CULTURAL BACKGROUND 1
Cultural Background
Charity Morton
School of Behavioral Science, Liberty University
Author Note
.I have no known conflict of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
:Email
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 2
Abstract
Part of being a multiculturally competent counselor is being aware of your cultural background.
Cultural identity impacts an individual's beliefs and values and affects their development. I
explored my culture and experience of being biracial, as well as how I first became aware of my
cultural background and my response to it. Along with this, customs, values, and behaviors in
my family background are explored, such as having a multigenerational household, views on
respect, communication styles, and views on success. Furthermore, this paper also uncovers the
influence of spirituality and religion. In addition, this paper explores the similarities and
differences between Filipino, Southern, and Hawaiian cultures. Lastly, as counselors, social
justice and advocacy are crucial, and by learning about my cultural background, I developed a
newfound respect for the importance of cultural identity development for other individuals and
how it shapes my view of social justice and advocacy for others.
Keywords: culture, identity, Filipino
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 3
Cultural Background
Culture is the shared customs, behaviors, values, social norms, and worldviews shared
among members of the same cultural group (Hays & Gay, 2023). Culture significantly impacts
an individual’s identity development, which is why it is crucial to understand one’s cultural
background. This paper will explore my biracial heritage of Filipino and Caucasian, the
similarities and differences between my culture and others, how learning more about my culture
affects my cultural identity, and how it shapes my views of conducting social justice and client
advocacy.
Predominant Cultures
Background and Identity
I was born and raised in Hawaii and am biracial. My mother is Filipino and from the
Philippines, and my father is Caucasian and from Indiana. My mother moved to the United
States when she was 25 when she married my father. When I asked my father about his heritage,
he openly admitted that he did know anything about his ancestry; because of this, the primary
culture focused on in this paper is my Filipino heritage.
Awareness of Cultural Background
My first experience becoming aware of my cultural background was around first grade. I
noticed how different I looked compared to my fairer-skinned classmates and the differences in
our lunches. While I had dishes from my Filipino background, my classmates had what I
considered “normal” food, such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or hot pockets, and they
had no problem telling me how gross and smelly my food was. The differences in our lunches
made me self-conscious. Because of this, I unashamedly asked my mom to prepare me more
“normal” lunches, and at the time, I saw no problem with it, but now, as an adult, I realize I let
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 4
other people’s comments make me feel embarrassed, and it was the start of me denying my
heritage as a Filipino. I grew up hating my skin color and my culture, partially because of the
racist comments I received. I wanted to be pale and more "white-passing" so others would like
me more. As I grew up, I had more colored classmates with me in school, but I was still ashamed
of my culture. Despite having Filipino friends at church growing up, I hated attending Filipino
church services and grew to be more and more ashamed of my culture. My first year of college
reinstated many feelings of shame about who I was; this was primarily because my roommate
pointed out everything I did that was different, including how I would say certain words and how
I did not enjoy some American foods. In addition, because of how diverse Hawaii is, when I
moved to Virginia and started attending college, I finally realized how lonely it felt to be the only
person of color surrounded by thousands of white people. It was not until my second year of
college that I started to fully embrace who I was, not just the Caucasian side, but the Filipino side
of me as well. I began to come to terms with being biracial and being proud of it instead of
ashamed. I am still learning to fully accept who I am and shed the shame and embarrassment that
haunted me for so many years, but I am further along than when I was younger.
Prominent Customs and Values
Root (2005) shared many common Filipino customs and values that resonate with me and
are common in my home, such as having a multigenerational household, collectivistic culture,
respect for the elderly, and the importance of education. I grew up having my Filipino
grandparents, orDloloandDlola,Dliving in our house for several years before they moved back to
the Philippines. Because of multigenerational households in the Philippines, nursing homes are
not the norm. With the collectivistic culture of the Philippines, I grew up knowing that my
actions affected how my family looked, and decisions either brought honor or shame to my
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 5
family.DBecause of this, there was pressure to constantly do what was right out of fear of getting
into trouble. Regarding respect, a common practice in Filipino culture is to respect anyone older,
even if it is only a one-year difference. With siblings, it is common for younger sisters to call
their older brothersDkuya/manongand for younger brothers to call their older sisters
ate/manang.This aspect also applies to cousins, other Filipino friends, or strangers.DA traditional
greeting from a younger individual to an older individual is to “bless” the other person by having
the younger individual take an older person’s hand and bring it to their forehead while bowing
their head. In addition, communication in my family was primarily indirect and contextual based,
which is common in Filipino cultures. Because of this, in combination with my Caucasian side
from my dad, at times, there was confusion and miscommunication. Success is crucial and
affects every aspect of a Filipino child’s life, including education, dating, and occupation, which
is an aspect that is all too familiar to me and often causes fear of failure in my life.
Spirituality and Religiosity
Because religion and spirituality are crucial in Filipino culture, it is also an aspect that was
normal in my family (Root, 2005). My mother grew up Catholic, which is the predominant
religion of the Philippines but got saved as a young adult. Because of this, I grew up in a
Christian home, but most of my Filipino relatives are Catholic. Despite this, at times, my mom
will still share some common spirit, folk or ghost stories that she grew up hearing that make
people sick, such asDduwende,which are small elves, seeing dead relatives, or if a relative is near
death and you see a butterfly, it is a premonition that means they passed away.DIn addition,
because my relative's house in the Philippines is on land where many soldiers died during the
time that the Spaniards invaded the Philippines, they tell us stories about seeing a headless priest
who hung himself underneath their big tamarind tree and at night, they hear noises and yelling.
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 6
The topic of mental health and going to therapy is not ordinary in my family. Often, in Filipino
families, mental health is not discussed, and most parents tell their children to pray more or
confess their sins. Because of this, they are not likely to attend counseling for their mental health
problems.
Cultural Discovery
While learning more about my culture and asking my mom questions, I discovered some
new information about my culture. I found out my great-grandpa was a guerrilla with a band of
Spaniards and Filipinos, which is something I had never heard my mom talk about. In addition, I
had no idea about the connection between Catholicism and ghost and spirit stories were
connected. Throughout many of the stories my mom recalled, she continuously shared that she
did not believe in it, that it was because of Catholic beliefs, and that it was primarily what her
brothers and sisters believed in.
Similarities and Differences
In Hawaii, I had the privilege of being surrounded by many beautiful and diverse
cultures. With this, there are differences I noticed between my culture and others. A primary one
would be how Filipinos are collectivistic, but Caucasians are more individualistic, which often
confused others as to why I did certain things. An example would be how independent
Caucasians are and how easy it is for them to reach 18 years old and disregard their parents and
reason with their parents by saying, "I am an adult and can make my own decisions,” regardless
of how it affects their family. I, on the other hand, coming from a collectivistic family, still
talked to my parents about every plan, trip, and decision I made and if they said no, then I would
not do it, even if I was legally an adult. Another difference is respect. In white culture, they
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 7
believe in earning respect, but in Filipino culture, I learned that anyone above you in age or
position deserves respect, no matter what.
Some similarities between Filipino culture and white culture that I noticed is how
respectful the South is, such as calling adults ma’am or sir, similar to how Filipinos call older
young adultsDateorDkuya, or elderly individualsDloloorDlola. Another similarity is how Filipinos
and individuals from Hawaii perceive time. It is common for both groups to be late and have
more of a relaxed perception of time rather than strictly following a schedule. In addition, the
aspect of food is vital in both Filipino culture and in the South. It is a chance to spend time
together over a meal, and in both cultures, nobody leaves the party without a plate of food.
Influence on Cultural Identity
While self-reflecting, learning more about my Filipino heritage, and gaining insight into
how it affects my cultural identity, I realize the importance of cultural identity and how it shapes
an individual. I am the person I am today because of how I grew up and the cultures, values, and
customs I grew accustomed to. In the same way, my future client's cultural identity is a crucial
component and affects how they receive counseling and how I should counsel them. Learning
about the differences in communication styles, formal greetings, respect, and views on success
broadened my understanding. Knowing where you come from helps form identity and fosters a
sense of belonging. It is easy to acknowledge cultural differences, but until you take a step back
and realize how those differences shaped who you are, only then can you fully appreciate the
diversity among others and open your eyes to how their cultural identity shaped them. At a
young age, I knew about my culture and that I looked different, but I decided to be ashamed and
reject it. Although, as I grew up, I learned more about my heritage and became proud of who I
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 8
am rather than embarrassed. I started to look at the beauty of my culture rather than the
stereotypes that made me feel ashamed.
Looking at Helm’s People of Color Identity Model, at a young age, I was in the
conformity/pre-encounter stage (Cartwright & Hammonds, 2022). I accepted the fact that I
looked different but strived to ensure that was not my sole identity. Throughout middle and high
school, I also moved into the dissonance stage, where I realized how different I was from others,
and I became insecure about who I was because I did not fit in. I also presented myself
differently depending on the race of the stranger I encountered. An area I struggled with as a
biracial individual was not feeling enough for each side of my culture. For the Filipino side of
my family, I was not Filipino enough, but with the White side of my family, I was not White
enough. Because of this, when around Filipinos, I primarily say I am mixed with Caucasian
because I do not look Filipino enough. When around white people, I often say I am Filipino first
because if I said I was white, they would look confused. It was not until college that I reached
the immersion-emersion and internalization stage, where I realized there is more to being biracial
than the clothes I wear, the way I speak, and the color of my skin. By becoming aware of my
culture and its impacts on my development, I can work with my client’s culture and establish a
healthy, comfortable counseling environment that gives them a safe space to be themselves.
Cultural identity impacts an individual's values and beliefs about their culture. Knowing
where one comes from helps determine their values and beliefs, which is why counselors must
learn the impacts of cultural identity so that, in turn, counselors can help their clients do the
same. Because I rejected my Filipino side as a young child, I often felt confused as to who I was
and where I fit in, but by accepting who I am and coming to terms with how my culture impacts
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 9
my development, I have a stronger cultural identity and with that, a stronger appreciation for
other cultural groups, which will help me as I counsel others in the future.
Social Justice and Client Advocacy
I better understand the importance of social justice and client advocacy because of
research and looking into my cultural background. Counselors must advocate for their clients
(Crumb et al., 2019). Understanding my cultural identity and conducting research increased my
knowledge of the role of religion and spirituality on an individual's identity. Studies show that
Filipinos are more likely to have depression, yet they are also the least likely to receive help
(Javier et al., 2018). It is not common for Filipinos to go to therapy and get the help they need,
which leaves them suffering in silence (Root, 2005). Because of religion, it is more common for
others to tell individuals to pray more or attend church more often to ward off sickness or mental
health issues. They often only go to a counselor if a priest or a close family member suggests it,
but even then, individuals do not do it often. In addition, because of the cultural values of
collectivism and bringing honor to the family, most Filipinos will not admit to needing
counseling, and if they do, it is hidden and not often talked about. Because of this, as a
counselor, I need to advocate for clients in a multiculturally competent way that respects their
family values and provides them with the help they need.
In addition, due to COVID-19, Asians received an increase in hate and blame for the
pandemic, leaving many Asian individuals scared and fearful due to the upsurge in violence
(Gover et al., 2020). Asian hate crimes and the prevalence of fear for Asians increased during the
pandemic because others blamed them for COVID-19. This aspect caused many negative
impacts on the economic, social, physical, and psychological well-being of Asians (Gao & Liu,
2020). With the adverse effects of the pandemic and actions taken by others, Asians are at risk
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 10
psychologically, and with the lowered chance of them receiving mental health help because of
cultural values, they are more at risk for psychological issues. After hearing about the effects of
COVID-19 racism, it was discouraging to read about the lack of social justice and advocacy for
them. This aspect is why counselors must be aware of their culture and others so they can better
help their clients and advocate for them. Understanding my culture helps me realize the need for
social justice in other cultures. I may have an Asian client experiencing the adverse effects of
COVID-19 and Asian hate crimes. I must be aware of the cultural values that may make the
client cautious about receiving help and advocate for them. The ACA code of ethics explains that
counselors are to help remove barriers that prevent clients from growing and bettering their
mental health (American Counseling Association, 2014, Section A.7.b.). Because I am biracial, I
have a unique opportunity to help different groups. As counselors, we are to stand against
oppression and discrimination and advocate for those experiencing mistreatment.
Conclusion
Counselors practice self-awareness to grow as a more competent counselor. Part of self-
awareness is knowing who you are to understand your clients and where they come from because
cultural identity is part of development. Each client has a unique story to share; it is part of their
cultural identity. Knowing how to interact with multiple cultures increases a counselor’s
opportunities to help individuals from different cultures.
CULTURAL BACKGROUND 11
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