Principles of Health Science

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/movies/cultura

l-differences-ggtu?source=relatedvideo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUO59Emi3eo

What is culture? What is influenced

by someone’s culture?

Think about these questions.

Share your thoughts.

CULTURE

A system of shared beliefs; values, customs,

behaviors and artifacts that the members of

society embrace.

Transmitted from generation to generation

through learning—a process called enculturation.

Factors influenced by culture

Family relations

Child rearing

Education

Occupational choice

Social Interactions

Spirituality

Religious Beliefs

Food Preferences

Health Beliefs

Health Care

ETHNICITY

A group of people within a larger society

who have common ancestry and memories

of a shared historical past.

Members may share a geographic location,

social customs, language, and beliefs

Ethnicity

United States is multicultural and multiethnic

Six major ethnic groups within the United

States.

African American

Asian/Pacific American

European American

Hispanic-American

Middle Eastern/Arabic Americans

Native American

RACE

A ethnic group that has assumed biological basis

or physical attributes believed to be

characteristic of that group such as:

-Color of skin, hair, and/or eyes

-Facial features

-Bone structure

-Blood type

CULTURE: 4 Basic Characteristics

Culture is Learned: It does not just

happen, it is taught to others

EXAMPLE: Children learn patterns of

behavior by imitating adults and

developing attitudes accepted by

others

CULTURE: 4 Basic Characteristics

Culture is Shared: Common practices and

beliefs are shared with others in a

cultural group

EXAMPLE: The Amish pass on skills and

beliefs to young children and raise them

to continue to be a part of their cultural

group.

CULTURE: 4 Basic Characteristics

Culture is Social in Nature: Individuals in the

cultural group understand appropriate

behavior based on traditions that have been

passed from generation to generation

EXAMPLE: Children learn what their culture is

often from family gatherings where they

witness traditions being played out

CULTURE: 4 Basic Characteristics

Culture is Dynamic and Constantly Changing: New

ideas may generate different standards for behavior

to allow the group to meet the needs of the group

by adapting to environmental changes

EXAMPLE: Groups who do not believe in the use of

technology are finding their younger members are

wanting to be part of the advancing world while

still remaining a part of their culture

CULTURE MAPPING ACTIVITY

DO NOT UNFOLD THE BOTTOM YET.

Put your name in the middle circle.

Then fill in each satellite circle with a dimension of your

identity that you consider to be among the most

important in defining who you are.

Next, partner up and discuss with each other things that

you feel define who you are, when you felt most proud

to be associated with one of the identifiers you selected

and when you felt sad or embarrassed to be associated

with one of your identifiers.

You have 5 minutes

CULTURE MAPPING ACTIVITY

Now unfold the bottom of your sheet.

Complete the sentence.

Finally, share your completed sentence at the bottom of

your paper that describes a stereotype you have heard

about one dimension of your identity that fails to

describe you accurately.

Take 2 minutes to complete this

Now let’s discuss…

Let’s talk about our activity…

How do the dimensions of your identity that you

chose as important differ from the ones you

classmates chose?

How do the dimensions of your identity that you

chose as important differ from the dimensions other

people use to identify or make judgments about you?

How do your “fill in the blank” responses challenge

common stereotypes?

Where do stereotypes come from?

How can we eliminate them?

What influences our culture?

Rules and expectations are transmitted across

generations

Our families, especially our parents share their

cultural beliefs, values and symbols.

Our geographic location

The dominant culture or that which is shared by the

largest number of people

The media

Have any of these

images/people/cultural

icons influenced you and

your life?—write down

2-3 that have influenced

you in some way

What about these

images/people/cultural

icons? write down 2-3

that have influenced you

in some way

• Does pop culture influence all people in the same

way?

• Do people from diverse ethnic backgrounds

experience the same influence from American

pop cultures?

• Are these influences positive or negative? Give

examples.

• How has pop culture shaped you as an

individual—clothes you wear, hairstyle, car you

drive, your ideas, etc?

Cultural identity

Important for ones’ sense of self and in relating to other

people.

Can contribute to a person’s overall wellbeing.

Identifying with a particular culture gives us a feeling of

belonging and security.

Provides us with access to social networks that provide

support, shared values and aspiration.

A strong national culture or identity can be a source of

economic strength and higher material standards of living.

Cultural identity

Define Your Cultural Identity Structure

First list 10 elements that make up your cultural

identity

Then create a pie chart showing how big of a section of

“the pie” each cultural element occupies

Are you ethnocentric??

Take these quizzes and let’s see…

Ethnocentrism

Tendency of people to put their own culture at the center and to use cultural standards to judge the behavior and beliefs of people of different cultures.

Belief that their own cultural beliefs are morally correct and others are morally questionable.

Natural tendency for all of us to believe to a certain extent that our own culture is the best.

Key to eliminating is to acknowledge the ethnocentrism and then become more open to viewing other cultures and behaviors without judging them against the standards of your own culture—Cultural relativism

Why do we tend to be ethnocentric?

(quiz 1)

Why did most of us prefer the same thing?

How does ethnocentrism develop?

Did you recognize your own ethnocentric beliefs and attitudes?

Do people within the same culture always share the same attitudes

and beliefs? Why or why not?

Is any one culture really better than another?

Are there dangers to ethnocentric attitudes in a world that is

becoming more diverse?

What are things you can do in your life today to become more

culturally relative?

Do you think your family and friends might resist your becoming

more culturally relative? Why or why not?

Why do we tend to be ethnocentric?

(quiz 2)

What are some of the reasons why you rated the US as you

did?

Do you think someone living in another country would rate

the US as you did?

How do you think someone living in another country would

rate his/her country in comparison to others? Why?

On which items did the US come out the best? The worst?

Do you think people become more or less ethnocentric as

the grow older? Why or why not?

Homework for tomorrow

Bring in one item from home—a religion symbol, a

recipe, something from your ethnic or cultural

background that has helped to influence/shape you

culturally.

We will be sharing and discussing these items as a

group so come prepared to talk about what the item

means to you and what influence it has on you and

your cultural identity.

Stereotyping

An exaggerated belief, image or distorted truth about a person or group of people

Most are negative and are aimed at classifying people based on generalizations.

Occasionally can be positive (for ex. All Asians are good at math)

It ignores individual characteristics and “labels” the individual

May occur with regard to:

Race

Gender

Body size

Occupation

Ethnicity

Prejudice

An opinion, prejudgment or attitude about a group or its

individual members.

Rarely used in a positive way

Usually looking down on a group because of its assumed

behaviors, values, capabilities or attributes

Health care workers must be aware of our prejudices and to

make every effort to obtain as much information about a

situation as possible

Bias

The tendency to move towards what is similar to

oneself and away from what is different.

Looking for what confirms one’s belief and ignoring

importance of what contradicts one’s beliefs.

People often use their stereotypes to develop their

biases.

Stereotype activity

Get into groups of 3

You will choose a card

On each card is a different group of people

In your group of 3 you will write down as many stereotypes

(adjectives) that you have heard to describe your particular

group

Take 5 minutes to come up with your list.

Let’s discuss our stereotype activity…

Where did these stereotypes start?

Why do people hold this stereotype?

Are there positive and negative stereotypes about this group?

How does this stereotype affect people who share this cultural background?

Have any of you ever felt the effects of prejudice? How did it make you feel?

How does prejudice and stereotyping hurt individuals and society?

What can we do to dispel myths that perpetuate stereotypes and prejudices?

Overcoming

Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotyping

Be conscious of your own personal and professional values and beliefs

Learn as much as you can about different ethnic/cultural groups and develop friendships with a wide variety of people

Be sensitive to behaviors and practices that are different from your won

Evaluate all information before forming an opinion

Be open to all differences

Avoid offensive language and jokes

Remember that you do not have to adopt others’ beliefs, but you must respect them

Cultural sensitivity

The ability to recognize and appreciate the personal

characteristics of others.

It is essential for health care professionals to understand and

respect these differences to provide care that meet the needs

of all individuals.

Holistic Care

Care that provides for the well-being of the whole person

Meets not only physical needs, but includes social, emotional,

and mental needs

Health care workers must understand the cultural and ethnic

beliefs in order to provide care the meet each of these needs

Family Organization

Refers to the structure of a family and the dominant or

decision-making personal in a family

Nuclear family – usually consists of a mother, father, and

children or a single parent and children

Extended family – includes grandparents, aunts, uncles,

cousins

Blended family--couple that has children from previous

relationship possibly in addition to children they have together

Language

Based on the 2000 census, almost 20% of the population

under 65 speaks a language other than English at home.

Health care providers must determine a patient’s ability to

communicate and intervene to help those who do not

understand English by use of:

Translators

Family members

Gestures or pictures

Cue cards

Personal Space

The distance people require to feel comfortable when

interacting with others

Varies greatly among ethnic/cultural groups

Health care providers must be alert to a patient’s verbal and

nonverbal cues to determine personal space

Eye Contact

Eye contact is affected by cultural beliefs

Lack of eye contact is usually interpreted as “not listening”

but in some cultures is a sign of respect

Health care workers must be alert to an individuals comfort

level when using direct eye contact and adjust accordingly

Gestures

Are used to communicate many things including agreement

or disagreement

Can vary among ethnic/cultural groups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWFPHW7BCCI

Health care providers must be aware of how a patient

responds to gestures and avoid any that seem to be offensive

Health Care Beliefs

Vary widely throughout all groups

Can affect an individuals response to health care

Most cultures have common conceptions regarding:

The cause of illness

Ways to maintain health

Appropriate response to pain

Effective methods of treatment

“Western” Medicine

or Biomedical Health Care

Based on the cause of disease and eliminating, treating, or

preventing those causes

Providers receive training and are licensed to practice as

professionals

Beliefs of this system include:

Encouraging patients to learn about their illness

Teaching self-care

Using medications and technology to treat illness

Teaching preventive care

Alternative Health Care Methods

Becoming more widely accepted in the US and includes:

Nutritional methods – organic, herbs, vitamins

Mind and body control methods – meditation,

hypnotherapy, biofeedback

Energetic touch therapy – massage, acupuncture,

acupressure

Body-movement methods - chiropractic, yoga, tai chi

Spiritual methods – faith healing

Spirituality

The beliefs individuals have about themselves, their

connections with others, and their relationship to a higher

power

Is often described as an individual’s need to find meaning in

life

Is often expressed through religious practices, but is not the

same thing as religion

Religion

An organized system of belief in a superhuman power or

higher power

Are associated with a particular form or place of worship

May include beliefs about birth, life, illness, death, and

dietary practices

Other Belief Systems

Atheist – a person who does not believe in any deity

Agnostic – an individual who believes that the existence of

God cannot be proved or disproved

Chain of diversity

You will take 2 colored strips of paper

Think of ways you are similar and ways you are

different from your classmates in this room.

On each strip, write down one similarity and one

difference.

You will share the information on one of your strips.

Now let’s form a “Chain of Diversity”

Respecting Cultural Diversity

Each individual must be regarded as a unique individual

Ways to achieve this goal is to:

Listen as patients express their beliefs

Appreciate individual different differences

Learn more about cultural and ethnic groups in your area

Recognize signs of prejudice, bias, or stereotyping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx4Ia-jatNQ

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT/BIG

QUESTIONS/BIG PICTURE

Why is it essential for health care workers to be sensitive to

different cultures, ethnic groups, and races?

What do you need to understand about your own biases,

prejudices, and stereotypical ideas about others?

How can YOU as a health care worker be respectful of

patients and co-workers who are culturally diverse?

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

POWERPOINT/FLIP BOOK PROJECT

Partners will be chosen by you but choose

carefully

You will choose an ethnic/cultural group.

You will create a powerpoint and construct a

flipbook and present to the class after spending 2

days in the library researching your chosen group.

You will have 1 extra day to construct your book.