Running head: CULTURAL INTERVIEW

HANNAH FAIN
Local: 2010 Lakeside Drive Athens, GA 30605
Permanent: 3340 Muscadine Trail NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
hannahfain6@gmail.com 404-345-6216
I wrote this essay for a social work class I took this past semester that focused on
working with diverse populations. The directions for this assignment were to find someone who
is different from us in SES, race, gender, religion, etc. Then, we were to conduct an interview
with them, asking them a variety of questions about their upbringing and views on a range of
social issues. As I interviewed my friend, I became more conscious of the wide variety of
differences between us that I didnt even know we had. As we talked, I was also made aware of
my inability to relate to a lot of his answers. It challenged me to think through his eyes about
issues, and to take a step back from my own perspective. As Im looking ahead to a career in
counseling and social services, it is important for me to remember to approach other peoples
opinions and life experiences with eyes that are not my own, but rather to attempt to come from a
more neutral and understanding perspective. This assignment challenged why I hold the opinions
that I do in a wide variety of areas, and also reminded me that were all different, and its the
way we relate to each other that makes us excellent human service providers.

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Cultural Interview: Steven Carswell

Hannah Fain
SOWK 2156
University of Georgia

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Introduction
Steven Carswell is my friend, and we both have cultural and individual stories. Steven
and I met through Baptist Collegiate Ministries, where we both serve on the leadership team and
work closely on a day to day basis. He is a Human Development and Family Science major just
like me, and we are taking multiple classes together. Through these common bonds, we have
developed a genuine friendship, and Ive grown to respect and treasure him.
When you look at Steven and I side by side, you notice some obvious differences
between us. I am a Caucasian female, and he is an African-American male. These are the first
differences that jump out at you; these facts are easy for me and anyone else to identify. But
what you dont see right away when you look at us are the deeper similarities: our stories, our
personalities, and the journey leading to who we are and how we got here. These components are
all a vital part of our identities. These things go far beyond what you can see at surface level.
Interview
Steven was raised primarily by his grandparents in South Georgia in the town of
Reidsville. His grandparents used a very authoritarian disciplinary style, with a strict no talkingback policy. Do as I say and dont ask was the underlying message in his family. His familys
socioeconomic status has shifted over the years. His grandparents started out as more working
class when his dad was born, and then moved into middle class, and now have transitioned into
upper-middle class. He is 21 years old and is the oldest child in his household. He grew up
playing sports and still enjoys sports and competition today.
Steven first became aware of discrimination in his life when he was in the 3rd grade. He
has found that people approach him with preconceived notions: primarily about his race and
gender. This is true today, with many people approaching him with their opinions already formed

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before they even get to know him. Another factor that has affected Steven is that he is typically
the minority in any group or setting. The Human Development and Family Science department is
largely dominated by females, meaning he is usually the only male in his classes. Previously,
Steven was an early childhood education major, which was also a primarily female field. In
addition, he is usually the racial minority. People of African-American race make up only 7% of
the population at UGA (The University of Georgia College Portrait). Even in HDFS classes, he
is the one called upon or the one that people turn to whenever questions or discussions dealing
with African-American populations, particularly male African-American populations, come up
because he is often the only representative. Because of this, he has not experienced much
privilege in his life. The only privilege he may have experienced is being able to obtain certain
scholarships because of his race. He feels he has not benefitted from male privilege because he is
not a white male; he is an African-American male, and instead he has dealt with the numerous
discriminations and assumptions that African-American males face.
When in groups of white people, there are often times Steven feels uncomfortable or out
of place because of the ever present threat of pre-conceived notions that affect him. Even within
his own racial group, there are times when he feels not entirely at ease. For him, there are often
stigmas that he is selling out if hes with African-Americans that could be viewed as less
successful. There is a possibility that people will think that hes causing trouble with the group or
that the group of people will corrupt him in some way. Theres also the threat that he will be seen
as becoming one of them (when in groups of people who are primarily white) by his AfricanAmerican peers. Sometimes he feels that they do not see him as black enough, possibly due to
his skin color being lighter than theirs or the fact that he has primarily white friends.

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The values Steven identifies as the most important are loyalty, honesty, acceptance,
justice, and equality. He believes in being there for the people you love, whether that means
physically, emotionally, or mentally. If youre friends with Steven Carswell, youre always
friends with him. He does not believe in doing friendship halfway and commits fully to people,
giving them everything he has. He also really believes in the importance of respect, both in
respecting yourself and respecting others. He is an advocate for social justice and holds to the
belief that equality does not always mean justice, and we must constantly be striving for a fairer
society.
Another component of what makes Steven unique is his personality, his likes and
dislikes. Steven loves shopping, and he likes keeping up on current fashion trends. He also loves
poetry and spoken word. His favorite colors are blue and black. He has an assertive personality
and tells it like it is, while still showing respect for others. He tends to be possessive over his
belongings and has a direct style of approaching conflict or disagreements, but takes his time
when responding to offensive situations.
Steven is a Christian, and this important aspect of him guides and influences his belief
system. He is very active in Baptist Collegiate Ministries on campus. His religious beliefs are
also a large part of his career path decisions; Steven would like to pursue a graduate degree in
marriage and family therapy and potentially work as a campus minister at a BCM on a college
campus. In addition to religious beliefs, he believes in the importance of health in all aspects.
Steven sees a counselor on a regular basis and also utilizes his close friends to vent to with tough
situations. He employs the concept of moderation and believes this can be applied to diet,
exercise, alcohol, and food.

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Similarities and Differences

When looking at the deeper components of what makes Steven who he is, there are a
wide variety of similarities that we share. Though I grew up in a very different area of Georgia
than him, a large suburb of Atlanta as opposed to a small country town, our families are similar
in socio-economic status and make-up; I am also the oldest child, and my parents have shifted to
middle-class SES. Similarly, sports played a huge role in my day to day life growing up, with me
playing softball and volleyball, and my brothers playing baseball.
We also share very similar belief and value systems. Our Christian faith is huge aspect of
who we are, and it leads to our most important values revolving around respecting and caring for
other people. Were both adamant believers in honesty and staying true to the uniqueness we all
have as different people.
I can also identify a range of differences between Steven and Is upbringings and
personalities. My parents used more of an authoritative style of parenting. We had rules, but the
older I got, the more freedom I felt I had within these rules. Contrary to Stevens more assertive
tendency, I tend to be more passive; it is often difficult or stressful for me to deal with
confrontations or disagreements. Sometimes its uncomfortable for me to speak my mind,
whereas Steven is usually not shy is expressing his opinions.
Until this past year, discrimination was a topic I thought about very rarely, which just
highlights how little discrimination Ive experienced in my lifetime. I would say that Ive felt
little to no prejudice. The only times Ive experienced discrimination have been towards me as a
female, such as in not being taken seriously or being the target of jokes that hinted I was not
strong enough or tough enough to do or handle something. These events have been very rare
however, and Im thankful for that. In this regard, I will never be able to fully grasp or

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understand the discrimination Steven has felt, and I think this is important to identify and
acknowledge.
Another way we are alike is that Steven and I are pursuing similar career paths. I am also
seeking a graduate degree in some form of counseling and am looking at doing educational
counseling for adolescents. We relate very well in this area and often have discussions revolving
around counseling, mental health, and therapy. Our families still play a large role in our decisionmaking processes, but were both moving towards making decision based solely on our
individual desires, aspirations, and other personal factors.
Conclusion
Everyones culture and background is unique. Even people who have grown up in the
same household with the same parents have had individual experiences and relationships, leading
to separate cultural identities. There are hundreds of stereotypes and groups that exist in our
society, but we dont have to fit in any of these, and in fact, none of us really fully fit into any
box. We are not defined by the choices we make, people we hang out with, the people we prefer,
or even the people we identify with. Our individuality and our stories are what make us unique,
special, and worth knowing. I think the beauty in a cultural story is not in comparing or
contrasting specific facts or details of our identities, but rather in the connection that is created
when someones genuine experience is conveyed. Understanding each others stories is the first
step in forging genuine connections and embracing our own uniqueness. If we approach people
with respect and an open mind and seek to know them as more than what we think we see or can
tell from taking one glance at them, that is when true connections are made.
Steven is an African-American, a male, a son, a grandson, a friend, a roommate, an
HDFS major, a future marriage and family therapist/BCM campus minister, a lover of poetry,

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shopping, and sports. Hes a Christian, hes assertive, hes straightforward, honest, and
motivated. He does not settle; he pursues greatness. He has many identities that people may or
may not see immediately, but Im thankful that to me, his identity is simple: he is a friend. This
interview experience gave me deeper insight into the complexities of his cultural identity, which
helps me understand and relate to him in a more holistic way.

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9
References

The University of Georgia College Portrait. (2014). Retrieved February 24, 2016, from
http://www.collegeportraits.org/GA/UGA/characteristics