportunities of equal caliber were not attainable on reservations (Kaufman, Beals, Croy, Jiang, & Novins, 2013). This can leave Native American adolescents without incentive to achieve in school. A study on healthy adolescent development reinforced the deficit early exiting of school can bring because of the “importance of academic success in relation to future educational and career opportunities” (Meschke et al., 2012). Involvement in school has a preventative effect that can help adolescents at risk of substance use (Dickens et al., 2012). The lack of advanced job opportunities contributes to both the dropout rate and unemployment rate among Native Americans, which then translates to the number of impoverished families, creating a depressing
cycle.
Violent Crimes Another detractor from reservation life is the frequency of violent crimes. These crimes range from physical abuse to murder. All the earlier conditions discussed contribute to these crime rates making Native American reservations especially vulnerable. In one study, many Native American adolescents were found to have experienced such events as homicide, suicide and violence (Soto et al., 2015). This discovery was supported by another research team who found that the rates of “homicide, suicide, and family violence are higher for American Indians on reservations than for any other group in the United States” (Hartshorn et al., 2012). The discrimination, substance abuse and impoverished conditions on reservations lead to an aggressive and depressed environment that increases the likelihood of violent crimes. Tribal community members during a study on Native American adolescents referred to “the depression experienced by their youth as a fatalistic state which consisted of such symptoms of hopelessness as sad affect, apathy, suicidal thoughts, anhedonia, lowered self-esteem, and retarded initiation of voluntary responses” (Mileviciute et al., 2013). Such a statement coming from members of the community makes the potency of the unfortunate conditions on reservations much more evident. These depressive effects on the adolescents on reservations can cause “serious long-term consequences, and is ultimately related to poor outcomes in adulthood, including increased negative life events, fewer economic resources, increased child care burdens, lower educational attainment, and chronic adult depression” (Mileviciute et al., 2013). The hardships faced by adolescents on Native American reservations can have a paralyzing effect on their ability to move forward and develop as other ethnic groups in America can.
Findings
Historical Trauma Facing a cultural past full of hardships and strife can set the stage for whole community’s future generations. Native American adolescents face the adversities their ancestors had through historical trauma. During a survey given at an art-centered workshop for Native American adolescents, researchers found that “although American Indian youth are generations removed from many traumatic historical events, trauma associated with such events can remain in their families and their emotional lives” (Soto, Baezconde-Garbanati, Schwartz, & Unger, 2015). These findings opens a window into the life of adolescents’ perception of events on the reservation. The adversities of their ancestors are well-known to many American people including mass death by disease, relocation to reservations and forced assimilation to the dominant language and culture, especially by forced entry of their children into boarding schools. “genocidal policies, pandemics, forced, relocation, removal of children from their families to boarding schools and government bands against ceremonies” (Soto et al., 2015). These horrible experiences can loom over cultural practices as taking part in the culture of the tribe is often closely followed by a stronger realization of what was lost to their people. Historical trauma leads to such problems as “impaired family communication, PTSD symptoms, survivor guilt, anxiety, depression, cultural identity and substance use” as the study on historical trauma as a mediator of ethnic identity listed (Soto et al., 2015). These adverse effects of past cultural trauma are not good for the overall development of individuals on the reservation. The toll this takes on families and individuals mental problems are especially damaging during adolescent development. As much as 66% of 969 Native American adolescents taking part in a study “endorsed at least some HT (historical trauma) on one or more items” (Soto et al., 2015). This aspect of the adolescents’ experience on reservations is an unhealthy one because the important family and community aspects of the culture are tainted by historical trauma.
Discrimination
Many researchers found discrimination against Native Americans to have an adverse effect on adolescent development.
In a study on the needs of Native American adolescents, discrimination was found to be linked to many issues including low self-esteem, impaired mental health, weakened tribal identity, becoming more vulnerable to depression, risky behavior and acculturation pressures (Hartshorn, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2012). Adolescence is a sensitive time when “clinical levels of depression and suicide attempts” are already at greater risk than earlier developmental stages making the added stress of discrimination especially harmful to Native American adolescents (Meschke, Peter, & Bartholomae, 2012). This crucial time in development for establishing identity is hindered by the discriminatory treatment that creates a negative view of their own Native American culture. In a survey of Native American fifth through eighth grade students from reservations in the Midwest, 49% “reported significant discrimination” (Hartshorn et al., 2012). These reoccurring circumstances of discrimination are not limited to nonviolent interactions as Native Americans are more likely victims of interracial violence, “committed 60% of the time by white perpetrators” than any other ethnic group (Hartshorn, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2012). As Native American youth suffer from discrimination, a sense of their safety and cultural identity may be disturbed. An unsafe environment is not good for adolescent …show more content…
development. While investigating the relationships of discrimination on anger and aggression among Native American adolescents, researchers found that perceived discrimination led to the impairment of “healthy functioning” to “delinquent behavior” including “adolescent aggression” (Hartshorn et al., 2012). These behaviors are contrary to what a developing child needs in order to function well in society.
Substance Abuse, Alcohol, Tobacco, Common stereotypes of Native Americans include extensive substance abuse, especially of alcohol and tobacco, which too often are backed up by discouraging statistics. Adolescents are often exposed to these unhealthy substances earlier than other ethnic groups in America (Basto, Warson, & Barbour, 2012). Once again, a whole array of problems follow these unfortunate circumstances including “increased risk of health problems, anxiety and depression, increased victimization and accidents” interfering with “the adolescent’s social intellectual and psychological development” (Basto et al., 2012). Depression in particular, can take hold of individuals, crippling their ability to develop healthily. The use of alcohol was specifically linked to “a sense of emptiness, or spiritual disconnection” among Native Americans (Basto et al., 2012). Native Americans on reservations, when compared to the general U.S. population, had higher occurrences “of alcoholism (579%)” and the “highest prevalence of commercial tobacco use over any other ethnic group ((Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012) and (Soto et al., 2015)). This puts adolescents at high risk of exposure to these harmful substances. A study even found that about “one third of American Indian youth began to use alcohol by age 11” (Dickens, Dieterich, Henry, & Beauvais 2012). The peer groups are also affected by these statistics as they translate into the friends and adults they spend time with. In a survey of 969 Native American adolescents, 40% of whom lived on reservations, 52% reported that their “close friend(s) got drunk or high” and 46% that “a close family member or someone you live with got drunk or high” (Soto et al., 2015). Alcohol, tobacco and other recreational drugs are widespread on the Native American reservations leading to early exposure for adolescents both by peers and adults.
Poverty, education, unemployment Poverty, education and unemployment are all interconnected in the Native American community.
The number of dropouts among Native American youth is especially high with a graduation rate “46% lower than the graduation rates for all ethnic groups” (Stumblingbear-Riddle & Romans, 2012). These low graduation rates are accompanied by an unemployment rate of “50% or higher” and a poverty rate of 30% on Native American reservations (Mileviciute, Trujillo, Gray, & Scott 2013). These conditions can greatly affect adolescent’s learning environment quality and ability to become thriving individuals. Even when varied levels of education were found, job opportunities of equal caliber were not attainable on reservations (Kaufman, Beals, Croy, Jiang, & Novins, 2013). This can leave Native American adolescents without incentive to achieve in school. A study on healthy adolescent development reinforced the deficit early exiting of school can bring because of the “importance of academic success in relation to future educational and career opportunities” (Meschke et al., 2012). Involvement in school has a preventative effect that can help adolescents at risk of substance use (Dickens et al., 2012). The lack of advanced job opportunities contributes to both the dropout rate and unemployment rate among Native Americans, which then translates to the number of impoverished families, creating a depressing
cycle.
Violent Crimes Another detractor from reservation life is the frequency of violent crimes. These crimes range from physical abuse to murder. All the earlier conditions discussed contribute to these crime rates making Native American reservations especially vulnerable. In one study, many Native American adolescents were found to have experienced such events as homicide, suicide and violence (Soto et al., 2015). This discovery was supported by another research team who found that the rates of “homicide, suicide, and family violence are higher for American Indians on reservations than for any other group in the United States” (Hartshorn et al., 2012). The discrimination, substance abuse and impoverished conditions on reservations lead to an aggressive and depressed environment that increases the likelihood of violent crimes. Tribal community members during a study on Native American adolescents referred to “the depression experienced by their youth as a fatalistic state which consisted of such symptoms of hopelessness as sad affect, apathy, suicidal thoughts, anhedonia, lowered self-esteem, and retarded initiation of voluntary responses” (Mileviciute et al., 2013). Such a statement coming from members of the community makes the potency of the unfortunate conditions on reservations much more evident. These depressive effects on the adolescents on reservations can cause “serious long-term consequences, and is ultimately related to poor outcomes in adulthood, including increased negative life events, fewer economic resources, increased child care burdens, lower educational attainment, and chronic adult depression” (Mileviciute et al., 2013). The hardships faced by adolescents on Native American reservations can have a paralyzing effect on their ability to move forward and develop as other ethnic groups in America can.