Steering the Cultural Dynamics

The disastrous earthquake of 12 May, 2008 had its greatest impact on the Qiang people, an ethnic minority living in the mountainous regions of Sichuan at the earthquake’s epicentre. Over 80,000 people died, over a million were injured or missing, most buildings collapsed and most homes were demolished under the avalanches. Thousands of children were evacuated to safety, some moved to far distant locations. The research team from the University of Newcastle responded to the plea of the Qiang leaders to help the children. In cooperation with the China-Australia Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies, a three stage psycho-cultural research program was devised, comprising a survey of children’s current caregivers, interviews with the children, and development of a culturally appropriate rehabilitation scheme. Shuguang Wang was appointed to coordinate the project. This paper discusses the research issues involved. Of paramount importance was the collectivist nature of the Qiang culture and the traditional ways of dealing with disasters. Theoretical issues related to the relevance of western individualistic psychological and psychiatric approaches to therapy in the Qiang collectivist environment. Methodological problems related to developing appropriate measuring instruments, and preparing guidelines and training programs for local Qiang interviewers and volunteers. In the devastating earthquake of 12 May, 2008 in Sichuan Province, over 80,000 people lost their lives and over a million people lost their homes and members of their families. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the mountainous area home to the Qiang ethnic minority. It was a school day in the afternoon, and many hundreds of children and their teachers were crushed in the collapsed school buildings under the huge boulders which rained down in avalanches from the mountain tops. Volunteers and the soldiers worked tirelessly to rescue as many as possible. Many temporary settlements were erected to house the survivors. Many children were removed to safe locations, some far distant from the earthquake zone. For children who were orphaned or separated from their families, temporary buildings comprising half dormitory and half schoolroom were erected. Carers were put in charge. Shuguang Wang and Melissa Gao were in Sichuan at the time and were active in the rescue work. Following on from their PhD research at the University of Newcastle, they had been carrying out cross-cultural research on HIV/AIDS prevention, Shuguang Wang in the ethnic minorities (Wang & Keats, 2005) and Melissa Gao (Gao, 2004; 2007) with the Gay, MSM and Lesbian communities in Sichuan. This research had culminated in the setting up of the China-Australia Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies at Sichuan University, led by Professor Deng Shengqing as Director and Dr. Wang as Deputy Director. We had just begun the latest project with the Qiang ethnic community when the earthquake struck. As soon after communication became possible, a meeting was convened at the Centre to draw up a plan to help. Participants included Professor Deng Shengqing, Dr. Shuguang Wang, Dr. Melissa Gao, UNESCO delegates, and representatives of the Qiang Ethnic Minority led by the Director of Ethnic Affairs for the Qiang Community, Mr. Yang Xian Gui. The Qiang representatives said that it was the children who were in the greatest need of help. Three categories of children were identified as most in need: children who had lost parents; children who had not lost parents but whose parents could not cope; children who were seriously injured. The University of Newcastle was asked if we could help, and responded quickly with special grants from the University and from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology and the School of Psychology to fund a . 4 staff appointment of Dr. Wang as Associate Professor (previously Conjoint Associate Professor). Research