¶ … Adjustment for Iraqi and Cuban Refugees
Theoretical framework of theory of work adjustment finds that Iraqi and Cuban immigrants require developing person-work environment co-responsiveness. This is through continuous adjustment, develop their identities that relate with their work environment, and through a slow and gradual process. The theory identifies the work environment requires specifics from migrant workers, and migrant workers need requirements from the work environment. Lastly, is the matching of work requirements and individual capability, work needs and individual skills, work values and personal abilities. This is because the theory recognizes Iraqi and Cuban immigrants have poor work environment relations and adjustment problems. These arise from prejudices, assumptions, and preconceived notions against western culture, live in their traditional collectivist and group-oriented culture, which are detrimental to the development of their careers and work experiences.
Theory of Work Adjustment for Iraqi and Cuban Refugees
This study creates a theoretical formula for Iraqi and Cuban refugees in the U.S., using the theory of work adjustment. This population is selected for it faces various employment and career issues and problems arising from emotional state, cultural, socio-economic status, and language background. Apart from stressors from their countries of origin like war and persecution, these immigrants face stressors from the challenges and procedures of migration status in the U.S. The main challenge facing this group of immigrants is intolerance and discrimination from their attempts to adjust to mainstream American culture and workplace environments. In addition, they suffer from mental and emotional symptoms like feeling on edge, restlessness, worries and fears, and anger (Bemak et al., 2003). For example, Iraqi immigrants suffer from cultural shock as they face a western culture different from their Islamic customs and beliefs. They are susceptible to nervousness, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and depression. This is heightened by stereotypes following September 11 attacks, as many employers are apprehensive to give them jobs. Most immigrants' especially Iraqi immigrants are highly qualified with education and professional qualifications in medicine, engineering, and architecture. Unfortunately, while they may have had successful lives in their countries of origins these qualifications are not recognized in the U.S.
Cuban and Iraqis face challenges like inability to speak English, discrimination from employers, designation to part-time and seasonal employment, long training sessions, which does lead to employment, and if it does, they are paid minimal as compared to American citizens. The main challenges in settling in a work environment are post-immigration stressors like language barriers, acculturation, prejudice, and a decline in social status (Hardin et al., 2001). These along with a lack of cultural understanding are the causes of deteriorating mental health and career problems among Cuban and Iraqi immigrants. Moreover, they suffer from prejudices, assumptions, and preconceived notions against western culture, live in their traditional collectivist and group-oriented culture, which are detrimental to the development of their careers and work experiences.
Theory of Work Adjustment
The theory of work adjustment is used in this theoretical model for it offers a mold for conceptualizing interactions between individual and work environments. The theory is based on four psychological concepts including reinforcement value, ability, person-environment correspondence, and satisfaction (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2012). It is on these four principles that this theoretical formulation constructs and analyzes Iraqi and Cuban immigrant's workplace experiences.
The first principle is the person-environment correspondence, which relates the fit of the environment with a person as well as the interaction or co-responsiveness of the person with the environment (McMahon & Patton, 2006). The analysis finds that Iraqi and Cuban immigrants are not able to develop their careers and professions, and are facing various challenges working in the U.S. from a poor relationship with their work environments. Cuban and Iraqi immigrants are not able to continually adjust thereby have poor relationships with their work environments leading to high turnover rates. This implies that a career counselor and...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now