Cultural diversity can be defined as a situation where there is an existence of different cultures and ethical groups within society. Culture can simply be defined as a way of life. Individuals who share the same way of life within the society can be termed as belonging or existing within the same culture. The society has different forms of culture in existence. Culture is one of the many forms that can be used to explain the existence of diversity within society.1
Cultural competence can be defined as the ability to be able to recognize the fact that there exist different cultures within society and being able to accommodate and interact with them fully within the society. Cultural competence is one of the desired virtues within the society based on the fact that our countries, workplaces, and schools are made up of individuals subscribing to various cultures, beliefs, race ,ethnic groups etc.1
If I am to master cultural competence I need to be good at these 4 four components: (a) Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview, (b) Attitude towards cultural differences, (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and (d) cross-cultural skills.2
Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.
Awareness of my own cultural worldview
My life experience is founded (not only intellectually, but also emotionally and morally), on the set of principles of the society and culture in which it was formed, that small town in remote Maine comprised of hard working acadian french people. The relationships, sensations and emotions produced by that experience of the world within that environment has shaped my worldview.
Talking about culture implies the recognition of values, lifestyles and symbolic representations or worldviews, which I have put into play when relating to other people and in their understanding of the world.
Social relations, culture and education are all important key when it comes to the development of the my worldview. I am a social being, just like all human beings, and nobody grows totally isolated and alien to their environment.
This is how worldviews take place that usually revolve around questions such as what happens to a person when he dies, what exists and why, how can it be established that something is right or wrong, what is the existence of the human being .
What I have learned in this cultural competence course is that the individual worldview of all human beings must be studied and respected, avoiding biases and favoring inclusion, sharing and continuous learning in order to best serve the patients we work with. A course won’t do that work for me, it will only make me aware of the work that needs to be done. This is the first step in becoming culturally competent.
Attitude toward cultural differences
Paul Pedersen’s multicultural competence model emphasized three components: awareness, knowledge and skills. Educators later added the attitude component in order to emphasize the difference between training that increases awareness of cultural bias and beliefs in general and training that has participants carefully examine their own beliefs and values about cultural
differences. When I read a list of traits that Mexican immigrants have, do I now believe that all Mexican immigrants have those traits? Have the stereotypes been strengthened due to my training? While that isn’t the intent of any training program, it is a possible outcome if that list isn’t also paired with training that helps us recognize the biases that we have. Those biases shape our interactions with people, they influence our decisions.
I completed a mandatory bias training this month for work. It was comprised of 10 questions. The correct answers were all framed around the premise… I see everyone the same. The incorrect answers were all framed around the premise…those people are different then me and I am better. Unless we provide training and resources to people to dig deep and really evaluate where their biases exist, we will never achieve the level of cultural competency we are striving for.
Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews
“Cultural knowledge” means that I know about some cultural characteristics, history, values, beliefs, and behaviors of another ethnic or cultural group. Again, this is so much more than a laundry list of stereotypical traits. This is my personal plan for gaining knowledge. I also would like to open the opportunities for staff that I work with.
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in another culture’s worldview is to learn the language they speak. Just start simple. One of the most mind-expanding experiences is to learn a word or concept that doesn’t exist in your own language.
I am going to seek opportunities to interact with diverse groups. We might volunteer at the hispanic community center, attend the hispanic Catholic church or soup kitchen.
It’s also important to supplement work and volunteer experience with non-clinical social interactions. Instead of solely interacting with members of diverse groups who are seeking care, get a fuller picture by interacting with them as peers at parties, religious services and cultural events.
Cross-cultural skills
I define cross-cultural skills as the ability to facilitate interaction and communication with others where social rules and relations are created, communicated or changed. This happens in verbal and nonverbal ways. It is also respecting cultural differences and working effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds. We are all human beings after all, aren’t these are the same basic skills needed when we interact with anyone?
Reference
- 1. Kottak, C. P. (2015). Cultural anthropology: Appreciating cultural diversity. McGraw-Hill Education.
2. Library.cityvision.edu. 2022. Cultural competence | City Vision University. [online] Available at: <https://library.cityvision.edu/cultural-competence>.
