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Cultural Diversity: A Primer for the Human Services
By Jerry V. Diller © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Chapter 1 Introduction © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Difference in the United States Today
Politics Ethnic perceptions in post-9/11 United States The election of Barack Obama Economy Economic downturn and recession’s effect on communities of color Disproportionate economic harm to minority populations © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Difference in the United States Today
Financial Discrimination Predatory lending practices and discrimination of mortgage lenders Redlining’s disproportionate effect on communities of color © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Community Facilities and Services
Consistently underutilized by culturally diverse clients Agencies inadvertently make clients uncomfortable or unwelcome Distrust of provider’s motives or abilities, informed by past experiences Belief that client will not be understood culturally, or have their needs met helpfully Unfamiliarity with services available, or different perception of available services © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Causes of Inadvertent Discrimination
Providers unaware of: Inadvertent communication of personal prejudices Cultural differences that can lead to miscommunication Culture-bound status of theories and training Traditional healing, cultural definitions of health and illness Need for matching treatment and practices to specific cultural needs © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Discrimination Beyond Refusal of Service
Unintentionally socializing clients to the norms of the dominant culture Educating clients to service alternatives and their possible consequences Unknowingly perpetuating dependence on provider to navigate the system © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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How Providers Can Avoid Discrimination
Empower clients to interact with the system from their own cultural perspective React personally and defensively to projection of cultural stereotypes by client Acknowledge the existence of cultural stereotypes and accordant reactions in the working alliance © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Terminology Cultural diversity Culture
The array of differences among groups of people with definable and unique cultural backgrounds When a client and provider are culturally diverse, they have been socialized in different ways and may find communication problematic Culture The lens through which life is perceived © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Terminology Ethnic group Racial group
Made up of distinguishable people whose members share a common culture and see themselves as separate and different from the majority culture Racial group A biologically isolated, inbreeding population with a distinctive genetic heritage © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Terminology People of color and clients of color refer to non-white people Communities of color refer to collectives of non-whites who share certain physical (racial), cultural, language, or geographic origins/features © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Terminology Whites refers to members of the dominant or majority group whose origins are Northern European White ethnics refers to dominant or majority group members whose origins are not Northern European © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Common Characteristics of Diverse Clients
Experience of belonging to a socially stigmatized group and being the object of discrimination Psychological harm and stress of this status, and the necessary adaptations made in order to survive © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Common Characteristics of Diverse Clients
Stress and harm from problems associated with prejudice and racism, such as poverty and crime Problems in ethnic or racial identification that are evident in clients who are non-white or white ethnic © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Process of Ethnic or Racial Identification
Attachment felt toward cultural group of origin Awareness individuals have of the impact of race or ethnicity on their lives © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Diversity Within and Across Ethnic Groups
Each ethnic group has a unique history Can be linked to unique problems within the members of the group Cultural myopia is attributing the same characteristics and circumstances to all members of an ethnic group Should be avoided © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Diversity Within and Across Ethnic Groups
To uncover cultural influences or identity dimensions, providers should: Assess the client’s individual demographic and cultural situation Become aware of the possible meaning for the individual client © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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