4.5: Exploring Culture and Perceptions
Activity 4.5: Exploring Culture and Perceptions
Part 1: As a foundation for expanding your understanding of other cultures, it is important to be thoroughly acquainted with your own. Cultural competence begins with understanding and appreciating your own identity. You are a “culturally rich” individual with your own blend of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, class, sexual orientation, age, religion or spirituality, geographic location and physical and mental abilities.
For each of the categories from the list below, think about your culture and life experiences, and how you would describe yourself, your family of origin or your current family situation to someone you know pretty well. After you have some thoughts in mind for each of the categories, think about the following questions:
Are there categories that you would have been uncomfortable sharing in front of the large group during the in-person training session?
What contributes to your feelings of safety when you are asked to disclose personal information?
Race
Family Form (single parent, married with no children, etc.)
Ethnicity (cultural description or country of origin)
Gender
Geographic Identity (rural, urban; in the US, eastern, Midwestern, etc.) Age
Sexual Orientation Religion or Spirituality Language
Disabilities
Socioeconomic Status (low-income, working-class, middle-class, wealthy)
Part 2: Now imagine that you are either Toni or Miles Bleux, the parents of Deshawn, and you are describing yourself to someone who has power over your life; for instance the caseworker, the judge or an attorney. In the online discussion forum, answer the following questions:
How do you think the caseworker or others might perceive you, and what would be the implications?
When you describe yourself to them, how might you anticipate their opinions, and how might your concerns impact your interactions with them
Part 3: Respond to at least two of your classmates by asking a question or making a comment about what they have posted.