This is the time of year when our family has multiple visits to the doctor. The kids are getting their annual physicals for school and we are catching up on dental appointments and the like. I’ve spent a good amount of time in waiting rooms in the past month. A doctor’s office presents an opportunity for people-watching, and I’ve been surprisingly interested by what I’ve seen as I watch families doing nothing more than waiting together, filling out forms, and chit-chatting… in Spanish.
Though Orlando is bursting with Latino culture, I am starting to notice what a significant change this demographic has made to our most basic activities. Instead of filling in one sheet of paper for kids’ health history, we now have to sift through several pages because all the questions are duplicated in Spanish. Still, the parents I see in the waiting room sometimes have to have their children help out with understanding medical terminology, even if it has been translated. Dialect and slang can interfere with reading well in Spanish, and the extent to which this could affect someone’s ability to understand the medical care his/her child receives is a concern I never thought of before.
Also, I have observed that the majority of nurses and physicians’ assistants I see now are Latino. It seems that the healthcare field has absorbed a huge number of first- and second-generation Americans. While this means there are long-term jobs available to this population, it also seems to represent a complete change in job description and expectations for some positions. In my observation, bilingual nurses are spending double the time with Spanish-speaking parents that they do with English-speaking ones — sometimes to discuss health matters, and sometimes just to chat about food, family and home countries. I have recently wondered, upon watching a nurse spend an extra 15 minutes talking in the hallway with a Spanish-speaking family, if I should just pretend I don’t speak English so that I can get that sort of attention to my questions.
Along with the positive change in the availability of social and medical services for Americans with subpar English skills comes a culture-based camaraderie that has leached into the professional world. Although I am supportive of having Spanish speakers and forms available in a medical office, I am struck by how annoyed I sometimes feel when a mere demonstration of need for translation means that someone will get better service than I will.
It’s an ongoing challenge for me to stand on the border between Latinos and Americans. Having been part of more than one Latino family and having spoken Spanish for a while, I have a soft spot for their plight and believe they deserve the same treatment as all other Americans. However, as a gringa, I sense that certain boundaries are being ignored. This is especially true when I discover that I’ve only been sitting in a waiting room for so long because someone else is having a personal conversation. Furthermore, they likely assume that I don’t understand that they aren’t talking about anything medical.
Am I being too sensitive to the familiar style of Latino culture in a place of business or is this a genuine example of cultural preference?
{Photo by brettneilson}
How lucky the Spanish speakers you are observing are to live where they do! In the midwest, I am afraid the situation is often exactly the opposite. Because of limited numbers of interpreters, Spanish speakers must often wait until one is available. I know because I interpret at a clinic and am very aware that patients will not be seen until I am available. In general, the obstacles Spanish speakers encounter in any number of settings, including stores, hospitals and schools, are sources of frustration at the very least, and all too often result in unequal access and treatment.
I’m sure this is quite a regional phenomenon, as you point out. Central Florida has changed rapidly in the last one or two decades, and these changes are reaching the point of cultural clash here.
As one of the largest group of consumers, businesses are embracing latino culture in every aspect. Familism and personalism are very important in our culture, this transcends through business. I’m sure you are no stranger to that. I don’t think its cultural preference. I think its accomodation. Our community is being recognized and being accommodated accordingly. And even though we (I too am bicultural) might find it on an extreme sometimes being from both sides of the spectrum, I think we always have to keep in mind we come from this community and be mindful of the core values and perspectives that transcend through every aspect of every day life, including a place of business maybe not to you or me to an extreme, but to our other latino brothers and sisters that might have stronger grasp of these values for whatever the reason may be.
Very true, Sarbelia. In the first part of my post, I recognize that this is a positive change for Latino culture. And I’m sure that from the Spanish-speaking patients’ perspective, the situation is quite different, which is why I reached out for opinions in this community. However, how do we set limits or establish acceptable communication about these things if my speaking out about it is automatically interpreted as xenophobia?
One final note: I think I am personally very concerned with being on time, etc….things that are not always of high priority in Latin cultures. Obviously, I can see that this is simply something I need to adapt to, but it’s a bit difficult for me to do so in a professional environment.
Have you heard of “white privilege” ? Here’s a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege
One key difference between you and the “subpar” English speakers is that you have more resources at your disposal.
Of course I’ve heard of white privilege, and this is precisely why I struggle with being “in between” the cultures, as I mentioned. I realize I am part of a group that hasn’t had to struggle in this country, but does that mean there should be a period of “revenge,” if you will? As much as I try to be sensitive to the Latino culture, my efforts will never be appreciated because I’m not TRULY “one of them.” So I come to SpanglishBaby with these controversial questions because I feel that I will get thoughtful responses here. I appreciate your mention of this issue, because it’s exactly why I feel trapped and as though I’m not allowed to express these feelings – because I’m white.
Yea….I guess Ill never really know cause I’m not white THOUGH I am privileged in other ways so I get it although I dont see it as “revenge” per se. Chelsea, I hope you didnt take my comment the wrong way. I think this is a great and safe place to talk about these issues and I value candid opinions like yours.
Thanks, Suzanne. I was not offended by your comment, since I think these touchy subjects are important to talk about. And yes, this is the safest place I have to speak of such things. Saying anything in public in Orlando would be a bit risky!
I’m confused. Where in examining “white privilege,” or even the waiting room scenarios you describe, does “revenge” fit? Also, what do you mean by “efforts will never be appreciated”? Shouldn’t we be culturally sensitive because it’s ethical and “right,” not for what it might bring us?
I agree with Suzanne that looking at the issue through the lens of your own privilege and checking your assumptions might help you understand this situation better. For example, you seem to think that those chit-chatting in the waiting room assume that you don’t understand that they’re speaking of personal matters. How do you know that (assuming you actually know enough Spanish to know that what they’re talking about isn’t medically relevant–it boggles me how often gringos overestimate their language skills and misinterpret what is being said)? Given that there are other Spanish speakers waiting, wouldn’t they know too? Furthermore, your solution–to be deceitful by pretending you don’t speak English–surprises me. Most clinics do have a policy where you are to check in with reception if you’ve waited longer than 15-20 minutes. Do you do this? Are there other ways for you to ask for what you want (faster service, more thorough care) that don’t involve begrudging others culturally responsive care?
In closing, you’re not being too sensitive, you’re letting your frustration blind you to the realities of others and blaming them for a problem they don’t cause. (BTW I’m gringa too.)
I apologize if this came across as a bit more serious than it was intended. I’m not actually going to pretend I don’t speak English; it was said somewhat in jest. I do feel that it’s an interesting social experiment to see how language changes people’s treatment of each other.
And no, I never complain about the length of time it takes at an office, because I do understand that sometimes there are quite legitimate reasons for the delay. However, I don’t appreciate others spending time chatting in any language — I would be just as annoyed at hearing it in English — when the next person has been waiting a long time.
So why didn’t you just speak up and say something to the individuals who were chit-chatting, instead of raising it to the level of broad generalizations about health care providers from a given ethnic group? Healthcare is a service in our economy,because we pay for it as such and I think you have every right to complain if you think someone is getting better service than you and you’re paying exactly the same, complain to the provider of that service. On the other hand a few anecdotal incidences doesn’t make for a trend, so I would be careful about saying anything for public consumption (not directly to the provider) that could be seen as stereotyping or sweeping generalizations. And yes, we’re white and sometimes that means we need to keep certain thoughts to ourselves or our close friends, because our sons are bi-cultural and the last thing we want to do is alienate them from part of who they are because of a minor inconvenience on our part. We have a responsibility to them to open up spaces for the voices of people of color.
You raise some important points, Casey. And you’re right…I can only see things from the perspective of someone living in a particular Latino-saturated city. When I write about these observations, I intend for it to open a conversation about what’s going on more broadly, but I certainly don’t claim to know how things are in the rest of the country.
As far as keeping thoughts to ourselves, I do that every day. Instead of speaking up in a public confrontation, I prefer to deal with the inconvenience and give myself time to ruminate on the situation before bringing it to someone’s attention. Regardless of the cultural setting, I’m not someone who habitually complains about service. I just thought this incident was relevant to SB themes, and felt I should come here first with my thoughts.
Actually, you came across as not recognizing the issues, to be honest, and insensitive to a vulnerable population (for example: “subpar English” and “dialect and slang”–when what you are describing is education inequity). I think it’s important to be frank here and also to point out that no one said you were xenophobic (“However, how do we set limits or establish acceptable communication about these things if my speaking out about it is automatically interpreted as xenophobia?”–above). Challenging each other’s analysis is, for me at least, part of meaningful dialogue.
I think you have two legitimate concerns: 1) you are waiting a long time in the doctor’s office and 2) you feel that the doctors/nurses are being more thorough with other patients who speak Spanish. You do have venues to advocate for the care that you and your family deserve. It is much more reasonable to remind the receptionist that you’ve been waiting a long time, and perhaps even fill out a comment card, than to make the assumptions that 1) the delay is because folks are chit-chatting in Spanish (and doing so because they think you can’t understand), 2) culturally disposed to be chronically late or 3) that the Spanish speakers are receiving better care.
Your observations are just anecdotes–it’s not like you did an actual study of time allocation in the doctor’s office–but they are teling. Being “in between,” as you say, is challenging. I think your task is to parse out exactly what your assumptions are (recognizing what your privileges are as a gringa) while also finding venues for advocating for excellent care for everyone.
I agree about challenging each other and appreciate your keeping me on my toes. Please recognize, though, that it is difficult to get across such sensitive topics in a short blog post. I apologize if my verbiage was harsh, but that has more to do with my style of writing than with any intention of effect. And no, I did not do a study, but neither do any bloggers before coming to the online community to discuss something potentially controversial.
You’re being too sensitive. Regarding Suzanne’s comment about white privilege it’s obvious you simply have not noticed all the times you have been served faster and better than those of another color or ethnicity, or if you noticed it seemed “right”. I’m not saying it’s not frustrating to realize you’re not getting as good of service as someone else, I’m saying that this has happened to others a lot more than you.
I’m sure that it has happened to others a lot more than to me….in addition to police profiling and all the other unfortunate things about living in the proverbial melting pot. As I mentioned in a previous comment, though, is the solution to just allow the same thing to happen in reverse until everyone gets angry? I don’t expect to be treated better than others, just equally, as I’m sure the Latinos sitting in the same doctors’ offices do. I’m not sure how we can expect things to change if it’s always one or the other — either majority or minority — being ignored. This just makes it harder for us to be compassionate towards one another and increases the chance of huge misunderstanding.
Chelsea, thanks for your honesty. I’m happy to hear you feel comfortable speaking about sensitive topics, like this one, in our community — one you have helped create. I hope you continue to feel like that because I think it’s incredibly important for these types of conversations to be had.
I think your observations are valid and I’m always interested in knowing how each side views situations like the ones you describe in your post. I don’t think we move forward if we were to say, “Well, know you know how Latinos feel when they’re treated differently.” I’m with you when you say we should all strive for equality, but I do believe you should say something the next time you’re at the doctor’s.
Having said that, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be very interested in seeing what would happen if you pretended you didn’t speak English. As you say, it’s be an interesting social experiment…
I think we are missing another part of the latino’s cultural service.
I am a Latina and understand how Chelsea feels, I hate to be waiting while others are chit chatting and have said so several times at several receptions, not only doctor’s offices.
I also work in service.
Service in the latino culture, doctor’s service, and other types of service, as banking, includes some form of personal or familiar conection. What I’m trying to say is that it is common for some latinos (like me) to give and expect familiarity while receiving some kind of service, to talk about other things that might not be related to the service you are getting right now.
For example, when you go to the doctor (OB-GYN), you get asked about your kids and your husband and even, some other friends they know that also are patients. It’s an unsaid part of the service.
In the bank we might also chat about family and other stuff un-related to the transaction being processed.
TRy thinking about that chii chat as part of the service process and see if there’s a change of perspective there.
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