A Qualitative Perspective of Family Resources Among Low Income, African American Grandmother–Caregivers

Abstract

This ethnographic study describes a group of 7 low-income, African American, grandmother-caregivers' perceptions of family resources. An ethnographic design, enhanced by a genogram, captured those who were available and unavailable to provide support to the grandmother. The analysis used a constant comparative method to thematically capture grandmothers' perceptions of family support resources as absent, unavailable, dependent, and reliable support, and the circumstances that led to that status. The findings reveal that many African American grandmothers are rearing children with little family support, owing mainly to the devastation of negative social and economic conditions. The results suggest areas for improvement in social work assessment and intervention.

“Maybe This Generation Here Could Help the Next Generation”: Older African American Women's Perceptions on Information Sharing to Improve Health in Younger Generations

“…According to one study, there is the assumption that if the grandparents’ functioning improves, the grandchildren will benefit (Hayslip et al, 2014). Studies that identify the strengths of GHF are interspersed throughout the literature and although many of the challenges are considered, the studies highlight the positive cultural tradition of African American grandparents and their roles as caregivers, resilience, and distinct ways of coping across the generations (Hovick, Yamasaki, Burton-Chase, & Peterson, 2015; Sheridan, Burley, Hendricks, & Rose, 2014; Simpson, 2008).…”

Bridging Critical Feminist Gerontology and Social Work to Interrogate the Narrative on Civic Engagement

“…Although two of the four articles (Butler, 2009;Onolemhemhen, 2009) simply referred to feminism once each, citing social work feminists (Hartman, 1990;Hooyman & Gonyea, 1995), another (Hightower, Smith, & Hightower, 2006) used a feminist framework to explore the abuse of older women. However, it was Simpson's (2008) article that elaborated on a womanist perspective and explored the intersectionality of how age, ''gender, race, class, and access to resources shape . .…”

“…Jurkowski (2009, p. 565) reviewed Endnotes: An Intimate Look at the End of Life (by Ray, 2008b) in which a well-known feminist gerontologist used “feminist theory to illustrate many of the unspoken realities of institutional care and how these realities impact upon sexuality, intimacy, autonomy, and personal identity in one’s later years.” Although two of the four articles (Butler, 2009; Onolemhemhen, 2009) simply referred to feminism once each, citing social work feminists (Hartman, 1990; Hooyman & Gonyea, 1995), another (Hightower, Smith, & Hightower, 2006) used a feminist framework to explore the abuse of older women. However, it was Simpson’s (2008) article that elaborated on a womanist perspective and explored the intersectionality of how age, “gender, race, class, and access to resources shape … caregiving within a broad socio-historical-political context of gender and caregiving” (p. 23). Simpson focused on low-income African American grandmother-caregivers and the challenges they face.…”