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 . . . .