Why is cultural differences important

In working towards your diverse organization or community there is much more to do. In the next sections we will talk about how to become aware of your own culture, build relationships with from different cultures, become allies to people discriminated against, overcome internalized oppression, build multicultural organizations and coalitions, and other topics as well.

Each of us can build the kinds of communities we dream of. In our families, organizations, institutions, and neighborhoods, we can insist that we won't remain isolated from those who are different from ourselves. We can transform our neighborhoods, institutions, and governments into equitable, non-oppressive, and diverse communities.

If you are interested in receiving an electronic copy of one the presentations, just download their Materials Request Form found on the main Training Presentations page under "related files" , complete the form, and email it to NEEPethics yahoo. Collins, C. What is white privilege, really? Teaching Tolerance, 60 : This article explains white privilege, gives the history of white privilege, examines how white privilege differs from racism, and offers guidance on using white privilege for positive change.

Chapter 8: Respect for Diversity in the "Introduction to Community Psychology" explains cultural humility as an approach to diversity, the dimensions of diversity, the complexity of identity, and important cultural considerations. Kagawa-Singer, M. The Cultural Framework for Health: An integrative approach for research and program design and evaluation.

Culture Matters is a cross-cultural training workbook developed by the Peace Corps to help new volunteers acquire the knowledge and skills to work successfully and respectfully in other cultures.

Proclaiming Our Roots : Learn more about the lived experiences of Black and Indigenous folx through their digital stories. The Multicultural Pavilion offers resources and dialogue for educators, students and activists on all aspects of multicultural education. The National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University increases the capacity of health care and mental health programs to design, implement and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems.

Publications and web links available. Montgomery, AL Axner, D. The Community leadership project curriculum. Pomfret, CT: Topsfield Foundation. Banks, J. Educating citizens in a multicultural society. Brown, C. Healing into action. DuPraw, M. Working on common cross-cultural communication challenges.

In Martha McCoy, et. Pomfret, CT: Topsfield Foundation, Ford, C. We can all get along: 50 steps you can take to end racism. Kaye, G. From the ground up: A workbook on coalition building and community development.

Available from Tom Wolff and Associates. McCoy, M. Toward a more perfect union in an age of diversity: A guide for building stronger communities through public dialogue.

McIntosh, P. White privilege and male privilege: A personal account of coming to see correspondences through work in women's studies. Murphy, Frederick. New York: Springer. Okihiro, G. Margins and mainstreams: Asians in American history and culture.

Takaki, R. A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Skip to main content. Toggle navigation Navigation. Chapter Chapter 27 Sections Section 1.

Healing from the Effects of Internalized Oppression Section 4. Building Culturally Competent Organizations Section 8. Multicultural Collaboration Section 9. Transforming Conflicts in Diverse Communities Section Building Inclusive Communities. The Tool Box needs your help to remain available. Toggle navigation Chapter Sections. Section 1. Learn how to understand people's cultures, promote engagement with others, and build strong, diverse communities.

What is culture? However, actively trying to understand and embrace cultural differences can open you up to a whole world of experiences. Work out your own beliefs, values and personal biases. This includes biases about your own cultural background.

You could try: Think about what assumptions you make about your friends, peers, people you work with and strangers you see walking down the street. What assumptions do you make about people from the same background as you? Learning about different cultures can be a great way to develop an understanding of cultural diversity.

You could try: Check out some foreign films on SBS or Netflix, attend a local food festival, or search for some online resources.

Try and get to know someone from a different cultural background better. Just being curious and open-minded can be helpful. Remember to treat them just like you would anyone else, and don't think of them only as a way to get to know about other cultural backgrounds. One of the best ways to experience and understand other cultures is to actually live among them. You could try: Check out some virtual travel and history experiences from the comfort of your own home.

You could try: Practise being empathetic towards the people around you and be mindful of your thoughts about others. Men are assertive, tough, competitive, and focused on material success. Women are modest, tender, and concerned with quality of life.

Low Gender Egalitarianism societies have few women in positions of authority, a low percentage of women in the labour force, and occupational sex segregation. In these societies, females have lower levels of education and literacy relative to males. In addition, women hold a lower status in society and play a smaller role in community decision-making compared with men. In high Gender Egalitarianism cultures, male social and emotional roles are similar to female roles.

Both men and women are modest, cooperative, tender, and concerned with quality of life and caring for the weak. Compared to low Gender Egalitarianism societies, there are more women in positions of authority, a higher percentage of women participating in the labour force, and less occupational sex segregation.

In addition, in high Gender Egalitarian cultures, females and males have similar levels of education and literacy. Women hold higher status and play a greater role in community decision-making compared with low Gender Egalitarianism cultures.

Societies with low Gender Egalitarianism typically display high Assertiveness. Strength is admired. Aggression is viewed positively for example, aggression is associated with winning. Members of high Assertiveness societies value competition and success. They expect demanding and challenging targets. Performance is rewarded and results are stressed over relationships.

Members of high Assertiveness societies value what you do more than who you are. Members think of others as opportunistic. In communication, members of high Assertiveness cultures are direct and value expressing true thoughts and feelings. In contrast, high Gender Egalitarianism overlaps with low Assertiveness. These societies view assertiveness as socially unacceptable. Members of low Assertiveness cultures emphasise modesty and tenderness. They associate competition with defeat and punishment.

They stress equality and social solidarity. Low Assertiveness cultures value people, warm relationships, and cooperation. Members care more about who you are than what you do. In these societies, integrity, loyalty, and cooperation are stressed.

People think of others as inherently worthy of trust. In the workplace, low Assertiveness cultures emphasise seniority and experience. Merit pay is destructive to harmony. High Doing Orientated societies believe that people have control over their destiny—anyone can succeed if they try hard enough. A Doing Orientation encourages self-assertion to master, direct, and change the natural and social environment to achieve group or individual goals. Societies with a Doing Orientation stress performance and encourage and reward innovation and excellence.

These societies have a monochromatic linear and limited view of time and a high sense of urgency. High Doing Orientated societies believe that schooling and education are critical for success. They value training and development. A Being Orientation stresses fitting into the world as it is.

Members focus on appreciating and understanding the world rather than trying to change, direct, or exploit it. Important values include world peace, unity with nature, and protecting the environment. Members of Being Orientated societies have a high regard for quality of life and feel being motivated by money is inappropriate.

These societies have a polychromic approach to time unending and circular and a low sense of urgency. Members of high Humane Orientation societies believe that others are important.

That concern extends to all people and all nature. High priority is given to altruism, benevolence, and love. Members are urged to be sensitive to all forms of racial discrimination.

The need for belonging and affiliation motivates.