Trauma Informed Care Pillar VI – Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

Trauma Informed Care Pillar VI – Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

The story of me is a sum of my experiences and experiences of those that have come before.  To understand the self, history and context is equally important to the present here and now experience.  The experience of others shaped their perception of the world and thus the context in which they responded to the world and is passed down through generations of beliefs and actions.  Consideration of the influence of cultural, historical, and gender issues is relevant to trauma informed care as each of them carry  a perception and belief that has a bearing on the individual.  Failure to assess for these or to consider these factors can have an impact on care and responsiveness from those providing care.  Cultural, historical, and gender issues can not only point to areas of continued impact, they can also hold healing practices that may be relevant to care being provided to the individual. 

There are several cultures throughout the world and each have their own perception of trauma and healing.  While some cultures are open to identifying and addressing trauma, others are more restrictive and kept close to the individual experience.  Approaching from a trauma informed perspective means to practice cultural competency, not only in understanding the culture but also how the culture of the provider influences the perspective and how the provider may be seen by the other.  Cultures have various practices and beliefs about healing.  Respecting and honoring these traditions in a good way facilities the use of empowerment, voice, and choice in assistance of healing.  Cultures also have various attitudes and beliefs that may pass skepticism and uncertainty on Western approaches.  This is a perspective that needs to be recognized and honored in healing practices as opposed to pathologized and labeled as ‘resistant’ or ‘unresponsive to treatment’. While the individual may not present with any specific trauma, the effects and impact may still be evident.  Exploration of the influence of culture not only provides understanding and context, it can also support the relationship by building rapport and developing trust.

Historical issues can take many forms.  I am of the generation that remembers 09/11, the Gulf War, and Hurricane Katrina.  Since then, two generations or more have developed that these events are not part of their experience.  These are unique generations with their own experiences and sense of trauma.  Trauma informed care aims to understand the generational impact of various events and how they have come to form effects (behaviors) toward various individuals, organizations, and groups.  It is also worth considering the history that one ascribes to and how that view may come into conflict with an individual whom the experience was different.  A simple example would be providing care to an individual in Texas who saw the 9/11 attack on TV who also served in additional conflicts opposed to an individual living in New York whom experienced the 9/11 attacks as their first major life event.  Add culture into this and the need for consideration of historical issues becomes greater.

Gender issues are also an area that is of importance.  There are various beliefs, attitudes, and expectations of gender identification that have an impact on the individual and their actions in the world.  There are a variety of examples that could be stated here and can be built upon in understanding gender fluidity and identification.  Trauma informed care asks us to be curious and open about the experience of gender and influences of gender on individuals.