How cross-cultural relationships can derailHow cross-cultural relationships can derail

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Recognizing one’s own unconscious bias

• We have a human tendency to be biased towards what is like us or what we’re used to.

• When we don’t recognize and accommodate for our unconscious bias, we may lose some choices around how to act (or the quality of our legal services).

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Which is “better”??

Otherwise . . . .Otherwise . . . .

First Client

• Interrupted

• Loud

• Not deferential

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Second Client

• Soft spoken

• Appreciative

• No interrupting

I will end up providing inferior services to people who do not fit my assumptions unless I can . . .

•Step back and see my own assumptions about what is appropriate, or what constitutes appropriate behavior

•See and question my automatic judgments against those who do not fit it

•And . . .

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Make my expectations explicit (and negotiable).Make my expectations explicit (and negotiable).

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Federal Poverty GuidelinesFederal Poverty Guidelines

• Federal poverty guidelines (FPG) for a family of four: $23,550*

• ____ of people live in poverty in the U.S. (2009)

• ____ of children live in poverty (2008)* 2012 pretax income (not including noncash benefits such as public housing, Medicaid, employer-provided health insurance and food stamps)

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Budgeting for poverty – average amounts spentBudgeting for poverty – average amounts spent

Category Monthly Expense Percent of Total Left Over

Starting Point $22,350 ÷ 12 $1,863

Housing 515 25% 1,347

Utilities 223 11% 1,124

Transportation 476 23% 649

Food 397 19% 252

Health Care 206 10% 46

Child Care 222 11% -1768

* www.povertyusa.org

Budgeting for poverty – what about?Budgeting for poverty – what about?

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Poverty and DisabilityPoverty and Disability• Between 50 and 60% of those in poverty have a disability.

• Mental illness is two to nine times higher in poverty. • Some difficulties among persons 15 years old and over:

– 5%: seeing words and letters in ordinary newsprint– 6%: hearing what is said in a conversation with another

person– 9%: walking three city blocks– 8%: lifting and carrying a full bag of groceries– 4%: going outside the home alone to shop or visit a

doctor's office (1.5 million used wheelchair, 4.0 million used a cane, etc.)

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