LearningGuide
Cultural diversity
Name:
Workplace:
Contents
Introduction
Culture and health
What is culture?
What is cultural diversity?
What is cultural safety?
Your own culture
Cultural diversity in your workplace
Your workplace
Spot the differences
Your organisation’s culture
Cultural stigma and discrimination
Stigma
Discrimination
Effects of stigma and discrimination
Supporting cultural diversity
Identifying strategies
Applying, evaluating and reviewing strategies
Self-reflection
Glossary
Cultural diversity (US 28989) Learning Guide © Careerforce – Issue 1.0 – December 2015
Introduction
This learning guide explains the impact that different cultures can have in the workplace and supporting cultural diversity.
How to use your learning guide
This guide supports your learning and prepares you for the unit standard assessment. The activities and scenarios should be used as a general guide for learning.
This guide relates to the following unit standard:
- 28989 Apply strategies to support cultural diversity in a health or wellbeing setting (level 4, 6 credits).
This guide is yours to keep. Make it your own by writing notes that help you remember things, or where you need to find more information.
Follow the tips in the notes column.
You may use highlight pens to mark important information and ideas, and think about how this information applies to your work.
You might find it helpful to talk to colleagues or your supervisor.
Finish this learning guide before you start on the assessment.
What you will learn
This topic will help you to:
- understand the important links between culture and health.
- understand culture, cultural diversity and cultural safety.
- be able to identify what your own culture is.
- consider the many ways in which cultures can differ.
- understand the impact these differences can have in your workplace.
- identify aspects ofthe culture of your organisation.
- identify and apply strategies to support cultural diversity in your workplace.
Culture and health
As a healthcare professional, you will work with many people – those who are accessing services, their family/whānau and your co-workers – whose cultures are different from your own.
A person’s culture can affect so many things about howthey see and experience the world that weall live in. These includetheir approach to health;their views and expectations of getting, understanding and accepting healthcare; and how theycommunicate and express themselves to others.
Your ability to see when a person’s culture is different from your own andthen choose how you will work with them and their family/whānaucan make a big difference to a person’s health.
Understanding and knowing how to work well with different cultures in a health or wellbeing setting is a very important part of doing your job well.
There are various laws, standards and guiding documentsin New Zealand –includingthe Treaty of Waitangi – that recognise the importance of being able to work effectively with other cultures.There is no doubt that these are very important skills to learn.
Let’s start by looking at what culture,cultural diversityand cultural safetymean.
What is culture?
Many people think of culture as being about‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’. But culture is much more than just which part of the world someone comes from.Culture also affectsmany other aspects of what a person identifies with, such as age,their abilities or disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, group affiliations and connections, and so on.
You could say that culture is about how a person sees themselves and/or how they think about and do things.
“Culture is essentially a convenient way of describing the ways members of a group understand each other and communicate that understanding. More often than not, the nuances of meaning are generated by behaviour rather than words, and much of the interaction between members is determined by shared values operating at an unconscious or ‘taken for granted’ level.”
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners,
on cultural competence
Many groups have their own cultures,which are very different from that of other groups – for example,the elderly, the poor, gangs, the army, teenagers, different races, different immigrant populations, members of a profession, homosexuals andlesbiansand so on.
What is cultural diversity?
Cultural diversity makes our world an interesting place to live.
Cultural diversity means a number of different cultures, societies or people of different origins, religions and traditions all living and interacting together –connecting, communicating or collaborating with one another in some way.
As a healthcare professional, you will most likely work in a very culturally diverse environment, with many people whose cultures are different from your own.
What is cultural safety?
Cultural safety is about providing an environment in whichthe cultural identity, background, needs and differences of every person are recognised and respected. People must be able to express themselves freely and safely,without being judged by others.
Speaking about cultural safety, the Nursing Council of New Zealand says that:
“The nurse delivering the nursing service will have undertaken a process of reflection on his or her own cultural identity and will recognise the impact that his or her personal culture has on his or her professional practice. Unsafe cultural practice comprises any action which diminishes, demeans or disempowers the cultural identity and wellbeing of an individual.”
The same can be said for any healthcare professional.The first step in developing ‘cultural competence’ – or a culturally safe environment – isto reflect on and understand what your own culture is.
We will look at this in the next section of this learning guide.
Key wordsculture / how a person identifies with aspects such as age, class, abilities and disabilities, ethnicity, gender, group affiliation/connection, sexual orientation, etc.
cultural diversity / a range of different societies or people from different origins, religions and traditions all living and interacting together
cultural competency / an awareness of cultural diversity and the ability to function effectively, and respectfully, when working with and supporting people of different cultural backgrounds
cultural safety / providing an environment where all individuals' cultural identity, background, needs and differences are recognised and respected
interact / to connect, communicate or collaborate with another
nuances / small differences
Your own culture
As humans, we all have our own culture – the different values, beliefs, attitudes and approaches that we have developed through our lives. Our family, friends, community and life experiences all provide us with a sense of who we are and how we view and interact with the world around us.
Let’s look more closely at some of the different parts or features of culture. A great way of doing this is to stop and think for a few minutes about what makes up your own culture.What are the things that give you the sense of who you are and how you view the world?
WriteWhat are some of the things that make up your own culture?
Some different features of culture are listed in the table below. Next to each one, write down how your own culture expresses that feature.
There are no right or wrong answers – just be honest with yourself and be willing to explore and reflect upon your own values, beliefs and attitudes.
Cultural feature / How your culture expresses the feature
Values
The principles, standards of behaviour and/or things that a person considers important in life. They guide the way we live and the decisions we make.
Beliefs
What a person accepts as true and believes in.
Use of language
The words a person uses and how they use them to get their point across.
Cultural practices
The traditions, customs and habits of people from a particular culture.
Accepted protocols
The accepted rules and behaviours for certain situations.
Gender roles
How someone thinks males and females should think, speak, dress and act in society, based on their gender.
Stigma
When someone views a situation or action as having shame, disgrace or dishonour associated with it.
Discrimination
When someone treats another person differently because of the person's gender, age, culture, etc.
Key words
accepted protocols / the accepted rules and behaviours for certain situations
beliefs / what a person accepts as true and believes in
cultural practices / the traditions, customs and habits of people from a particular culture
discrimination / when someone treats another person differently because of the person's gender, age, culture, etc.
gender roles / how someone thinks males and females should think, speak, dress and act in society, based on their gender
stigma / when someone views a situation or action as having shame, disgrace or dishonour associated with it
use of language / the words a person uses and how they use them to get their point across
values / the principles, standards of behaviour and/or things that a person considers important in life, that guide the way we live and the decisions we make
How did you go?
Here are some questions to ask yourself that might help you in completing the activity.
Cultural features / Questions to ask yourselfValues
The principles, standards of behaviour and/or things that a person considers important in life. They guide the way we live and the decisions we make. /
- What importance does family have for you?
- How do you see marriage and having children?
- What role do friendships play in your life?
- Is having other peoples’ approval important?
- What does success mean to you?
Beliefs
What a person accepts as true and believes in. /
- Do you have religious and spiritual beliefs?
- What are your family’s religious and spiritual beliefs?
- Do most people in your community have similar religious and spiritual beliefs as you or your family?
- How do your religious and spiritual beliefs influence your life?
Use of language
The words a person uses and how they use them to get their point across. /
- What is your native language?
- What other languages do you speak?
- Do you tend to use more formal or casual language?
- What slang or informal words do you use?
- What is your communication style?
Cultural practices
The traditions, customs and habits of people from a particular culture. /
- What culture or cultures do you identify with?
- What do you like or dislike about your culture, traditions, customs and habits?
- What other cultures interest you?
Accepted protocols
The accepted rules and behaviours of certain situations. /
- What are some of the things you consider to be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’?
Gender roles
How someone thinks males and females should think, speak, dress and act in society, etc., based on their gender. /
- How many friends do you have of the opposite sex?
- If you were a different gender, how might your life be different?
Stigma
When someone views a situation or action as having shame, disgrace or dishonour associated to it. /
- What situations or actions do you view as having shame, disgrace or dishonour associated with them?
Discrimination
When someone treats another person differently because of the person's gender, age, culture, etc. /
- Can you think of any situations where you might treat another person differentlybecause their culture is in some way different from your own? For example, when dealing with youth or an elderly person, someone from a different country or someone of the opposite sex or a different sexual orientation.
When you reflect on and understand your own values, beliefs and attitudes,you not only become aware of what makes up your own culture, but also gain an understanding of:
- how your culture might influenceyour behaviour.
- how the way you see the world can be very different from the way other people see it.
This knowledge will help you to work more effectively with other people, so that you can provide them with the best possible care.
Question
How does your culture affect your attitudes at work?
How does your culture affect how you interact with others?
In the next section, we will consider cultural diversity in your workplace.
Cultural diversityin your workplace
In your job you will come into contact with many different cultural groups – for example, elderly people, Māori, Europeans, people living with Alzheimer’s disease, Asian or Pasifika people, registered nurses, care workers, kitchen staff and so on.
As we have already seen, culture can affect the way a person or groups of people typically look at, think about, interact with, behave, form opinions and make decisions about situations and things. These differences can have an impact on your workplace.
Think about
Think about this workplace scenario on cultural diversity.Scenario: Julietta
All staff have been asked to attend an important meeting at 10a.m. You reorganised your schedule so that you could attend and so feel annoyed when Julietta turns up half an hour late. She says that she got caught up in a conversation with somebody else.
Cultural difference–Julietta’s culture might mean that she views time differently than you do. To her, finishing a conversation with someone about caring for a client may be far more important than being on time for a team meeting.
Workplace impact–However, because the meeting couldn’t start until Julietta got there, the late start has put you and everyone else at the meeting half an hour behind for the rest of the day.
Key words
impact / something that has an effect on what happens
Your workplace
Now let’s look at your own workplace and some of the cultural groupsto be found there.
WriteWhat different cultural groups can you identify in your own work environment? Write down at least threedifferent cultural groupsin your workplace.
Next, we will start thinking about how the differences between these groups and your own culture might impact your workplace environment.
Spot the differences
Read the following workplacescenario andthink about these questions:
- How is the person’s culturedifferent from your own?
- How could these cultural differences impactyour workplace and/or the person’s healthcare experience?
Scenario: Carl
You support Carl, a 26-year-old intellectually disabled man who lives in community-based housing. He has reduced language and speaking skills as a result of his disability.
Carl doesn’t have any family nearby. His father passed away and his mother lives in another country and makes little effort to see him. Carl relies heavily on support workers to help him.
Carl often tells you that he misses his father. When his father was alive they would go to the local AP Show every summer. He tells you that his favourite things are the smell of hot dogs and riding the ferris wheel in the fairground.
Carl is very physically amorous – he likes to show the people around him (men and woman) love and affection in a physical way. He also believes in the power of love, in showing it and sharing it. He is determined to have as much of it as possible, and thinks a lot about sex and having it. This seems to upset some people who are against intellectually disabled people having sex.
From reading this scenario you mighthave noted the following cultural differences and possible impacts on your workplace and/or the healthcare that the personreceives.
Notes on the scenario
Cultural feature / Examples of differences and possible impactsValues
The principles, standards of behaviour or what someone considers to be important in life. / Cultural difference:Carl’s father has passed away.His mother lives in another country and makes little effort to see him. Carl receives very little support from his family. Support workers are the people Carl relies on the most and he appreciates them being there to help him with things.
Workplace impact: Others may mistakenly assume that family plays a central role in Carl’s life. The result of this could be that Carl does not receive the level of support that he needs.
Beliefs
What a person accepts as true and believes in. / Cultural difference:Carl believes in the power of love, in showing it and sharing it. He is determined to have as much of it as possible, and thinks a lot about sex and having it.
Workplace impact:Some people may consider it immoral and bad for an intellectually disabled person to be involved in a love relationship, especially when they are sexually active.
Use of language
The words a person uses and how they use them to get their point across. / Cultural difference:Carl has reduced language and speaking skills as a result of his disability.
Workplace impact:Carl’s communication difficulties may present difficulties in gaining access to the services he needs.
Cultural practices
The traditions, customs and habits of people from a particular culture. / Cultural difference:When Carl’s father was alive, it was a longstanding tradition for them to go to the annual AP Show together every summer. To this day, Carl loves the smell of hot dogs and riding the ferris wheel in the fairground.
Workplace impact:Given Carl’s intellectual disability and reduced communication skills, healthcare workers may not bother to try and find out about Carl’s cultural traditions or what they mean to him.
Accepted protocols
The accepted rules and behaviours of certain situations. / Cultural difference: Carl is very amorous by nature – he is very ‘touchy-feely’ and likes to show plenty of love and affection towards other people in a physical way.
Workplace impact: If your culture is different from Carl’s you might not like other people touching you or being in your personal space. Carl’s very physical way of showing affection might be uncomfortable for you and other healthcare workers.
Gender roles
How someone thinks males and females should think, speak, dress and act in society, etc., based on gender. / Cultural difference:Carl is very physically amorous – he likes to show the people around him (men and woman) love and affection in a physical way. His father passed away and his mother lives in another country. Carl didn’t have a father figure to teach him how to act around other men.
Workplace impact:Healthcare workers may assume that Carl is gay and male healthcare workers may not feel comfortable supporting Carl.
Stigma
When someone views a situation or action as having shame, disgrace or dishonour associated to it. / See ‘Accepted protocols’ above.
Carl may also be stigmatised simply for being intellectually disabled, something he has no choice about.
Discrimination
When someone treats another person differently because of the person's gender, age, culture, etc. / Cultural difference:Carl is intellectually disabled.
Workplace impact: Carl is likely to experience discrimination from healthcare workers and the wider community as a result of his disability. This may make it difficult for him to:
- receive the services he needs.
- have the friendship and affection he needs, resulting inloneliness and isolation.
- have enough opportunities to lead a full social, economic, cultural and spiritual life.
Now it’s your turn.