Navigating family diversity: A reflection on heritage, culture and professional aspirations
Nemer Assi
Health Behavior & Health Equity
When thinking about what family means to me, four qualities stand out: family as a support system, a medium for passing down cultural and moral values, an economic unit, and an influencer of our social identity.
These attributes lay the foundation for who I am today and will shape my own family in the future.
Family as a support system
Family is, foremost, a support system. It’s where many first experience the safety net that helps navigate life’s challenges. In my own life, my family has always been my go-to during tough times—be it emotional support during personal struggles or financial help. This sense of security isn’t just about crisis moments; it’s about ongoing support.
For example, during major life transitions like moving to a new city or starting a new job my family provided reassurance and guidance. It helped me feel confident and secure. My mother, like a best friend to me, always allowed me to express myself and offered life-changing advice.
This support system has been crucial in my ability to face challenges and grow as an individual.
Families are also where we learn our cultural and moral values. My family always placed a strong emphasis on maintaining our heritage. This meant learning about our traditions, participating in cultural events, and understanding the values passed down through generations.
Experiences instilled by my father shaped my identity and continue to influence my actions.
Respect for elders, a value consistently reinforced during my upbringing, has become a core principle in both personal and professional settings.
These moral lessons guide my ethical decisions daily and in my interactions with others.
Economic responsibility is another key attribute of families.
Growing up, I was taught the importance of contributing to the household—not just through chores, but by understanding the value of money and budgeting. We immigrated to the United States in 2004 with almost nothing, so being economically responsible was crucial to our family’s survival.
Watching my parents work hard inspired me to understand financial management deeply. Discussing household finances with my parents taught me about saving, investing and financial planning. These lessons prepared me to manage my finances and will be shared with my future children, emphasizing family well-being over individual gain.
Growing up in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a significant Arab American population, our cultural background connected us to the community. The traditions, language and social practices rooted in our Arab heritage have always been a shared experience, strengthening my cultural identity and sense of belonging.”
Families play a significant role in shaping our social identity. My family has always provided me with a sense of belonging and a clear understanding of who I am. The support, values and traditions from my family have contributed to my self-esteem and approach to relationships.
This sense of pride in my family’s heritage influences how I engage with those around me and how I present myself to the world.
Reflecting on these attributes, I see how my own family embodies them and has shaped my understanding of family. The support, values, economic responsibility and social identity my family provided continue to influence my personal growth and family beliefs.
Understanding family diversity
Family diversity is shaped by social identities and characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, family structure and gender roles. Four key characteristics of my family are our Arab ethnicity, Muslim faith, my experience as an only child, and traditional gender roles. These aspects have significantly shaped my family’s identity and my personal growth.
Growing up in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a significant Arab American population, our cultural background connected us to the community. The traditions, language and social practices rooted in our Arab heritage have always been a shared experience, strengthening my cultural identity and sense of belonging.
Religion, as another cornerstone, guided our values and traditions. Participating in religious observances and communal prayers connected us with the larger Muslim community.
Being an only child also shaped my experiences uniquely. Without siblings, I was the sole focus of my parents’ attention and expectations, forming a close-knit relationship with them. It also required me to develop independence and resilience, navigating social situations on my own. This difference in family size, compared to the larger families common around us, highlighted the diversity within family structures.
Traditional gender roles also defined my family life. In our household, influenced by cultural and religious beliefs, clear expectations existed about the roles of men and women. My father was the main provider, while my mother managed the home, shaping my early understanding of gender roles. However, as I grew older, I started questioning and re-evaluating these roles, considering different perspectives.
Comparing my family to others portrayed in the media, the differences were more apparent.
Mainstream media rarely depicts Arab American or Muslim families accurately, leading to feelings of exclusion. Our cultural practices and family dynamics were often misunderstood. This lack of representation underscored the need for inclusive portrayals of diverse families, emphasizing the uniqueness of each family despite common characteristics.
Influencing my professional path
Understanding my family’s diversity is crucial as I move forward in my education and future career in Public Health. The characteristics that shaped my experiences will help me better understand and support diverse families and cultures I will work with professionally.
Recognizing the complexities families face in navigating cultural, religious and social identities shapes my approach to education and training. My personal experiences with cultural and religious traditions guide my respect for other families’ values and practices.
In my future career, understanding ethnicity and religion’s impact on family life will enable me to provide culturally competent care, fostering trust and effective collaboration with families.
Navigating gender roles within families, recognizing societal expectations, and appreciating various family structures will be crucial in addressing families’ unique needs.
Mainstream media rarely depicts Arab American or Muslim families accurately, leading to feelings of exclusion. Our cultural practices and family dynamics were often misunderstood. This lack of representation underscored the need for inclusive portrayals of diverse families, emphasizing the uniqueness of each family despite common characteristics.
Continued professional development
Continuing my professional development here at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity—thanks to the support I receive from the Zavela Family Scholarship Fund—requires engaging in courses and workshops focusing on cultural competence and diversity.
Hands-on experience through internships or community-based work with diverse families will also be essential. These experiences allow me to apply theoretical knowledge and understand how social policies impact families. Approaching family work holistically, considering internal dynamics and external pressures, will ensure respectful and supportive interactions with diverse families.
My family’s diversity has deeply influenced my personal growth and professional aspirations. Understanding and respecting diverse family structures and identities will be at the forefront of my work in public health, ensuring trust and respect guide my interactions with the families I serve.