For parents who participated in the Parents Beyond Borders group, their group membership—the prestige, emotional significance, and value associ- ated with the group— had a strong and positive impact on their feelings of self-worth.
Groups are microcosms of the wider society and provide opportu- nities for group members to explore and challenge social oppression. Parents Beyond Borders aims to raise participants’ awareness of the dif- ferent sources of power in our American society and their consequences for group members. Participants may have internalized feelings of discrimi- nation and may find it difficult to see themselves from unexplored, more positive perspectives (Doel & Sawdon, 2004). Membership in the group supports a shared, interdependent experience where alternative perspec- tives about oneself can be investigated. One person’s journey to the United States can be linked to the immigration experiences, actions and outcomes of others in the group. Social oppression contributes to marginalization and isolation. Interdependence, shared of goals and aspirations, and “being in the same boat” with fellow group members, contributes to group cohe- sion and community solidarity. One parent group member’s successful immigration story supports struggling fellow group members’ who have been marginalized.