Health occurs as a fundamental factor in numerous communities around the world. Moreover, other factors affect health immensely in these varied communities. In the essay, the main community of discussion includes the African American. Women in this western part of the world tend to possess a particular kind of eating habit that affects their health. However, this may occur due to historical factors and so on.
A large percentage of African American women take up an unhealthy eating habit, the percentages may go up to 60 or 70. The heavy weights that most of these women possess owes to this poor eating habits. However, it should occur noted that much of this comes from the cultural factors at hand. These shall occur in detail below.
The PEN- 3 model works to supply issues concerning crucial factors concerning health around the world. This model has occurred used in both African and American communities. It works on providing fundamental dimensions that touch on health beliefs and behaviors. The factors include cultural identity as well as relationships and expectations. In addition, it also provides vital information on cultural empowerment (3100, 2013).
In this essay, the main dimension of study includes cultural identity. How do African American women relate their eating habits with their cultural identity? Well, first, there exist three main factors to discuss in this topic of cultural identity. These three topics include person, extended family and neighborhood.
- PERSON
Under the topic of cultural identity, it should occur noted that the basic roles of person appear in consideration. Particularly, the roles of the women in the family and the community should occur in consideration. Moreover, since most women in this particular ethnic group tend to possess a vast eating habit, emphasis should always occur on how they should handle their eating habits. For instance, when these women tend to eat more, they may put themselves at a risk of contracting heart diseases and so on. Thus, this hinders them from performing their roles in the families and communities.
- EXTENDED FAMILY
Another fundamental factor under cultural identity includes the extended family. All the procedures that involve providing health education to the women in the African American setting should cover even the extended members of their families. This could help immensely in curbing any possibilities of health defects among the rest of the family. However, the immediate family should possess first priority in the entire process. The extended family possesses a large role here. For instance, a certain eating habit may appear inherited from another member in the extended family. This would help in rectifying the habits extensively within and beyond the immediate family.
- NEIGHBORHOOD
Finally, another crucial factor of discussion includes neighborhood. The entire woman population in a particular region should appear covered in terms of providing health education. The factors of cultural identity also apply immensely to the neighborhood in which one lives. Healthy eating among there African American women gets largely affected by neighboring parties. A woman may take up eating habits from the environment in which they dwell. As such, controlling the eating habits may prove difficult. Thus, crucial health education programs appear fundamental in order to ensure that this factor appears well addressed.
In conclusion, most African American women possess a rather poor eating trend. This may pose immense risks to their health. As such, the general contribution of these women in societal growth appears limited. To that effect, it occurs crucial to provide numerous health education programs. These would not only benefit these women, but also their families and neighbors. Healthy eating among the African American women appears as a fundamental factor of discussion due to its massive impacts on the women and the community.
References
3100, A. (2013). Globalization and Cultural Identity.
Malkki, L. (2008). The Routings of People and their Identities. National Geographic .
