“A reflection of how social problems impact on family within the Caribbean.”

“A reflection of how social problems impact on family within the Caribbean.”

The post-colonial period saw some distinct change in the structure of society where the matrifocal based homes were found and where men/ fathers were not at all significant in the rearing and caring of the child/children because the woman usually assumes the role as head of the home the man’s domestic routine becomes marginal. This is consistent with the conflict perspective where the family becomes an oppressive institution – a status quo of unequal power relations between the man and the woman and also of people of different age groups. It also defines poverty rates between racial and ethnic groups upholding gender inequality within the family.

The structural functionalist is definitely appalled by this as his theory of the regulated family with proper sexual behaviour, protection of members, personality development and placement of members proposes to offer society control and stability.[1] This theory provided integration and a smooth working society. This explains the reality of economic stability and a balanced social structure which transcends the fragmented family structures within the society.[2] There is a fierce argument to show that structural functionalism has loop holes because the reality of the effects of colonialism has created other real situations which show that the family has gone through and is still experiencing injustices as cited before. There is a real world of divorce, separation, remarriage and battered children. Social problems are real within the context of the family and we definitely cannot support the functionalist theories. We need to present solutions to alleviate the pressures created and to sociologically discuss how to preserve the unit.[3]

Within the Caribbean region there are several social problems that affect the family and threaten its existence. In Trinidad and Tobago we are faced with daily situations which expose the absence of structures and policies that are necessary to provide stability and development within our communities and society. There is also need for a Caribbean intervention to establish support for addressing the problems as a region.

The economic situation of the region drove a wedge through the seas as we continue to face the weaknesses that were born out of the colonial period. Industrialization came next as a means to further enslave the populace even though it seemed to provide new skills, opportunities for education and economic stability. In essence, it did provide labour and wages but could not remove the family from the social structures that impounded them financially and socially. There were no efficient distribution of goods and services, no available social services and affordable health services. Poverty was real.

This is just one of the problems that I would address in more detail but there are several others that are associated with the family in this contemporary period. There are others for example crime, school violence, deviance (pornography), street children, school violence and homelessness. I am going to address some of these in the future as I endeavour to provide means of interventions and resolve for these social issues.

Looking at poverty, let us first consider the education system. We have already cited that industrialization sought to provide a level of education to empower the people with the intent to maximize the use of the machinery. However this objective encountered several societal problems which bore unplanned results. There was marginalization and the households never had enough to facilitate their needs. The children suffered because they could not afford to purchase the basic school needs. In Trinidad and Tobago and some of the other Caribbean islands children should be provided with not just book grants but health services and nutrition.

 While there has been some effort to ensure that some of these needs are met within the school via the school-feeding program and the book grant and loan system, there should be a reintroduction of medical provision (including dental services) for the nation’s children. The re-introduction of the vaccination programs should also be considered. Such programs were in existence two decades ago. In my opinion, the health program needs urgent attention so as to effectively meet the needs of the populace, in particular those who are unable to access private health care services, and to whom the public health care provisions are daunting in terms of service quality and accessibility. I would like to note here that by no means am I advocating a ‘hand-me-down’ state approach that is focused on handouts rather than empowering of the people. However, the fact remains that given the present socio-economic conditions of the nation, with increasing food prices, the impact of structural adjustment, globalization, etcetera, we need to cater for those who are in need, in particular the children, our future, who may not have access to resources that ensure healthy living at its most basic.

The Caribbean nations all suffered when their governments had to service their needs through the International Monetary Fund. This impacted negatively and there were several institutions that had to be defined in terms of policy so that the funds could be released. It developed industrialization by invitation which stifled the local production market. It further created an influx of foreign investors which redefined the entire technological world for what is called ‘small world’. Globalization crushes rather than empower; modernization brings societal change that is partially facilitated by the education process. Men and women and children are not specifically educated to meet these needs and so there is the importing of top management personnel who then oppresses the masses –the families.

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[1] Dolch, Norman and Deutchmann, L – Social Problems: a Case Study Approach (2001)

[2] Barrow, Christine – Families in Caribbean: Themes and Perspectives (1996)

[3] Smith, Raymond T. – The Negro family in British Guiana (1971)

“A reflection of how social problems impact on family within the Caribbean.”

The post-colonial period saw some distinct change in the structure of society where the matrifocal based homes were found and where men/ fathers were not at all significant in the rearing and caring of the child/children because the woman usually assumes the role as head of the home the man’s domestic routine becomes marginal. This is consistent with the conflict perspective where the family becomes an oppressive institution – a status quo of unequal power relations between the man and the woman and also of people of different age groups. It also defines poverty rates between racial and ethnic groups upholding gender inequality within the family.

The structural functionalist is definitely appalled by this as his theory of the regulated family with proper sexual behaviour, protection of members, personality development and placement of members proposes to offer society control and stability.[1] This theory provided integration and a smooth working society. This explains the reality of economic stability and a balanced social structure which transcends the fragmented family structures within the society.[2] There is a fierce argument to show that structural functionalism has loop holes because the reality of the effects of colonialism has created other real situations which show that the family has gone through and is still experiencing injustices as cited before. There is a real world of divorce, separation, remarriage and battered children. Social problems are real within the context of the family and we definitely cannot support the functionalist theories. We need to present solutions to alleviate the pressures created and to sociologically discuss how to preserve the unit.[3]

Within the Caribbean region there are several social problems that affect the family and threaten its existence. In Trinidad and Tobago we are faced with daily situations which expose the absence of structures and policies that are necessary to provide stability and development within our communities and society. There is also need for a Caribbean intervention to establish support for addressing the problems as a region.

The economic situation of the region drove a wedge through the seas as we continue to face the weaknesses that were born out of the colonial period. Industrialization came next as a means to further enslave the populace even though it seemed to provide new skills, opportunities for education and economic stability. In essence, it did provide labour and wages but could not remove the family from the social structures that impounded them financially and socially. There were no efficient distribution of goods and services, no available social services and affordable health services. Poverty was real.

This is just one of the problems that I would address in more detail but there are several others that are associated with the family in this contemporary period. There are others for example crime, school violence, deviance (pornography), street children, school violence and homelessness. I am going to address some of these in the future as I endeavour to provide means of interventions and resolve for these social issues.

Looking at poverty, let us first consider the education system. We have already cited that industrialization sought to provide a level of education to empower the people with the intent to maximize the use of the machinery. However this objective encountered several societal problems which bore unplanned results. There was marginalization and the households never had enough to facilitate their needs. The children suffered because they could not afford to purchase the basic school needs. In Trinidad and Tobago and some of the other Caribbean islands children should be provided with not just book grants but health services and nutrition.

 While there has been some effort to ensure that some of these needs are met within the school via the school-feeding program and the book grant and loan system, there should be a reintroduction of medical provision (including dental services) for the nation’s children. The re-introduction of the vaccination programs should also be considered. Such programs were in existence two decades ago. In my opinion, the health program needs urgent attention so as to effectively meet the needs of the populace, in particular those who are unable to access private health care services, and to whom the public health care provisions are daunting in terms of service quality and accessibility. I would like to note here that by no means am I advocating a ‘hand-me-down’ state approach that is focused on handouts rather than empowering of the people. However, the fact remains that given the present socio-economic conditions of the nation, with increasing food prices, the impact of structural adjustment, globalization, etcetera, we need to cater for those who are in need, in particular the children, our future, who may not have access to resources that ensure healthy living at its most basic.

The Caribbean nations all suffered when their governments had to service their needs through the International Monetary Fund. This impacted negatively and there were several institutions that had to be defined in terms of policy so that the funds could be released. It developed industrialization by invitation which stifled the local production market. It further created an influx of foreign investors which redefined the entire technological world for what is called ‘small world’. Globalization crushes rather than empower; modernization brings societal change that is partially facilitated by the education process. Men and women and children are not specifically educated to meet these needs and so there is the importing of top management personnel who then oppresses the masses –the families.

---

[1] Dolch, Norman and Deutchmann, L – Social Problems: a Case Study Approach (2001)

[2] Barrow, Christine – Families in Caribbean: Themes and Perspectives (1996)

[3] Smith, Raymond T. – The Negro family in British Guiana (1971)

What is trauma and how should it be treated among a diversely cultural people whose traditions and custom contradict the therapeutic intervention of the psychologist?  There is need for education and information with relevant support services that will re-establish normal functioning within our country, Trinidad.

Trauma is now a daily experience in a village or community within our nation and citizens are most times unaware of the effects on their families’ lives. We are not just facing losses and succumbing to violence but we are overwhelmed with fears and other negative emotions that affect our thought patterns and our behaviour. We are threatened by the very news that informs us – the front page syndrome or the evening television news which disturbs our relaxation; and yet we are forced to live normally when we are pressed with uncertainties and anxieties. There is a real cry for help and yet, there is silence because of the lack of information that could give comfort for our citizens. Is it because we cannot truly define trauma; do we confuse the experience with conflict or mishap or maybe death and bad news?

The word ‘trauma’ defines the experiences of extreme hopelessness when there is physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and environmental violation to one’s person and surroundings. The inability to come to a place of order and assurance creates the emotional instability that we refer to as trauma. It is as if our ‘nerves’ are shocked and there is no solution to ease the pain experienced. This is the point at which there is need for diagnosis to truly identify the depth of trauma and the realities of emotional instability that would disturb our composure and behaviours. It is important to note that there are different categories of trauma including what is called ‘secondary trauma’.

Secondary trauma is defined where persons are not directly involve in traumatic situations but are indirectly related or affected by high-intensity traumas. The American Psychological Association May 2007, Press Release states that this “proximity to high-intensity traumas can have long lasting effects on the brain and behaviour of healthy people without causing a current clinical disorder. But these subtle changes could increase susceptibility to mental health problems later on.”

There is apparent evidence that one cannot evade the issues of traumatic occurrences whether it pervades environmental impact. The long term effects are not the focus of the public, nor are the environmental impact that involves persons that are insignificant to the problem. It is obvious that there is lack of knowledge that filters into the approaches, interventions and lifestyles of those affected.

In Trinidad with our multicultural lifestyles, there are several interpretations for the why of trauma. We are faced with ethnic interpretations where certain experiences are unique to one race and subsequently have a religious perspective.  People are sometimes comforted because of these reasons and the trauma is minimized and the effects are manageable. In this context we see the application of belief systems that serve to buffer the mental and psychological stressors. The ancestral implications, the generational traits are considered deeply to understand the nature of the trauma and the processes to overcome.

When we look at children or youth who are delinquent or have conduct behaviours, the villagers are sometimes consoled because the dispositions were anticipated because the fathers, mothers or relatives did the same thing – they had the same behaviours. There is no redress for such experiences and so the situations are not considered traumatic.

Belief systems do create confusion among families where there is superstition, redefining the myths and folklore tales. This is also an avenue where trauma lurks and where there is a need for intervention addressing behaviors, reacting, thoughts,

practices. 

The reality for support or therapy is not a foremost desire but I am assured that as the world grows with a greater educational awareness, persons would definitely begin to reach out for professional help. The day will come when the public will have a keener understanding of the basics of trauma and the need to know how to overcome successfully in order to regain balance in their daily living.