DIVERSITY QUESTION

Diversity question



Diversity question

Introduction

Cultural diversity refers to the range of variations, which subsist within the faction of individuals with unique and definable cultural backgrounds. The term “Cultural Diversity” means that the interacting groups possess dissimilar cultural experiences. Through this meaning of “cultural diversity” one cannot propose a value judgment that places one culture above the other, because people belonging to each culture have socialized in ways that are not similar to each other, and might possess diverse cultural beliefs and world views, which might make communication difficult. This paper discusses cultural diversity in a holistic context. Furthermore, the paper describes an experience that I had with someone from a different cultural, ethnic, racial, or social group in which I thought I had made a "cultural blunder".

Discussion

A key concern linked with the meaning of “cultural diversity” is that every phenomenon has at least two dissimilar perspectives: etic that is the external point of view, and theemic that is the internal comprehension of the situation. Therefore, the minority groups' operational definition comprises of not just the demographic backgrounds and cultural perceptions, but even the viewpoints of them by various cultural groups, particularly the one that has majority, which has influence and control over their lives.

Another issue relating to “cultural diversity” is the possible complication with the practice of the concepts' utilization. It has been argued by social scientist that cultural diversity's concept may motivate psychological professional as well as educators in treating each one of the so-called minority cultures like a solitary culture, or like a distinct cultural group, distinguished against a customary mainstream or White “American” culture. Such associations might bring about the notion that culture that has the utmost power (White) is normative, and merely minority cultures need to be described. In other words, the utilization of cultural diversity might entail White culture as common, and have a say in sustaining the social status quo linking to power differentials (Sedlacek, 1994).

Since the number of people belonging to the minority groups have increased significantly, complications linked with cultural diversity have gained significant attention. One of cultural diversity's implications is service providers and educators multi-cultural competency. A couple of decades ago, R.J. McDavis, P. Arredondo, and D.W. Sue proposed the 3 (dimensions) by 3 (characteristics) model of multicultural counseling competency for training helping professionals that are culturally competent. Particularly the following three features represent a culturally skilled analyst as one who:

Actively practices and develops sensitive, relevant and appropriate intervention skills and strategies in working with his clients that are culturally different.

Actively becomes conscious of his own suppositions regarding human behavior.

Actively tries for understanding the worldview of his clients that are culturally different.

On the other hand, these 3 dimensions comprises of skills, knowledge, and attitude and beliefs. A set of criterion for judging helping professionals as culturally competent, which was based on this model was suggested by Sue et.al. Lately, this model got developed to particularly swathe 5 racial groups (European Americans, Native Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans and African Americans) and various ...