Document Type

Peer Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

"Mangia, You're Too Skinny": A Story of Italian Culture is a personal reflection of my Italian heritage. With this zine, I sought to not only explain, but illustrate, pieces of Italian culture and traditions. Each photograph includes members of my family and our food that we prepare.

My family immigrated to the United States from San Giovanni in Fiore, which is a small village in Calabria, located in southern Italy. They did not experience the "American Dream" that is portrayed in the media. Instead, they grappled with fear, prejudice, and the pressure to assimilate, which resulted in the loss of many occupations that were deeply meaningful to them. The ones I outlined in this zine are traditions and beliefs that still remain.

I crafted this zine with the hopes of showing occupational therapy practitioners and occupational therapy students how vital culture really is. It is easy to just accept it as "important" because we learn about it as part of our curriculum, but it may be difficult to grasp the magnitude of the meaning behind the word. For me, culture has shaped my entire identity and how I see the world.

This zine outlines essential considerations and principles that I will take with me as I continue my journey to becoming a license occupational therapy practitioner. Access to equitable, holistic, and unbiased care is not a luxury -- it is a fundamental human right. Providers must provide care that is grounded in cultural humility, not cultural competence. As occupational therapists, we are uniquely equipped to providing such care.

Culturally responsive care is client centered care.

After reading this zine, I hope these statements ring true for you, too.

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