Maria Full of Gave-Reflection Paper on Movie
Reflection Paper: Maria Full of Grace
Washington Irving said once, “There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity”[1] which I feel describes the main character of Maria in the movie Maria Full of Grace (MFG); Maria lives in Columbia and due to her financial situation becomes a drug mule for money all the while pregnant at the age of seventeen. In the movie, Maria struggles with the rationale of staying true to herself of being good person and doing the right thing while still wanting to make money for her strains to survive day to day. Maria also fights with the notion of wanting a better life for her unborn child and how to achieve that. Her struggles are similar to many immigrant individuals and families who come to America for a better life but are faced with many issues like language, education, and learning to cope in this foreign land without any support around them. As social workers our job will not only be to help integrate immigrants into American society but see that their basic needs are met like housing, health care and employment. Also, as social workers our jobs will closely be linked on how these immigrant population is adjusting to their new life here and their emotions. The movie Maria Full of Grace showed a spectrum of problems and issues that adolescents are faced with in the country of Columbia. One being breadwinners in their families from a young age; at the age of seventeen Maria has been working at the local flower factory in order to support her family which consisted of her grandmother, mother, sister, and her nephew. Maria was forced into working in order to keep things afloat in her family because her sister wasn’t working, which caused a lot of tension between them. We also see Juan, Maria’s baby’s father working in a local garage, who is about the same age as Maria, while supporting ten
Washington Irving said once, “There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity”[1] which I feel describes the main character of Maria in the movie Maria Full of Grace (MFG); Maria lives in Columbia and due to her financial situation becomes a drug mule for money all the while pregnant at the age of seventeen. In the movie, Maria struggles with the rationale of staying true to herself of being good person and doing the right thing while still wanting to make money for her strains to survive day to day. Maria also fights with the notion of wanting a better life for her unborn child and how to achieve that. Her struggles are similar to many immigrant individuals and families who come to America for a better life but are faced with many issues like language, education, and learning to cope in this foreign land without any support around them. As social workers our job will not only be to help integrate immigrants into American society but see that their basic needs are met like housing, health care and employment. Also, as social workers our jobs will closely be linked on how these immigrant population is adjusting to their new life here and their emotions. The movie Maria Full of Grace showed a spectrum of problems and issues that adolescents are faced with in the country of Columbia. One being breadwinners in their families from a young age; at the age of seventeen Maria has been working at the local flower factory in order to support her family which consisted of her grandmother, mother, sister, and her nephew. Maria was forced into working in order to keep things afloat in her family because her sister wasn’t working, which caused a lot of tension between them. We also see Juan, Maria’s baby’s father working in a local garage, who is about the same age as Maria, while supporting ten
Citations: Bacallao, M. L., & Smokowski, P. R. (2007). The Cost of Getting Ahead: Mexican Family System Changes After Immigration. Family Relation, 56, 52-66. Bishnoi, K. (2011). UNICEF India - Child protection - Informed adolescents prevent exploitation. UNICEF - UNICEF Home. Retrieved November 11, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/india/child_protection_4701.htm Chung, I. W. (2006). A Cultural Perspective on Emotions and Behaviors: An Empathic Pathway to Examine Intergenerational Conflicts in Chinese Immigrant Families. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 87(3), 367-376. Hancock, T. (2007). Social Work 's Ethical Obligation to Undocumented Immigrants. BPD Update Online. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from http://bpdupdateonline.bizland.com/winter2007/id113.html Mezey, P.S. (Producer), & Marston, J. (Director). (2004). Maria Full of Grace (Motion picture). United States: HBO and Fine Line Features. Pine, B. A., & Drachman, D. (2005). Effective Child Welfare Practice and Immigrant and Refugee Children and their Families. Child Welfare, 84(5), 537-562. Segal, U. A., & Mayadas, N. S. (2005). Assessment of Issues Facing Immigrant and Refugee Families. Child Welfare, 84(5), 563-583. ----------------------- [1] Writer of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other short stories.