Audio for Ethics Presentation

The movie "Hillbilly Elegy" highlights the character of Beverly Vance, a woman facing financial hardship, drug addiction, abusive relationships, and mental health issues. Her son, JD, returns home to help her, highlighting the struggles of families in low-income rural communities. Rural women face gender discrimination, economic hardships, intimate partner violence, and mental health challenges. The movie challenges stereotypes about rural Appalachia and emphasizes the need for empathy and comprehensive solutions. Ethical dilemmas arise when working with rural women, including confidentiality, dual relationships, stigma, and disclosure. Advocacy is crucial in raising awareness, engaging policymakers, promoting community-based programs, gender equality, improved infrastructure, mental health services, and empowerment. Continued advocacy is necessary for a brighter future for vulnerable populations. Before I begin, let me just say my name is Heather Tyler. Women Living in Low-Income Rural Communities, this is about the movie Hillbilly Elegy. The character of Beverly Vance in Hillbilly Elegy. In this 2020 film, Hillbilly Elegy, Amy Adams brings to light the character of Beverly Vance, a woman grappling with profound challenges. Let's look at some of these in her story. Beverly faces a web of difficulties, financial hardship, drug addiction, impulsive behavior with abusive partners, and mental health issues. They weigh heavily on her shoulders. Despite being the brightest, smartest in her class, Beverly has not achieved much. Some would say this is due to a lack of support for her goals, others would say it's because of her mental health issues, and others still would say it's because of her drug addiction. The film gnaws at her, feeling both her violent tendencies and her consistent need for validation. Trapped in a dead-end town nestled within the rural Appalachian Mountains, Beverly yearns to break free from the destructive cycles. One critical moment of the film is when her son, JD, arrives. This is a big deal because the movie's main character is actually her son, JD Vance, played by Gabriel Basso, while he receives a summons to return home. JD is on the cusp of a crucial interview for a summer law clerk position. This is one that could fund his entire next semester, but he drops everything and rushes back to address his mom's situation. Beverly has battled addiction and cycled in and out of rehab, and now she has just survived a heroin overdose. Bev's character embodies the struggles faced by families entangled in addiction, trauma, and generational hardship. Her evolution from a troubled woman, battling addiction, to eventually a pivotal force shaping her son's life and his choices forms the heart of the movie. Through Bev, we explore family dynamics and resilience, seeing her vulnerabilities and complexities portrayed powerfully on the screen. Vulnerability in Women of Low-Income Rural Communities Generations have weathered the storm, their resilience tested by historical shifts. The decline of coal mining and manufacturing has etched economic hardship into the region's fabric, trapping families in a relentless cycle of poverty. As we peer into Bev's world, we can see the intricate web of barriers—social, economic, and systematic—that hinder social mobility. Killbilly Elegy invites us to listen, to empathize, and to recognize that behind every struggle lies a human heart yearning for change. Bev's journey echoes the collective plea of women in the area being targeted for intervention, for bridges of opportunity, and for a chance to break free from the shackles of circumstance. Women like Bev and her mother and her sister who live in the low-income rural community are considered a vulnerable population. In these communities, women bear the weight of a unique vulnerability. Let's explore some of these struggles. One is gender disadvantage. Rural women meet gender-based discrimination, which restricts their access to crucial opportunities, essential resources, and vital services. Economic hardships grip the rural areas, casting shadows over women's well-being and livelihood. The struggle to make ends meet is more pronounced here. Intimate partner violence looms as a significant risk factor for mental health disorders among rural women. The scars of abuse run deep, affecting both body and mind. Mental health challenges. In the quietude of rural life, women battle internal storms, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. These silent struggles often go unnoticed. Some barriers to the mental health care system. Seeking help becomes an uphill journey. Stigma, scarcity of trained professionals, transportation issues, and the weight of the cost of treatment create formidable barriers. Challenge beliefs after watching Hillbilly Elegy. Watching Hillbilly Elegy often challenges preconceived notions or stereotypes about individuals from rural Appalachia and low-income white communities. For me, one common belief that may be challenged after watching the movie is the idea that individuals in these communities are solely responsible for their own circumstances and that they can easily overcome adversity through hard work and determination alone. The film depicts the complex reality of life in rural Appalachia, highlighting the systematic barriers and challenges faced by individuals like Bev and her family. It portrays the intergenerational cycle of poverty, substance abuse, and dysfunction that can perpetuate hardship within these communities, challenging the notion that individuals can simply pull themselves up by their bootstraps without addressing the broader social and economic factors at play. Additionally, Hillbilly Elegy humanizes the characters and provides insight into the struggles, aspirations, and resilience, challenging stereotypes that may portray individuals from rural Appalachia as lazy or unintelligent. It underscores the importance of empathy and understanding when considering the experience of marginalized communities and the need for comprehensive solutions that address root causes of poverty and inequality. For me, overall, watching Hillbilly Elegy prompted me to reflect and re-evaluate some of my personal beliefs about poverty, privilege, and the lived experiences of individuals in rural Appalachia, fostering greater empathy and awareness of the complexities of their realities. When working with rural women in low-income communities, several ethical dilemmas arise due to the unique context of rural communities. Let's explore these dilemmas and consider relevant ethical codes and Alabama state law. Confidentiality and privacy. Rural communities often have close-knit social networks, making it a challenge to keep strict confidentiality. Professionals must balance the need for privacy with community dynamics. Dual relationships is also an issue. In small rural communities, professionals may wear multiple hats, such as mental health provider, community leader, neighbor, church member, friend. Managing dual relationships while supporting professional boundaries is an ethical challenge. Another problem that can be faced is stigma and disclosure. Encouraging rural women to seek mental health help may clash with cultural norms or even a fear of stigma. Balancing destigmatization efforts with individual choices is an essential part. Implementing interventions at the community level, like in group therapy and awareness campaigns, raises ethical questions about consent, participation, and potential unintended consequences. Advocating for vulnerable populations. Advocacy plays a pivotal role in promoting the well-being and rights of vulnerable populations. Today, we will explore effective ways to advocate for rural women who face unique challenges By amplifying their voices and fostering collaboration, we can create positive change. How do we do this? We raise awareness. Educate the public. Start by informing the public, policymakers, and community members about the specific struggles that rural women meet. We can utilize social media, leverage platforms to highlight their needs and rights. We can also host workshops and community events, engaging with local communities through workshops and events to raise awareness. Another thing we can do is policy advocacy is engaging with policymakers. Connect with policymakers at local, regional, and national levels. Advocate for policies that address gender disparities, health care access, economic opportunities, and mental health services in rural areas. Community-based programs. We can use support initiatives, like important community-led programs that empower rural women. Encourage skill building, entrepreneurship, and educational initiatives. We can also promote gender equality. We can challenge stereotypes, break down stereotypes, and discriminatory practices. Advocate for equal opportunities. Push for equal opportunities in education, employment, and decision making. We can advocate for improved infrastructure. We can work towards better health care facilities in the rural areas. Have women-friendly mental health services. Promote mental health services tailored specifically to women's needs. And ensure trained professionals are available. We can also address stigma and cultural barriers. We can try to help reduce stigma around mental health, encouraging open conversations. We can promote mental health services that respect cultural norms. Another thing we can do is empowerment and capacity building. We can provide training and resources. Equip rural women with skills and knowledge to help them with jobs. We can strengthen confidence and leadership. Empower them to lead and affect change. In conclusion, advocacy is an ongoing process, so it's important to continue to amplify rural women's voices, challenges, inequalities, and collaborate to create a brighter future for the vulnerable population. And if you see, if you wanted to press play, you could actually watch the two-minute trailer for the movie. I highly recommend it.