Introduction:
In this sociobiography, I reflect on my experiences growing up in a low-income Black community and how it has shaped my understanding of socioeconomic disparity and community health. Despite facing challenges, I developed a passion for nursing and resource management skills that have influenced my personal and professional life. Additionally, I observed the healthcare disparities within my community, including limited access to quality healthcare and higher rates of infectious and non-communicable diseases. The nursing and strive for improved health outcomes in underserved communities.
Growing Up in a Low-Income Black Community:
My childhood in a low-income Black community exposed me to the realities of socioeconomic disparity in a diverse country. Compared to White households, my family had limited income mobility. However, the social interactions within the neighborhood fostered a sense of community and inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. Witnessing the challenges faced by my community motivated improving community health.
SOCS 185 Week 7 Essay Culture and Society
Sociocultural Factors and Health Disparities:
Within my community, there were significant disparities in healthcare accessibility compared to the national average. Sociocultural factors played a crucial role in increasing the vulnerability of community members to both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Infectious diseases such as influenza, chickenpox, tuberculosis, measles, and hepatitis B were more prevalent in the community due to limited access to vaccines, low health literacy, and inadequate health insurance coverage. This resulted in a higher burden of disease in comparison to middle and higher-income neighborhoods.
Moreover, non-communicable diseases were also prevalent in the community, primarily due to risk factors such as tobacco use, binge drinking, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity resulting from limited access to fitness facilities. Growing up in a food desert, where healthy food options were scarce, contributed to an unhealthy diet dominated by fast food consumption. The lack of appropriate and timely preventive healthcare also exposed young individuals to mental health problems, emphasizing the need for improved mental health support within the community.
SOCS 185 Week 7 Essay Culture and Society
Motivation to Pursue Nursing:
The healthcare disparities prevalent in my community served as a catalyst for my passion to pursue a career in nursing. Witnessing the shortage of healthcare professionals and the impact it had on community health outcomes fueled my determination to make a difference. By becoming a nurse, I hoped to contribute to improving access to quality healthcare and promoting health equity in underserved communities like my own.
During my educational journey, I transitioned from attending low-income elementary and middle schools that faced limited public funding to high-income learning institutions. The stark contrast between these two environments left from a low-income background. In my elementary and middle schools, I faced challenges such as larger class sizes, minimal parental involvement, scarce resources, and high dropout rates. In contrast, schools in middle and high-income communities enjoyed more favorable conditions.
Despite these obstacles, my parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and emphasized the importance of graduating with excellent high school grades. Motivated by their encouragement, I dedicated myself to academic success throughout elementary, middle, and high school, in nursing. The disparities in education based on race significantly influenced my social identity in a diverse society. The black culture prevalent in my schooling experience was a rich amalgamation of American, African roots, and European influences.
SOCS 185 Week 7 Essay Culture and Society
As a bicultural individual, navigating between the black society and the white world, I assimilated both cultural trends to enhance my adaptability in the real world. Interacting with my peers, friends, schoolmates, and the community taught me invaluable qualities such as resilience, vitality, ingenuity, toughness, social consciousness, and endurance. I discovered that low-income communities possess a remarkable level of social capital, which enables their members to mitigate the impact of systemic oppression (Averett, 2021). Within my own nuclear and extended family, there was a strong sense of mutual support and collaboration towards shared goals. Spending holidays with my cousins at my grandparents’ house allowed me to delve deeper into our community’s history, thanks to interactions with my parents, grandparents, and neighbors. Unfortunately, mainstream culture often undermines social capital in low-income communities through negative stereotypes.
The environment and social interactions of my childhood in a low-income community profoundly shaped my personality and career trajectory. I seized every opportunity to learn and develop essential life skills and values that contribute to personal and professional growth. With the nursing skills I have acquired, my purpose is to address health disparities among underserved populations and inspire young individuals from low-income communities.
Summary
In summary, my educational journey from low-income schools to high-income institutions, coupled with the influence of black culture and the challenges faced in a low-income community, has molded me into a resilient individual. I am committed to utilizing my nursing expertise to bridge health disparities and serve as an inspiration to young people who come from similar backgrounds.
References
Averett, N. (2021). Social capital in black communities is often overlooked. Scientific American.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/social-capital-in-black-communities-is-often-overlooked/
Kendall, D. E. Boston, Ma Cengage Learning. Shiyanbola, O. O., Ward, E., & Brown, C. (2018). Sociocultural influences on African Americans’ representations of type 2 diabetes: A qualitative study. Ethnicity & Disease, 28(1), 25–32.
