I was a New York psychologist who thought I understood families. Then I moved to Wichita.
A psychologist reflects on the cultural differences between New York City and Wichita, Kansas, after moving for her husband's job. She notes that the slower pace of life and different community dynamics in the Midwest challenged her previous assumptions about family systems.
Why it matters
It provides a human-interest perspective on how regional cultural differences shape social norms and family life in the United States.
I (not pictured) learned a lot from my time living in Wichita, Kansas. LightFieldStudios/Getty Images/iStockphoto I finished my postdoctoral training in New York City, where I worked with families and kids. After moving to Wichita, I saw just how thriving families can look so different in different places. A healthy dynamic doesn't look the same for every family, and I've taken this lesson into my work. The drive-thru line at Chick-fil-A stretched around the block, packed with oversized SUVs at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday. Engines idled. No one honked. No one seemed in a hurry. It was one of my first glimpses of life in Wichita, and it felt like a different world. I had just finished my postdoctoral training in New York City, where I had worked with children and families in a wide range of settings. I was confident I understood family systems.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in