During a visit to one of Cuba’s mental health centers through a study abroad course on the island, I was struck by the cultural differences I experienced. The facility had once been the home of a wealthy landowner before the revolution, after which point its beautiful architecture has served as the workplace for psychologists and psychiatrists. When we were touring the building, our guide relayed that psychology was her passion, but she had to work in the tourism industry on the side to supplement her income. Although I knew by now that medical professions tend to have low salaries because they are paid by the government in Cuban pesos, as opposed to the much stronger foreign currencies that circulate in the private sector, I was caught off guard by this information. In America we are often rewarded for showing passion for our work and career, so that we can find ‘our calling’ and work hard to advance on our own merits. In Cuba, the high-skill careers that we often associate with wealth and prestige are often the lowest paid. No matter how hard this psychologist worked, her career would not be able to sustain her. It seemed strange to observe this reversal of a trend that seems so natural in the United States. Indeed, as part of my final paper, I learned that the socioeconomic status of doctors in the struggling Cuban market had a deep impact on their cultural role as healers. Cuban doctors might be poorer than many of the people they see, which complicates power dynamics between provider and patient.
