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The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Analysis

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Abstract

This paper examines two theoretical perspectives, the humanistic perspective and the systems theory. Later, these perspectives/theories are applied to conduct a micro and macro level analysis of Lia’s life and her parents’ Foua and Nao Kao’s relationship/cultural belief to the Western healthcare system in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Furthermore, the implications of various empirical research are incorporated and used to guide potential methods that could be applied to relevant stories of the book. Moreover, the studies discussed different social issues and elements of cultural competence in the Western Healthcare system. In essence, the Hmong cultural medicinal beliefs versus Western medicine is analyzed from the two …show more content…

The Vietnam war of 1955-1975 had an immense effect on the Hmong population in Laos. Traditional Western medicine is commonly held as the gold standard of medical care worldwide, while in recent days, the Western approach is attempting to gradually recognize the values of alternative medicine used in diverse cultures/populations. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (2012), is a prime example of the clash of two cultures and two opposite medicinal approaches. This paper discusses the humanistic perspective in clinical/medical social work and the systems theory in macro/administrative social work. Based on the humanistic perspective, a micro analysis is conducted on the main character of the book (Lia Lee). In addition, the systems theory is used to perform a macro analysis on the relationship between Lia’s parents’ (Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee) attitude on their cultural beliefs to medical treatment versus Western medical system/approach/protocols. The following pages also explore the impact of the clash of cultures between western healthcare systems and the medicinal beliefs of the Hmong

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