Social Justice and Understanding Culture

Elements of Social WorkElements of Social WorkUniversity of Kansas University of Kansas

School of Social Welfare School of Social Welfare Kansas Workforce InitiativeKansas Workforce Initiative

www.kwi.ku.edu

“Culture is to people as water is to fish.”

Terry Cross

Cultural Faux Pas?

Opening the Door to Dialog

UNIVERSAL

We are all human beings.

GROUPS

Some of us share common characteristics.

INDIVIDUAL

Each of us is unique in

personality, experience,

belief systems, and

relationships.

SPAULDING INSTITUTE

GeneralizationsA generalization is usedto understand common characteristics shared by members of a group. It is a starting point toward Understanding individuals within a

group. Research shows that there are more in-group than between-group differences.

StereotypeA stereotype is employed

when assumptions about an individual are made based on his or her inclusion

in a group. It is a stopping point rather than a beginning

point in understanding the individual.

Latino Cultural TraitsNo tengasComo vano el consejo del anciano.

Do notconsider

useless the adviceof an old person

f a m I l i a

Cuando te toca,

te toca.When it’s

your time, it’s your

time.

f a t a l i s m o

El que es ciego de nación, nunca sabe por dónde anda.

He who is blind to his own nation will never know where he is traveling.

c o l l e c t i v i s m

p e r s o n a l i s m o

Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos.We see the faces but we do not know the heart.

familiaNo tengasComo vano el consejo

del anciano.

Do notconsider

useless the adviceof an old person

fatalismo

Cuando te toca,te toca.

When it’s your time, it’s your time.

personalismo

Caras vemos, corazones no

sabemos.

We see the faces but we do not

know the heart.

collectivism

El que es ciego de nación, nunca sabe por dónde anda.

He who is blind to his own nation will never know where he is traveling.

Latino Cultural TraitsNo tengasComo vano el consejo del anciano.

Do notconsider

useless the adviceof an old person

f a m I l i a

Cuando te toca,

te toca.When it’s

your time, it’s your

time.

f a t a l i s m o

El que es ciego de nación, nunca sabe por dónde anda.

He who is blind to his own nation will never know where he is traveling.

c o l l e c t i v i s m

p e r s o n a l i s m o

Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos.We see the faces but we do not know the heart.

¡Gracias!for Your Participación

culture – the journey of a lifetime . . . .