Multicultural aspects of psychology have received some attention in the literature in the last decade. A number of texts currently address these significant concerns, for example, Counseling the Culturally Different (Sue & Sue, 2008); Handbook of Multicultural Counseling ( Poterotto et l., 2009); and Handbook of Multicultural Counseling Competencies (Pope-Davis & Coleman, 2005). In their most recent editions, several of these books address more nuanced complexities of diversity, for example, the intersections of gender or social class with race-ethnicity. Meanwhile, other texts have addressed gender issues in psychology (Handbook of Counseling Women, Counseling Men), with some attention paid to racial-ethnic and other diversity concerns. Clearly the progression of scholarship in this field reflects the importance of incorporating multiple aspects of diversity within psychology. However, no book currently exists that fully addresses the complexities of race-ethnicity and gender together. Better understanding of the dual impact of race-ethnicity and gender on psychological functioning may lead to more effective conceptualizations of a number of mental health issues, such as domestic violence, addictions, health-related behaviors and achievement. Exploring the impact of race-ethnicity and gender also may provide a broader understanding of self-in-community, as this affects individuals, families and other social groups and work and career development. Topics of interest may include identity development, worldviews and belief systems, parenting styles, interventions for promoting resilience and persistence and strategies for enhancing more accurate diagnostic and treatment modalities. Today’s world is comprised of multiple and intersecting communities that remain in need of psychological models and interventions that support and promote both individual and collective mental health. We believe that utilizing unidimensional conceptual models (e.g. focusingsolely on race-ethnicity or gender) no longer adequately addresses psychological concerns that are dynamic, complex and multi-faceted. The proposed Handbook will focus on timely topics which historically have been under-addressed for a number of diverse populations.
Author Biography:
Marie L. Miville, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Education in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Miville has conducted research and developed workshops on social attitudes and universal-diverse orientation, Latino/a mental health, and the interrelations of various aspects of identity, as based on race, culture, gender, and sexual orientation among populations of color. Dr. Miville is the author of over 50 publications and several training DVD’s dealing with multicultural issues in counseling and psychology. Dr. Miville is the Director of the Winter Roundtable on Cultural Psychology and Education at Teachers College, and is Editor of the Around the Winter Roundtable Forum for The Counseling Psychologist. She is serving or has served on several editorial boards, including Journal of Counseling Psychology, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Assessment, and Training and Education in Professional Psychology. Dr. Miville is the Historian of the National Latina/o Psychology Association and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 17 and 45).
Angela D. Ferguson, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Howard University. Prior to her arrival at Howard University, Dr. Ferguson worked at George Washington University in the Organizational Sciences Department and at the University of Florida as a staff psychologist in the Counseling Center. She has also served as a researcher and consultant to organizations, such as the Landmine Survivors Network (an NGO) – Washington, DC and the American Red Cross, National Headquarters – Washington, DC. Dr. Ferguson’s research and scholarly work have focused on two major areas: a) intersections of multiple identities, specifically examining the interaction of multiple forms of social oppression for communities of color on identity development; and b) trauma and resilience factors in culturally diversepopulations. Her research infuses a cultural perspective relative to the ways in which the sociopolitical and historical experiences of oppressed, marginalized groups influences social, emotional, and sociocultural aspects of decision making, and personal and group identity. She has published several book chapters and articles focused on both areas and made numerous presentations at local, national, and international professional conferences.
