_____________________________________________________________ Cultural Competence: An Overview
Common Myths Many myths surround homosexuality; a few are outlined below. The origin of these myths may be better understood after examining the history of homosexuality as well as the attitudes toward human sexuality in general. The history of the development of societal norms related to homosexuality includes misconceptions developed during times when research was not available on which to build a scientific knowledge base [82; 90; 91; 92]. Myth: Sexual orientation is a choice. Fact: No consensus exists among scientists about the reasons that an individual develops his/her sexual orientation. Some research has shown that the bodies and brains of gay men and women differ subtly in structure and function from their het- erosexual counterparts; however, no findings have conclusively shown that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or set of factors. Many people confuse sexual orientation with sexual identity. The reader may consider reviewing the definitions of these terms when further considering this myth. Myth: Gay men and lesbians can be easily identified because they have distinctive characteristics. Fact: Most gay and lesbian individuals conform to the majority of society in the way they dress and act. Further, a person’s appearance is not necessarily an indication of sexual or roman- tic interests. Myth: Gay individuals are child molesters. Fact: This is a very damaging and heterosexist position. Accord- ing to experts in the field of sexual abuse, the vast majority of those who molest children are heterosexual. The average offender is a White heterosexual man whom the child knows. Myth: Gay people want to come into our schools and recruit our children to their “lifestyle.” Fact: Efforts to bring issues related to LGBTQIA history and rights into schools are not efforts to “convert,” just as educa- tion on European history is not an effort to glamorize or “convert” to European identity. The intent has been to teach a more complete history of the world and to prevent children from mistreating LGBTQIA who are often the subjects of harassment and physical attacks. There is no evidence that people could be “recruited” to a gay sexual orientation, even if someone wanted to do this. AGE Elderly patients should be routinely screened for health and mental health conditions using tools specifically developed for this population, in spite of some practitioners’ discomfort with asking questions about sensitive topics. These population- appropriate assessments may be included in other health screening tools [93].
Wellness and purpose have become important emphases when working with older adults [94]. In the past, aging was associ- ated with disability, loss, decline, and a separation from occu- pational productivity. Although patient growth and positive change and development are values that practitioners embrace, the unconscious acceptance of societal myths and stereotypes of aging may prevent practitioners from promoting these values in elderly individuals [95]. Common Myths of Aging Society holds several myths about the elderly. Many of these myths may be easily disputed based on data from the U.S. Census and other studies. Myth: Most older adults live alone and are isolated. Fact: In 2018, 70% of men and 46% of women 65 years and older were married. An estimated 28% lived alone [96]. According to a survey conducted in 2009, 9 out of 10 individu- als 65 years of age and older stated they talked to family and friends on a daily basis [97]. In 2016, an estimated 20% of the U.S. population lived in a household comprised of two adult generations or a grandparent or at least one other generation, compared with 12% in 1980 [97; 98]. This multigenerational household trend particularly affects those 65 years and older, with 21% of these individuals living in multigenerational households in 2016. This group was second only to individuals 25 to 29 years of age (33%) [98]. Several factors have contrib- uted to this trend, including growing racial and ethnic diversity and adults getting married later [97; 98]. Myth: Most older adults engage in very minimal productive activity. Fact: In 2016, 18.6% of persons 65 years and older were employed or actively looking for work, and this population rep- resents approximately 8% of the total labor force in the United States [99]. The elderly are more engaged in self-employed activities than younger persons. In 2016, 16.4% of those 65 years of age and older were self-employed, compared with an average of 5.5% of those 16 years to 64 years of age [100]. Myth: Life satisfaction is low among the elderly. Fact: Data from the Berkeley Older Generation Study indicate that many elders are quite satisfied with their life [101]. More than one-third (36%) of persons older than 59 years of age and 15% of those older than 79 years of age stated they were currently experiencing the best time in their lives. A 2009 survey found that 60% of individuals 65 years of age and older stated they were very happy. A 2012 survey found that 65% of individuals 65 years of age and older indicated that the past year of their life has been normal or better than normal, and more than 80% of respondents agreed with the statement, “I have a strong sense of purpose and passion about my life and my future” [102]. Most of the factors that predict happiness for the young, such as good health and financial stability, also apply to the elderly. Older adults tend to report higher levels of well-being in part due to the quality of their social relationships [103].
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