Chapter 6

What is Culture?What is Culture?

Culture is the distinctive life-way of a people united by a common language and governed by rules and models for their beliefs and behavior.

In layman’s terms, culture is what we live everyday and what we bring with us to the workplace.

Culture is the root, the stem and the branch, Culture is the root, the stem and the branch, while civilization is the branch, the leaf and the while civilization is the branch, the leaf and the

blossom. blossom. -Nelson Brooks

CULTURAL PHILOSOPHYCULTURAL PHILOSOPHY

CULTURE-SPECIFIC APPROACHCULTURE-SPECIFIC APPROACHCULTURE-GENERAL APPROACHCULTURE-GENERAL APPROACH

The culture-specific approach gives definite information about

individual cultures.

Culture-general believes that one should first have an understanding and awareness of cultural issues

before specific information is given. This is to reduce the

chance of stereotyping.

This course will be based upon the culture-general approach.

““Cultural Jeopardy”Cultural Jeopardy”

How to play:How to play:

• A definition will be presented and you must determine the appropriate word

from the list.

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

The ability to be open to learning

about and accepting of

different cultural groups.

Cultural Sensitivity

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

A belief that racial differences produce

an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Racism

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

A generalization of characteristics that

is applied to all members of a cultural group.

Stereotype

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

A subconscious belief in negative stereotypes

about one’s group that results in an attempt to fulfill those stereotypes

and a projection of those stereotypes onto other members of that group.

Internalized oppression

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

A belief in the inherent superiority

of one pattern of loving over all and thereby the right to

dominance.

Heterosexism

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

To make a difference in

treatment on a basis other than

individual character.

Discrimination

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

The recognition and acknowledgement that society is pluralistic. In

addition to the dominant cultural, there exists many

other cultures based around ethnicity, sexual orientation, geography, religion, gender,

and class.

Multiculturalism

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

An attitude, opinion, or feeling formed without

adequate prior knowledge, thought,

or reason.

Prejudice

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

The belief in the inherent superiority of one sex (gender) over the other and thereby the right to

dominance.

Sexism

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

A body of learned beliefs, traditions,

principles, and guides for behavior that are

shared among members of a

particular group.

Culture

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

To judge other cultures by the standards of one’s own,

and beyond that, to see one’s own standards as the true universal and the other culture in a negative way.

Ethnocentrism

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

As a biological concept, it defines groups of people

based on a set of genetically transmitted

characteristics.

race

Prejudice

Ethnocentrism

Stereotype

Sexism

Multiculturalism

Cultural Sensitivity

Ethnicity

Racism

Race

Internalized Oppression

Discrimination

Heterosexism

Culture

Sharing a strong sense of identity with a particular

religious, racial, or national group.

Ethnicity

• Primary dimensions are aspects of ourselves that we cannot change. They are things people know about us

before we even open our mouths, because they are physically visible (except sexual orientation). When

people feel they are being stereotyped based on primary dimension, they can be very sensitive about it.

• Secondary dimensions are elements we have some power to change. People are less sensitive about

secondary dimensions. We also have the choice of whether to disclose this information or not; we can

conceal these characteristics.

Primary & Secondary Primary & Secondary Dimensions of DiversityDimensions of Diversity

Primary & Secondary Dimensions of DiversityPrimary & Secondary Dimensions of Diversity

Sexual Orientation

Race

Gender

Physical Qualities

Age

Ethnicity

Work Background

Income Geographic Location

Parental Status

Marital Status

Education Military Experience

Religious Beliefs

Loden and Rosener

PARADIGMSPARADIGMS

Paradigms establish the rules and boundaries for the

way we see things.

Communicating Across Communicating Across Cultural LinesCultural Lines

Communication is one of the most basic means of getting your idea across, but when it comes down to communicating with someone outside your comfort zone things can become a little unnerving. We have

some suggestions that may alleviate those apprehensions.

Ways to Facilitate Communication Ways to Facilitate Communication Across Cultural BoundariesAcross Cultural Boundaries

1. Recognize differences

2. Build Your Self-Awareness

3. Describe and Identify, then Interpret

4. Don’t assume your interpretation is correct

5. Verbalize your own non-verbal signs

6. Share your experience honestly

7. Acknowledge any discomfort, hesitation, or concern

8. Practice politically correct communication

9. Give your time and attention when communicating

10. Don’t evaluate or judge

Cultural SensitivityCultural Sensitivity

Cultural CompetencyCultural Competency

Leads to…

Individual’s Path to Cultural Individual’s Path to Cultural CompetencyCompetency

Learning is like a journey, in that, it is a path that we follow to enlightenment. A model developed by David Hoopes,

gives us a model to cultural competency. His outline illustrates the development of cultural competency in every

one of us. Competency implies having the capacity to function effectively. It will be interesting to see where, we

as individual, fit into this continuum.

PATH OF INTERCULTURAL PATH OF INTERCULTURAL LEARNINGLEARNING

Multiculturation

Selective Adoption

Appreciation/Valuing

Acceptance/Respect

UnderstandingAwareness

Ethnocentricity

Hoopes

Individual’s Path to Cultural Competency

Ethnocentricity – This is a state of relying on our own, and only our own, paradigms based on our cultural heritage. We view the world through narrow filters, and we will only accept information that fits our paradigms. We resist and/or discard others.

Awareness – This is the point at which we begin to realize that there are things that exist which fall outside the realm of our cultural paradigms.

Understanding- This is the point at which we are not only aware that there are things that fall outside our cultural paradigms, but we see the reason for their existence.

Individual’s Path to Cultural Competency

Acceptance/Respect - This is when we begin allowing those from other cultures to just be who they are, and that it is OKAY for things to not always fit into our paradigms.

Appreciation/Value- This is the point where we begin seeing the worth in the things that fall outside our own cultural paradigms.

Selective Adoption - This is the point at which, we begin using things that were initially outside our own cultural paradigms.

Multiculturation- This is when we have begun integrating our lives with our experiences from a variety of cultural experiences.

Continuum of Cultural Continuum of Cultural Competency in the WorkplaceCompetency in the Workplace

Even though, we may be culturally sensitive, our work environment may not be at the same level. This can be attributed to the numerous people employed and the different ideologies they possess. As you review this

continuum, one can see how these steps parallel those in the

Individuals’ path to Cultural Competency.

Continuum of Cultural Continuum of Cultural CompetencyCompetency

Cultural

Destructiveness

Cultural Incapacity

Cultural Blindness

Cultural Pre-Competence

Cultural Competence

Cultural Proficiency

SAMHSA

Cultural Destructiveness is the most negative. It is the attitudes, policies, and practices that are destructive to cultures and the individuals within these cultures. A system that adheres to a destructive extreme assumes that one race or culture is superior and eradicates lesser cultures because of their perceived sub-human condition. Bigotry coupled with vast power allows the dominant group to disenfranchise, control, exploit, or systemically destroys the less powerful population.

Cultural Incapacity occurs when agencies do not intentionally seek to be culturally destructive, but rather have no capacity to help people from other cultures. This system remains extremely biased, and believes in the superiority of the dominant group. It assumes a paternal posture towards “lesser” groups.

Continuum of Cultural Continuum of Cultural CompetencyCompetency

Cultural Blindness is characterized by a well intended philosophy; however, the consequence of such a belief can often camouflage the reality of ethnocentrism. This system suffers from a deficit of information and often lack the avenues through which they can obtain needed information.

While these agencies often view themselves as unbiased and responsive to the needs of minority people, their ability to effectively work with a diverse population maybe severely limited.

Cultural Pre-competence implies movement towards reaching out to other cultures. The pre-competent agency realizes its weaknesses in working with people of other cultures and attempts to improve that relationship with a specific population.

Continuum of Cultural Continuum of Cultural CompetencyCompetency

Cultural Competence is characterized by acceptance of and respect for differences, continuing self assessment regarding culture, careful attention to the dynamics of differences, and continuous expansion of cultural knowledge and resources.

Cultural Proficiency is the culmination point on the continuum is characterized by holding culture in high esteem. These agencies actively seek to hire a diverse workforce.

Continuum of Cultural Continuum of Cultural CompetencyCompetency

Should you have any questions regarding any information on this presentation, please contact Julie Henry at 1-800-832-9623,

ext.6628.

References

SAMHSA, Office of Minority Health, and Health Resources and Administration, Quality Health Services for Hispanics: The Cultural Competency Component, 2001.

Nelson Brook, “Parameters of Culture”, FL News Exchange (February 1973). A publication of the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Loden and Rosener, Workforce America!, 1991.