TITLE:
The Coronavirus Crisis: A Crisis among Families from Cultural Minority Groups-Intervention and Coping Mechanisms
AUTHORS:
Simcha Getahun, Edna Bustin
KEYWORDS:
Coronavirus Crisis, Stress, Family, Community, Minority Groups, Ethiopians, Coping Mechanisms
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Economy,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: The
covid-19 pandemic challenged life as we knew it. The new reality has caused
further problems, adding to previous challenges. Minority families experience
additional and unique challenges. Aim: The study aims to understand the
coping mechanisms of Ethiopian women during the coronavirus in light of the
cultural characteristics of the community. Method: Via Zoom,
semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 female community
members. Findings: The study yielded a circle map describing how the
women of the community deal with crises and the resilience factors that
characterize them as individuals and a community. The map draws its centrality
from the community’s cultural characteristics since culture is a source of
strength and resilience. In the face of a global crisis, a narrative of
resilience, strength, and self-efficacy emerges for the first time in the
community. The first circle is faith, a belief in God and women’s power. The
second circle is reaching out to the family, neighbors, and relatives. The
third circle is a sense of belonging to the community and pride in belonging.
The fourth circle is consultation with sages, the elderly, and kahens. Finally,
in the fifth circle, “only if we do not manage ourselves,” we look for
assistance from community service providers. Conclusions and Implications:
The cultural characteristics of Ethiopians are sometimes perceived as
inhibiting integration and success. Cultural characteristics were an axis of
resilience and strength in the coronavirus crisis. The women of the community
embraced factors of resilience like faith, a sense of belonging, and mutuality.
Inclination to internal sources of power challenges the perception of the
community’s dependence on the establishment. Commitment and a sense of belonging
to the community are vital anchors that need to be strengthened. Therefore, it
is crucial to adopt, during interventions, the community approach, the cultural
competency method, and the strength-based practice.