Cultural Group: European American
A Brief History
- Descendants of the first European settlers;
- Have always been the largest group;
- The Spanish were the first Europeans in America (Cross, 2017);
- German, Irish, and British immigrants – the first wave;
- The second wave – mainly Southern and Eastern Europe.
Values and Worldview
- Free will and individual choice;
- Objective knowledge and science;
- Taking pride in the country of origin;
- Individualism and independence;
- Emphasis on work and material possessions.
Language and Communications Patterns
- The English language dominates;
- Require personal space (Brzozowska & Chlopicki, 2015);
- Avoid physical contact with strangers;
- Different nations added their vocabulary to English;
- Contributing to geographical names.
Art and Other Expressive Forms
- Develop the European heritage;
- Exploiting new technologies;
- Adhering to strong literature traditions;
- Outstanding achievements in all spheres;
- High capitalization of art.
Norms and Rules
- Minor differences due to national customs;
- Respect for different cultures and religions;
- The majority adhere to Christian ethics;
- Families are centered around children;
- Have strong political opinions.
Lifestyle Characteristics
- The trend for self-reliance;
- Being unique and believing in themselves;
- Earning as early as possible;
- Possession of strong work ethics;
- Striving for professional and personal success.
Relationship Patterns and Common Rituals
- Have wide nets of weak connections;
- Less emphasis on traditional marriage;
- Tendency to marry in their thirties;
- Reverence for family gatherings and holidays;
- Patriarchy prevails in families.
Degree of Assimilation or Marginalization from Mainstream Society
- A third of the American population;
- High level of assimilation;
- Set trends across the groups;
- Marginalization is low;
- Easily socialize with different cultural groups.
Health Behaviors and Practices
- Fresh air is the basis for wellbeing;
- Regular jogging and fitness;
- Healthy diet, vegan practice;
- Attention to body image and beauty;
- When in sickness, ask relatives and friends for help.
Socio-Cultural Group: Greek American
A Brief History
- Came from Turkey, the Balkans, and Egypt;
- Failed to colonize Florida in 1768 (Moskos, 2017);
- The first community developed in New Orleans;
- In 1924 got the lowest immigration quota (Jurgens);
- Were severely discriminated against.
Values and Worldview
- Adherence to democracy through history;
- The heritage of Ancient Greece;
- Family and local community;
- Loving and enjoying life;
- Work hard to achieve success.
Language and Communications Patterns
- Treasure their native language;
- Teach Greek in special schools;
- Prefer to communicate face-to-face;
- Do not require much personal space;
- Use expressive body language.
Art and Other Expressive Forms
- The root of Western classical art;
- Literature and philosophic tradition;
- Characteristic sculpture and architecture;
- Practice ethnic dances;
- Celebrate traditional festivals.
Norms and Rules
- Men and women kiss when greeting;
- General respect for the elderly people;
- Including children in adult activities;
- Hospitality and sociability with strangers;
- Dressing appropriately to the Church.
Lifestyle Characteristics
- Have a slow pace of life;
- Characterized by collectivist culture;
- Spontaneous and flexible with plans;
- Take afternoon naps;
- Strong religious tradition.
Relationship Patterns and Common Rituals
- Men are expected to be breadwinners;
- Women are responsible for the household;
- Advocate conventional marriage;
- Close connections with extended families;
- Meeting at coffeehouses with friends.
Degree of Assimilation or Marginalization from Mainstream Society
- Two-thirds stress their Greek identity;
- Largely live in cities;
- Loyalty to traditions and ethnic groups;
- Marriages between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox;
- An equal number of Republicans and Democrats.
Health Behaviors and Practices
- Try to avoid hospitals;
- Prevent illness with folk remedies (Lundy & Janes, 2014);
- Greek diet and exercise;
- Caring for family and friends;
- Using herbs as a medicine.
Both Groups
A comparison and contrast analysis of common characteristics and distinguishing traits between the groups
- The Greeks are more collective-centered;
- Both groups are patriotic;
- Both mostly live in cities;
- Close in religious beliefs (Christianity);
- The Greeks are more traditional in social relations.
Discussion of Differential Approaches Needed by Health Care Professionals
- Establishing trustful relationships with Greek families;
- Educating on clinical medicine;
- Importance of timely professional help;
- Respect for traditional values;
- Paying special attention to children.
References
Brzozowska, D. & Chlopicki, W. (2015). Culture’s software: Communication styles. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Cross, J. A. (2017). Ethnic landscapes of America. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Jurgens, J. (n. d.) Greek Americans. Web.
Lundy, K. S. & Janes, S. (2014). Community health nursing (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Moskos, P. C. (2017). Greek Americans: Struggle and success (3rd ed). Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge.