Author: Michal Peretz | Published on Sept 04, 2024 | Last Updated on October 30, 2024 | Time: 08:58 PM
As a Filipina born and raised in California, my cultural identity blends Filipino American heritage, Jewish identity as a Jew of color, adopted Israeli culture, a connection to the U.S. military (formerly married to an IDF officer), and a Silicon Valley upbringing.
Filipino culture emphasizes family values and holds deep respect for the grandmother as the matriarch. On the other hand, there is a emphasis on traditional 1950's style gender stereotype roles where women are to take on nurturing domestic motherly roles at home. While this maybe seen as a positive aspect of my culture,there is less focus on children to grow up with a strong sense-of-self and freedom to explore their own identities, and there is less flexibility among families for freedom to explore their own individual values due to restrictive religious obligations.
While societal perceptions often associate Filipinos with caregiving and healthcare roles, especially in Israel, these roles only represent part of our career identities. Filipinos, especially in third-generation communities, are not confined to traditional socio-economic roles but are thriving across fields such as STEM technology roles, law, business, and politics. I believe it’s important to highlight that Filipinos and other marginalized ethnic cultures are not limited to these stereotypes but can thrive across diverse careers, from STEM and technology to politics and business. We’re building a future where Filipinos are recognized for our contributions across all fields.
What is Implicit Bias?
According to Jennefer Witter, implicit bias is where a group is holding up a sign against another group, or when upon meeting someone within 5-10 secs make a judgement against that person. I reflected on how that would affect people's work, small businesses, and our financial habits. I have recently shopped at a Indian grocery store and deli and was thrilled to find large amounts of spices for lower costs than our local grocery store. I feel grateful to have a wide range of diverse cultures and I think as social workers to be aware of locally minority owned businesses fosters community, growth and supporting one another (TEDx Talks., 2020, January 7, 6:28).
What is Cultural Homelessness?
It is important as social workers to also be aware of wide spectrum of diversity of cultures such as people like me or according to Arizona State University (ASU) community members in an article on Cultural Homelessness, that not everyone identifies with their cultural identity based off of one race or born environment. Furthermore, it is also important to be culturally sensitive to people who are still exploring aspects of their cultural roots and identity and that it's okay to not feel belonging to one specific culture or community (Gonzalez-Chavez, A., 2021, March 22, ).
The article by Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez explores the concept of "cultural homelessness" — a feeling of being caught between cultures, especially among multicultural students at Arizona State University. Diya Patel, who moved from the U.S. to India, and others share experiences of feeling alienated or “not enough” within their own cultural communities. When Patel faced judgment over her accent and knowledge of traditions, she initially withdrew, feeling disconnected from her heritage. It took time and supportive friends to rebuild her connection to her roots.
Professor Cristalís Capielo Rosario highlights that this phenomenon — feeling "ni de aquí, ni de allá" or "neither here nor there" — often results from internalized cultural stereotypes and expectations. For people of color, judgment from within their own communities can mirror larger societal pressures and reinforce narratives of inadequacy. Capielo suggests that developing a personal sense of identity can offer stability, creating a space that values cultural expression on one's own terms.
The experience is familiar to students like Xavier Rollier, a freshman of mixed heritage, who finds his appearance often leads others to overlook his multicultural identity. Despite these assumptions, he embraces the diverse backgrounds that make him who he is, acknowledging that his blended heritage allows him to connect with multiple cultures, each adding value to his life. This article encourages redefining identity on personal terms, highlighting how self-acceptance can help ease feelings of “cultural homelessness.”