Reflecting on Racial and Ethnic Identity and Helms Model Application

This assignment is a reflective piece on the concepts of racial and ethnic identity. It begins by differentiating between racial and ethnic identity, highlighting their distinctions and social construction, and then touches upon the scientific perspective suggesting more similarities than differences in human DNA. The assignment then focuses on the Helms model, which addresses how white individuals come to terms with their unearned privileges. The author reflects on their personal experiences concerning the stages of the Helms model, acknowledging their limited exposure to the stages and aligning with the model's framework. References to relevant literature, including videos on culturally competent supervision and multicultural considerations, are also included to support the reflection.

RACIAL AND ETHINIC IDENTITY

The concept of Race and Ethnicity are often confused despite of being very different in
nature. According to Laureate Education (2015a), racial identity is identifying and dividing
an individual on the basis of their population on the basis of their physical features such as
their skin colour, eye, hair colour or bone structure. It is said to be a result of generic
ancestry. Whereas the Ethnic identity is segregating groups on the basis of their culture
including their region, nationality, language and ancestry. Ethnic identity shares their culture,
historical or linguistic traits. On the other hand, race identity shares biological or genetic
traits. Even though the two concepts are very different the core is quite similar and both are
socially constructed notions to divide people. Modern scientist believes that the in a
molecular level it is useless to talk about racial or ethnic identity as they are all human and
the DNA has more similarities than distinctions (Laureate Education 2009a).
Helms model involves various process which helps the white people to come to terms with
their own unearned privileged in the community (Rousmaniere, Goodyear, Miller, &
Wampold, 2017). According to be me I have not been privileged to experience all the stages
as discussed in the model. I have only been a part of the first and second stages which says
that initially I had no understanding of being a racial being but as and when I am being aware
of the racism I have been facing with moral dilemmas. Personally, I agree with all the stages
that have been mentioned and the information present in the model shows a clear picture on
self-awareness

References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2015a). Culturally competent supervision [Video file].
Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2009a). Clinical supervision: Multicultural considerations
[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author
Rousmaniere, T., Goodyear, R. K., Miller, S. D., & Wampold, B. E. (Eds.). (2017). The cycle
of excellence: Using deliberate practice to improve supervision and training. John Wiley &
Sons.