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Cultural diversity: Why we should respect other cultures

With approximately 190 countries and 7 billion people on earth, it is not hard to imagine that many diverse cultures exist..

By Dr. Asim Shah|DMN Contributors Network

9:57 AM on Feb 1, 2017 CST

With approximately 190 countries and 7 billion people on earth, it is not hard to imagine that many diverse cultures exist. Here in the U.S., our cultural landscape has been shaped by Native Americans and by African, Latin American, Polynesian, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. This is the reason that the term "melting pot" fits our country, as different cultures have contributed distinct flavors.

Like many others, I came to this country when I was young, in my case in my 20s. While we adapted with most cultural norms here in the U.S., some of us have kept a few from our origin, and this has been the beauty of this country — it lets you assimilate easily in its culture, while keeping your distinct identity. To me, cultural diversity means merging different cultures; introducing good aspects of your culture to others, but also accepting the positives of a new culture.

Culture shapes our identity and influences our behaviors, and cultural diversity makes us accept, and even to some extent, integrate and assimilate with other cultures. Cultural diversity has become very important in today's world. Whether we work or study or even stay at home, our chances of interacting with people from various races, ethnic groups and cultures is far greater now than it has been ever before.

By learning about people of different cultural backgrounds, we can increase our horizons, have better interpersonal dialogue and communicate more on a personal level.

If you put aside any prejudices or biases you might have and you are open to other people, it can help prepare you to listen, talk and learn about other people and their cultures.

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One of the most important first steps people can take to learn about other cultures is to simply accept that there are many different cultures other than their own. We need to start thinking about the positives of different cultures and how surrounding ourselves with diverse groups of people can enrich our life.Sometimes a person might not know very much about geography or history but by mingling and mixing with people from other cultures, they are given the opportunity to possibly learn about the geography, religion and customs of different countries. Being open to learning about different cultures also can encourage people to have diverse friend groups that include people of all different races, ethnicities, religions and sexual orientations.

For those who want to learn about other cultures, but do not know where to start, a great place to start is picking up a book and reading about the cultures that interest them, or doing research online from reputable sites. The best way to learn, though, is through face-to-face interaction with a person of the culture you would like to learn more about. Most of us enjoy one aspect of cultural diversity, which is food from different cultures and regions, and this can also be a good way to start learning about new cultures.

Diversity is not only important for adults, but children should be learning about different cultures too, especially those who live in diverse cities such as Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago or Miami. It is extremely important for adults to teach kids to be accepting of different cultures because if children are not taught, then they become more close-minded.

This can lead to issues at school and even lead to bullying. Kids are still forming opinions, so it is essential that they are taught to be accepting while they are young. Parents or family members need to sit down and talk with children as well as present them with easy to understand data, and talk about the importance of cultural diversity. For example, if you live in Houston like I do, you can visit the website for the recently created Office of New Americans and find lots of facts about the diversity in Houston and present that to your child. If you are able to explain the importance of diversity to children and show them how diverse the world is, you can help them to be more open minded toward people of different cultural backgrounds.

In today's world if we all are able to respect and know about other cultures, and respect their values and belief, life would be easier for most of us, and we can learn a lot of good things from each other. I know that I have learned a lot in this process, and I continue to learn each and every day.

Dr. Asim Shah, is professor and vice chair for Community Psychiatry in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Asim Shah|DMN Contributors Network

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Cultural Awareness—How to Be More Culturally Aware & Improve Your Relationships

Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons.

Ivy Kwong, LMFT, is a psychotherapist specializing in relationships, love and intimacy, trauma and codependency, and AAPI mental health.  

The Importance of Cultural Awareness

How to be more culturally aware, what if i say the wrong thing, cultural awareness and sensitivity in intercultural/interracial relationships, can i ask someone to help me learn about their culture, pitfalls of not developing cultural awareness.

Cultural awareness, sometimes referred to as  cultural sensitivity , is defined by the NCCC (National Center for Cultural Competence) as being cognizant, observant, and conscious of the similarities and differences among and between cultural groups.

Becoming more culturally aware is a continual process and it can help to have curiosity, an open mind, a willingness to ask questions, a desire to learn about the differences that exist between cultures, and an openness to becoming conscious of one’s own culturally shaped values, beliefs, perceptions, and biases.

The Value of Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness is important because it allows us to see and respect other perspectives and to appreciate the inherent value of people who are different than we are. It leads to better relationships, healthier work environments, and a stronger, more compassionate society.

Read on to learn more about cultural awareness, including the impacts it can have, how to become more culturally aware, how to approach conversations about cultural awareness, and how to address cultural awareness in intercultural relationships.

Cultural awareness involves learning about cultures that are different from your own. But it’s also about being respectful about these differences, says  Natalie Page  Ed.D., chief diversity officer at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. “It’s about being sensitive to the similarities and differences that can exist between different cultures and using this sensitivity to effectively communicate without prejudice and racism,” she explains.

5 Reasons Why Cultural Awareness Is Important

Here are five reasons why it’s important to become more culturally aware:

• When you strive to become more culturally aware, you gain knowledge and information about different cultures, which leads to greater cultural competence, says Dr. Page
• Engaging in cultural awareness makes you more sensitive to the differences between cultures that are different than your own, Dr. Page says; you also become less judgmental of people who are different than you.
• Studies have found that greater cultural awareness in the workplace leads to an overall better workplace culture for everyone involved.
• Research has found that cultural awareness creates better outcomes for people in healthcare environments, and in other environments where people are receiving care from others.
• According to Nika White, PhD, author of Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide to Simplify DEI , cultural awareness can improve your interpersonal relationships. “Just like any other relationship, you must understand their culture to truly understand someone’s lived experiences and how they show up to the world,” Dr. White describes.

Knowing about the importance of being more culturally aware is one thing, but actually taking steps to do so is something else.

It’s about being sensitive to the similarities and differences that can exist between different cultures and using this sensitivity to effectively communicate without prejudice and racism.

Here are a few tips for how to go about becoming more culturally aware.

Understand That It’s a Process

“Becoming culturally aware is a process that is fluid, birthed out of a desire to learn more about other cultures,” says Dr. Page.

She says it can be helpful to study the model laid out by Dr. Ibram Kendi, the author of How To Be An Antiracist . Dr. Kendi says that there are basically three paths to growing cultural awareness:

• “The first is moving from the fear zone, where you are afraid and would rather stay in your own culture comfort zone,” Dr. Page describes.
• Next is moving into the learning zone, where you strive to learn about different cultures, how people acquire their cultures, and culture's important role in personal identities, practices, and mental and physical health of individuals and communities. The learning zone can also include becoming more aware of your own culturally shaped values, beliefs, and biases and how they impact the way you see yourself and others.
• “The last phase is the growth zone, where you grow in racial advocacy and allyship,” says Dr. Page.

Ask Questions

Dr. White says that asking questions is a vital part of becoming more culturally aware. You can start by asking yourself some important questions, such as: “How is my culture affecting how I interact with and perceive others?” Dr. White suggests.

You can also respectfully ask others about their lives. But make sure the exchanges aren’t one-sided, she recommends: when you ask others about their cultures, tell them about yours, too. “Tell your own stories to engage, build relationships, find common ground, and become more culturally aware of someone from a different culture,” she says.

Educate Yourself and Do the Work

There’s no way around it: if you want to become more culturally aware, you need to take action and educate yourself.

“Don’t lean on assumptions,” says Dr. White. “Actually research cultures different from yours.” This can help you become more aware of how culture affects every aspect of your life and the lives of others. In addition to research, educating yourself often involves seeking and participating in meaningful interactions with people of differing cultural backgrounds. “Expand your network to include people from different cultures into your circle,” Dr. White recommends.

Study the Cultural Competence Continuum Model

The Cultural Competence Continuum Model is an assessment tool that helps us understand where people are on their journey to becoming more culturally competent.

Different people fall into various categories along the continuum. Categories include cultural destructiveness, cultural incapacity, cultural blindness, cultural pre-competence, cultural competence, and cultural proficiency.

Studying this model can help us become more aware of the process of moving toward more cultural sensitivity, and become more patient with ourselves and others as we move through the process.

Acknowledge Your Own Bias

We all have our own biases when it comes to cultural awareness, because we all begin by looking at the world and at others through our own cultural lens.

It is important to acknowledge this as it can help us see how our cultural  biases  may prevent us from being as culturally sensitive as we wish to be.

Often, people don’t want to address topics having to do with culture or race because they are afraid they will say the wrong thing or make a mistake while talking to someone.

The truth is, most people make mistakes on their journey toward cultural awareness, and that’s understandable, says Dr. Page.

“If you make a mistake, simply apologize and let the person that you may have offended know that you are learning and be open to any suggestions they may have,” she recommends. Sometimes it even makes sense to apologize in advance, if you are saying something you are unsure of. You can say, “I may have this wrong, so I apologize beforehand but…” Dr. Page suggests. “The key is to be sincere in your conversations and always open to learning from others,” she says.

Making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process and it is important to approach these topics and conversations with shared respect, compassion, and grace.

If you are in a relationship with someone who is of a different race or culture than you, it’s important to have open, honest discussions about this. “If a person is going to grow in interracial and intercultural relationships, you have to step out of your cultural comfort zone and seek an understanding about other cultures,” says Dr. Page.

Questions to Ask Someone to Learn About Their Culture

Having a genuine discussion with someone about your differences can feel awkward, and it can be helpful to kick-start the conversation with a few open-ended questions. Dr. White shared some helpful questions:

• Can you tell me about your culture?
• Tell me a little something about how you were raised?
• What role does religion play in your life?

Here are some additional questions that could be asked with respect and consent, to another (and also to yourself!):

• What holidays and celebrations are important in your culture?
• What customs and etiquette are important in your culture?
• What is your favorite food in your culture?
• Is religion an important part of life in your culture? If so, what religion do people practice most often and why do you think that is?
• How do you express your cultural identity?
• What stereotypes or misconceptions do people from your culture often face and what do you wish more people knew?
• Is there anything about your culture that you find challenging?
• How has your culture changed over time?
• How do you think your culture has influenced your personal values and beliefs?
• What is the importance of family in your culture?

One of the important ways to develop culture awareness is to educate yourself about other cultures. Learning directly from people of different cultures is a fantastic way to get authentic information. But it’s important to engage in conversations with others about their cultures in respectful , appropriate manners.

When you decide to ask others about their culture, be mindful that they may not want to answer, and know that that’s okay, says Dr. White. It’s also important to make the conversation a two-way street. Don’t just ask them about their culture—talk about your culture as well. “Share your culture first to model the behavior and let others know it is safe to talk about their culture,” Dr. White suggests.

Finally, make sure to take it upon yourself to do some of the work. “Once you learn of someone’s culture you wish to cultivate a relationship with, do your homework to learn as much as you can,” Dr. White says. Don't simply rely on others to educate you—this may be seen as insensitive, Dr. White says.

The main pitfalls of not developing cultural awareness is that we don’t expand our understanding of other cultures, we don’t deepen our relationship with people who are different than we are, and that we risk continuing to have a narrow view of the world around us. 

“We live in an ever-changing diverse world,” Dr. Page says. “We rob ourselves when we only hang out with people from our cultural groups. We have to branch out and experience the beauty that others bring.”

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By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons.

How to show respect towards people from other cultures

Learn to understand and appreciate people from every walk of life.

As you get older, you’ll meet a wider range of people from diverse cultures – not just from around the world, but sometimes within your own town or country! If you haven’t met many people whose backgrounds are very different from yours, it can be hard to know how to respectfully engage with their culture. This guide offers some tips for learning more about them, and about yourself.

‘Culture’ is a complex idea. We often use the term to refer to things like food, holidays, clothing, music, and religion, but it also goes much deeper than that. Behaviours, customs, beliefs, and values are also part of your culture. So when we meet people from different backgrounds, we can sometimes find that there are big differences in how we see the world, even if we dress in a similar way or speak the same language. 

Know your own culture

One of the best ways to understand other people’s cultures is to first examine your own. Most of us take our background for granted and don’t even realise that our customs and beliefs might seem strange to someone else. If you think of your own way of life as the default and everyone else’s as a strange variation, it’s hard to approach those differences with respect. 

What are your beliefs about the world, and about how people should treat each other? Are any of them informed by your own culture and the way you were brought up? What behaviours define you, and would any of them seem odd or unusual to someone with a different culture? 

For example: do you take your shoes off when you go inside? It’s a simple thing, but it’s a huge marker of culture! In Japan, you would never go inside without swapping your outdoor shoes for slippers, whereas in the United States, many people don’t bother taking their shoes off when they come in. 

These aren’t always easy questions to answer, but stopping to think about them is so important to understanding your place in the world, which will help you understand other people better too.

Maybe you’ve recently met someone from a different culture, or you’re curious about how different people live. Here are some ways to learn more.

• Make friends. Get to know your friends’ families and see how their customs and traditions differ from yours. You might be surprised to find how culturally different two people living even in the same town can be!  
• Talk to people. When you meet people from a different culture, ask them about their lives. But be polite about it and remember that they don’t owe you an answer, and might not want to give it – not everyone wants to explain everything about their culture, and if they’re a minority in the area, they might get asked the same questions a lot. Only ask if you have genuine interest in them as a person, not just as an example of their culture.  
• Read . Seek out books by and about people who are different from you. Memoirs, biographies, and other non-fiction books are an obvious way to learn about the facts of a country or someone’s life, but also try to read novels that have been translated from other languages or written by people who might have a very different perspective on life in your own country.  
• Watch movies . Like with books, you can watch documentaries and non-fiction series; check out other kinds of films, too. You get a more varied and nuanced perspective on a culture by seeing the kinds of fictional stories they tell.  
• Listen to radio shows and podcasts . Radio and podcasts often feature people in more informal conversation, which is another great way to get an insider’s perspective on a different culture.  
• Explore. Immersing yourself in a completely different culture through travel is an amazing way to understand how different other ways of life can be. But even if you don’t have the time or money to visit different countries, you can find pockets of other cultures in your hometown. Wherever you live, there are probably immigrant communities or neighbourhoods with their own cultural heritage.

The more you learn, the more accustomed you get to greeting cultural differences with curiosity rather than suspicion.

Don’t stereotype

Sometimes, learning a lot about a different culture through books, movies, or even travel and friends can lead you into a different trap: stereotyping. 

You may think you know a lot about a culture or place, and sometimes that can make it tempting to show off your knowledge when you meet someone from that background… but it’s a problem to assume that everyone from one particular culture has the same perspectives and experiences. These assumptions can be pretty small and harmless — for example, not every Jewish person was raised observing kosher dietary restrictions, and not every English person loves football — but they can also be harmful if your assumptions about someone’s traditions or beliefs lead you to pre-judge or discriminate against them. 

These assumptions make people feel like you don’t see them as a human or an individual, just as a representative of an exotic culture. You’d be annoyed if someone thought they knew everything about you based on where you’re from or who your parents are, so don’t do it to other people, even if you think you understand their culture really well. 

Appreciate the differences

Differences between us are what make life so interesting. So embrace the differences between yourself and your friends from different cultures, but remember that what might be a fascinating difference to you is just their normal life! 

The best way to respect people from other cultures is to strike a balance between curiosity and appreciation: ask questions if your friends are open to it, but also learn how to just silently observe and appreciate the differences that make us unique.

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Quality Education pp 1–10 Cite as

Understanding Cultural Diversity and Diverse Identities

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ((ENUNSDG))

Cross-cultural communication ; Dialogue ; Multiculturalism ; Pluralism

Definitions

Cultural diversity is a debatable, open-ended term, which generally refers to a reality of coexistence of diverse knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, religions, languages, abilities and disabilities, genders, ethnicities, races, nationalities, sexual orientations, etc., of human beings. It could extend to the way people react to this reality and the way people choose to live together with this reality.

Cultural Diversity and Identity

Introduction.

People are divided by several factitious categories and partitions, such as identity politics, around the world where all cultural groups feel their members are to some extent being attacked, bullied, persecuted, and discriminated against. Whether people admit it or not, and whether government hide it or not, it is a fact that people are full of diversity in terms of gender, social class, ethnicity, race, language, abilities and disabilities,...

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Lin, C. (2019). Understanding Cultural Diversity and Diverse Identities. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A., Brandli, L., Özuyar, P., Wall, T. (eds) Quality Education. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69902-8_37-1

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How universities can teach their students to respect different cultures

Director Internationalisation. Lead on Internationalisation of Curriculum for International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), Rhodes University

Research Scholar in Education and Executive Director, Association of International Education Administrators, Duke University

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Universities are diverse spaces. Their students are of different races and religions, belong to different socioeconomic groups and are even geographically different: some come from cities, others from rural areas and still more from completely different countries. With such exposure to difference, students have the unique opportunity to learn from others.

South Africa’s universities, however, are struggling when it comes to this sort of learning. Most, like their peers on the continent and globally, commit themselves publicly to core values such as diversity and global citizenship. Yet they are missing out on developing students’ intercultural competence, which is key to bringing those core values to life.

Intercultural competence is a combination of skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to engage successfully across difference. It’s what is required to get along at an interpersonal level with those who may not seem like us. Universities have an important role to play in developing this competence. Doing so can help equip graduates for living and working in the 21st century.

Focusing on intercultural competence can also encourage the kind of often hard discussions that will benefit South Africa in the long run. Apartheid physically kept people apart and this legacy persists , meaning that really getting to know different people is unlikely to happen organically for most South Africans. Educational institutions, at all levels, become key sites of intentional interactions and potential interventions that facilitate deeper connections with each other.

Formal lessons

Teaching intercultural competence can happen both formally – in the classroom and through the curriculum – and informally, through students’ activities and their daily lives in university residences and around campus.

Right now, it’s often language and business students who are primarily engaging with ideas of intercultural competence in class. For example, students learning Mandarin are also taught about Chinese culture and customs. Those who hope to work elsewhere in Africa will learn about other countries’ business customs so they do not accidentally offend a potential client. In these examples, the focus is on how to engage internationally. Not much is done to encourage respectful, nuanced interactions with fellow South Africans.

In the formal curriculum, universities should be examining what is taught, how it is taught and who is being taught in regard to intercultural learning, both domestically and internationally. For example, in medicine, intercultural competence might include providing similar scenarios with patients from a variety of cultural backgrounds and belief systems from within South Africa. This might affect whether a patient is addressed formally or informally, or whether certain foods can be prescribed as part of a diet. It will involve teaching students that some people may refuse blood transfusions or organ donations on religious grounds. Such heightened cultural awareness will aid students in approaching patients in ways that are open and respectful.

Teachers must also understand that all students arrive from different places and at different stages in their cultural development. Lecturers need to appropriately engage all students in the classroom to ensure that, at the end of their degrees, students can communicate intelligently and appropriately across cultures in order to begin moving beyond their own stereotypes and prejudiced views.

While these formal interventions are important, there is also a lot that can be done beyond the classroom to develop students’ intercultural competence.

Informal learning

Universities can boost intercultural competence elsewhere on campus, as much learning occurs outside the classroom.

Here’s a simple example: instead of providing only traditional spoons, knives and forks in dining halls, universities could offer students the opportunity to experience other meal utensils that may be unfamiliar to them, such as chopsticks or even their hands – students can learn that each is an equally valued but different way of consuming a meal.

Elsewhere, conversations could be facilitated around common interests, favourite memories or inspirational people. Through exploring commonalities, students begin to realise that they may have more in common with diverse others than not.

Tough personal questions

Being interculturally competent requires a commitment to an ongoing engagement with learning about ourselves and others. It requires doing some of the “hard work” on ourselves to become open human beings who can really live a life of interconnectedness – embracing learning about others and valuing others as fellow humans, regardless of differences that may seem to divide us. We need to ask ourselves questions such as, “How can I begin moving beyond my own biases? How can I engage those with whom I feel uncomfortable? How I can show my respect for those with whom I deeply disagree?”

A first step in this work might be to remember that we are all in this together and that our actions affect each other. Universities, individual students and staff members need to ask how they can practice these ideas in their daily lives and interactions with each other.

Another step is to remember that people are each so much more than one identity – and to instead begin seeing each other as richly complex humans. What are the multiple identities we each hold? How are we similar to each other and what do we have in common?

Third, we all need to have the courage to move beyond our comfort zones in beginning to get to know others who may not look, talk or think like us.

Constructive, transformative engagement

Focusing on intercultural competence may seem like a strange priority to those who have been watching South Africa’s student groundswell since late 2015. Why should universities focus on intercultural competence when there is other work to be done? Because, we’d argue, developing such competencies will allow people from different backgrounds to begin to engage constructively with each other at deeper and more transformative levels.

Such mutual engagement is good for university graduates, universities and the country as a whole as they work through the many issues South Africans must address.

• Multiculturalism
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• Student diversity
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• Section 2. Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures

Chapter 27 Sections

• Section 1. Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities
• Section 3. Healing from the Effects of Internalized Oppression
• Section 4. Strategies and Activities for Reducing Racial Prejudice and Racism
• Section 5. Learning to be an Ally for People from Diverse Groups and Backgrounds
• Section 6. Creating Opportunities for Members of Groups to Identify Their Similarities, Differences, and Assets
• Section 7. Building Culturally Competent Organizations
• Section 8. Multicultural Collaboration
• Section 9. Transforming Conflicts in Diverse Communities
• Section 10. Understanding Culture, Social Organization, and Leadership to Enhance Engagement
• Section 11. Building Inclusive Communities
• Main Section

Relationships are powerful. Our one-to-one connections with each other are the foundation for change. And building relationships with people from different cultures, often many different cultures , is key in building diverse communities that are powerful enough to achieve significant goals.

Whether you want to make sure your children get a good education, bring quality health care into your communities, or promote economic development, there is a good chance you will need to work with people from several different racial, language, ethnic, or economic groups. And in order to work with people from different cultural groups effectively, you will need to build sturdy and caring relationships based on trust, understanding, and shared goals.

Why? Because trusting relationships are the glue that hold people together as they work on a common problem. As people work on challenging problems, they will have to hang in there together when things get hard. They will have to support each other to stay with an effort, even when it feels discouraging. People will have to resist the efforts of those who use divide-and-conquer techniques--pitting one cultural group against another.

Regardless of your racial, ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic group, you will probably need to establish relationships with people whose group you may know very little about.

Each one of us is like a hub of a wheel. Each one of us can build relationships and friendships around ourselves that provide us with the necessary strength to achieve community goals. If each person builds a network of diverse and strong relationships, we can come together and solve problems that we have in common.

In this section, we are going to talk about:

• Becoming aware of your own culture as a first step in learning about other people's culture.
• Building relationships with people from many different cultures.

But first let's talk about what culture is . Culture is a complex concept, with many different definitions. But, simply put, "culture" refers to a group or community with which we share common experiences that shape the way we understand the world . It includes groups that we are born into, such as race, national origin, class, or religion. It can also include groups we join or become part of. For example, we can acquire a new culture by moving to a new region, by a change in our economic status, or by becoming disabled. When we think of culture this broadly we realize we all belong to many cultures at once. Do you agree? How might this apply to you?

How do you learn about people's cultures?

Start by becoming aware of your own culture..

It may seem odd that in order to learn about people in other cultures, we start by becoming more aware of our own culture. But we believe this is true. Why?

If you haven't had a chance to understand how your culture has affected you first hand, it's more difficult to understand how it could affect anyone else or why it might be important to them. If you are comfortable talking about your own culture, then you will become better at listening to others talk about theirs. Or, if you understand how discrimination has affected you, then you may be more aware of how it has affected others.

Here are some tips on how to becoming more aware of your own culture:

What is your culture?

Do you have a culture? Do you have more than one? What is your cultural background?

Even if you don't know who your ancestors are, you have a culture. Even if you are a mix of many cultures, you have one. Culture evolves and changes all the time. It came from your ancestors from many generations ago, and it comes from your family and community today.

In addition to the cultural groups we belong to, we also each have groups we identify with, such as being a parent, an athlete, an immigrant, a small business owner, or a wage worker. These kinds of groups, although not exactly the same as a culture, have similarities to cultural groups. For example, being a parent or and an immigrant may be an identity that influences how you view the world and how the world views you. Becoming aware of your different identities can help you understand what it might be like to belong to a cultural group.

Exercise: Try listing all the cultures and identities you have: (This is just a list of suggestions to get you started. Add as many as you think describe you.) What is your: Religion Nationality Race Sexual identity Ethnicity Occupation Marital status Age Geographic region Are you: A female A male Nonbinary or genderqueer Disabled From an urban area From a rural area A parent A student Have you ever been: In the military Poor In prison Wealthy In the middle class In the working class

Did this help you think about your identities and cultures? How have these different cultures and identities affected your life?

How do you build relationships with people from other cultures?

There are many ways that people can learn about other people's cultures and build relationships at the same time. Here are some steps you can take. They are first listed, and then elaborated upon one at a time.

• Make a conscious decision to establish friendships with people from other cultures.
• Put yourself in situations where you will meet people of other cultures.

Examine your biases about people from other cultures.

• Ask people questions about their cultures, customs, and views.
• Read about other people's culture's and histories

Listen to people tell their stories

• Notice differences in communication styles and values; don't assume that the majority's way is the right way

Risk making mistakes

• Learn to be an ally.

Make a conscious decision to establish friendships with people from other cultures

Making a decision is the first step. In order to build relationships with people different from yourself, you have to make a concerted effort to do so. There are societal forces that serve to separate us from each other. People from different economic groups, religions, ethnic groups, and races are often isolated from each other in schools, jobs, and neighborhoods. So, if we want things to be different, we need to take active steps to make them different.

You can join a sports team or club, become active in an organization, choose a job, or move to a neighborhood that puts you in contact with people of cultures different than your own. Also, you may want to take a few minutes to notice the diversity that is presently nearby. If you think about the people you see and interact with every day, you may become more aware of the cultural differences that are around you.

Once you have made the decision to make friends with people different from yourself, you can go ahead and make friends with them in much the same way as with anyone else. You may need to take more time, and you may need to be more persistent. You may need to reach out and take the initiative more than you are used to. People who have been mistreated by society may take more time to trust you than people who haven't. Don't let people discourage you. There are good reasons why people have built up defenses, but it is not impossible to overcome them and make a connection. The effort is totally worth it.

Put yourself in situations where you will meet people of other cultures; especially if you haven't had the experience of being a minority, take the risk.

One of the first and most important steps is to show up in places where you will meet people of cultures other than your own. Go to meetings and celebrations of groups whose members you want to get to know. Or hang out in restaurants and other gathering places that different cultural groups go. You may feel embarrassed or shy at first, but your efforts will pay off. People of a cultural group will notice if you take the risk of coming to one of their events. If it is difficult for you to be the only person like yourself attending, you can bring a buddy with you and support each other in making friends. At these events, it is important to participate, but make sure you do not become the center of the event in order to lift up the voices and actions of the people leading the event.

We all carry misinformation and stereotypes about people in different cultures. Especially, when we are young, we acquire this information in bits and pieces from TV, from listening to people talk, and from the culture at large. We are not bad people because we acquired this; no one requested to be misinformed. But in order to build relationships with people of different cultures, we have to become aware of the misinformation we acquired.

An excellent way to become aware of your own stereotypes is to pick groups that you generalize about and write down your opinions. Once you have, examine the thoughts that came to your mind and where you acquired them.

Another way to become aware of stereotypes is to talk about them with people who have similar cultures to your own. In such settings you can talk about the misinformation you acquired without being offensive to people from a particular group. You can get together with a friend or two and talk about how you acquired stereotypes or fears of other different people. You can answer these kinds of questions:

• How did your parents feel about different ethnic, racial, or religious groups?
• What did your parents communicate to you with their actions and words?
• Were your parents friends with people from many different groups?
• What did you learn in school about a particular group?
• Was there a lack of information about some people?
• Are there some people you shy away from? Why?

Ask people questions about their cultures, customs, and views

People, for the most part, want to be asked questions about their lives and their cultures. Many of us were told that asking questions was nosy; but if we are thoughtful, asking questions can help you learn about people of different cultures and help build relationships. People are usually pleasantly surprised when others show interest in their cultures. If you are sincere and you can listen, people will tell you a lot.

Read about other people's cultures and histories

It helps to read about and learn about people's cultures and histories. If you know something about the reality of someone's life and history, it shows that you care enough to take the time to find out about it. It also gives you background information that will make it easier to ask questions that make sense.

However, you don't have to be an expert on someone's culture to get to know them or to ask questions. People who are, themselves, from a culture are usually the best experts, anyway.

Don't forget to care and show caring

It is easy to forget that the basis of any relationship is caring. Everyone wants to care and be cared about. Caring about people is what makes a relationship real. Don't let your awkwardness around cultural differences get in the way of caring about people.

If you get an opportunity to hear someone tell you her life story first hand, you can learn a lot--and build a strong relationship at the same time. Every person has an important story to tell. Each person's story tells something about their culture.

Listening to people's stories, we can get a fuller picture of what people's lives are like--their feelings, their nuances, and the richness of their lives. Listening to people also helps us get through our numbness-- there is a real person before us, not someone who is reduced to stereotypes in the media.

Additionally, listening to members of groups that have been discriminated against can give us a better understanding of what that experience is like. Listening gives us a picture of discrimination that is more real than what we can get from reading an article or listening to the radio.

Exercise: You can informally ask people in your neighborhood or organization to tell you a part of their life stories as a member of a particular group. You can also incorporate this activity into a workshop or retreat for your group or organization. Have people each take five or ten minutes to talk about one piece of their life stories. If the group is large, you will probably have to divide into small groups, so everyone gets a chance to speak.

Notice differences in communication styles and values; don't assume that the majority's way is the right way.

We all have a tendency to assume that the way that most people do things is the acceptable, normal, or right way. As community workers, we need to learn about cultural differences in values and communication styles, and not assume that the majority way is the right way to think or behave.

Example: You are in a group discussion. Some group members don't speak up, while others dominate, filling all the silences. The more vocal members of the group become exasperated that others don't talk. It also seems that the more vocal people are those that are members of the more mainstream culture, while those who are less vocal are from minority cultures. How do we understand this? How can this be resolved? In some cultures, people feel uncomfortable with silence, so they speak to fill the silences. In other cultures, it is customary to wait for a period of silence before speaking. If there aren't any silences, people from those cultures may not ever speak. Also, members of some groups (women, people of low income, some racial and ethnic minorities, and others) don't speak up because they have received messages from society at large that their contribution is not as important as others; they have gotten into the habit of deferring their thinking to the thinking of others. When some people don't share their thinking, we all lose out. We all need the opinions and voices of those people who have traditionally been discouraged from contributing. In situations like the one described above, becoming impatient with people for not speaking is usually counter-productive. However, you can structure a meeting to encourage the quieter people to speak. For example, you can: Have people break into pairs before discussing a topic in the larger group. At certain times have each person in the circle make a comment. (People can pass if they want to.) Follow a guideline that everyone speaks once, before anyone speaks twice. Invite the quieter people to lead part of the meeting. Talk about the problem openly in a meeting, and invite the more vocal people to try to speak less often. Between meetings, ask the quieter people what would help them speak, or ask them for their ideas on how a meeting should be run. A high school basketball team has to practice and play on many afternoons and evenings. One team member is a recent immigrant whose family requires her to attend the birthday parties of all the relatives in her extended family. The coach is angry with the parents for this requirement, because it takes his player away from the team. How do we understand this? How can this be resolved? Families have different values, especially when it comes to family closeness, loyalty, and responsibility. In many immigrant and ethnic families, young people are required to put their family's needs first, before the requirements of extra-curricular activities. Young people from immigrant families who grow up in the U.S. often feel torn between the majority culture and the culture of their families; they feel pressure from each cultures to live according to its values, and they feel they have to choose between the two. As community workers, we need to support and respect minority and immigrant families and their values. It may already be a huge concession on the part of a family to allow a teenager to participate in extracurricular activities at all. We need to make allowances for the cultural differences and try to help young people feel that they can have both worlds--instead of having to reject one set of values for another. As community builders, it helps to develop relationships with parents. If a young person sees her parents have relationships with people from the mainstream culture, it can help her feel that their family is accepted. It supports the teen in being more connected to her family and her community--and also, both relationships are critical protective factors for drug and alcohol abuse and other dangerous behaviors. In addition, in building relationships with parents, we develop lines of communication, so when conflicts arise, they can be more easily resolved.

As you are building relationships with people who have different cultural backgrounds than your own, you will probably make mistakes at some point. That happens. Don't let the fear of making mistakes keep you from going ahead and building relationships.

If you say or do something that is insensitive, you can learn something from it. Ask the affected person what bothered or offended them, apologize, and then go on in building the relationship. Don't let guilt bog you down.

Learn to be an ally

One of the best ways to help you build relationships with people of different cultures is to demonstrate that you are willing to take a stand against discrimination when it occurs. People will be much more motivated to get to know you if they see that you are willing to take risks on their behalf.

We also have to educate ourselves and keep informed so that we understand the issues that each group faces and we become involved in their struggles--instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching from a distance. Educate yourself about other cultures by doing your own research, don't ask others to do it for you. There are many resources in this chapter to help you learn. 

Friendship is powerful. It is our connection to each other that gives meaning to our lives. Our caring for each other is often what motivates us to make change. And establishing connections with people from diverse backgrounds can be key in making significant changes in our communities.

As individuals, and in groups, we can change our communities. We can set up neighborhoods and institutions in which people commit themselves to working to form strong relationships and alliances with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. We can establish networks and coalitions in which people are knowledgeable about each other's struggles, and are willing to lend a hand. Together, we can do it.

Online Resources

Brown University Training Materials :  Cultural Competence and Community Studies: Concepts and Practices for Cultural Competence  The Northeast Education Partnership provides online access to PowerPoint training slides on topics in research ethics and cultural competence in environmental research. These have been created for professionals/students in environmental sciences, health, and policy; and community-based research. If you are interested in receiving an electronic copy of one the presentations, just download their Materials Request Form (found on the main Training Presentations page under "related files"), complete the form, and email it to [email protected] .

The Center for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services  collects and describes early childhood/early intervention resources and serves as point of exchange for users.

Chapter 8: Respect for Diversity in the "Introduction to Community Psychology" explains cultural humility as an approach to diversity, the dimensions of diversity, the complexity of identity, and important cultural considerations.

Culture Matters  is a cross-cultural training workbook developed by the Peace Corps to help new volunteers acquire the knowledge and skills to work successfully and respectfully in other cultures.

Diverse Teams Feel Less Comfortable — and That’s Why They Perform Better from the Harvard Business Review.

Exploring Community-led Racial Healing Models to Deepen Partnerships between Community Development and Healthcare  from the Build Healthy Places Network.

The International & Cross-Cultural Evaluation Topical Interest Group , an organization that is affiliated with the American Evaluation Association, provides evaluators who are interested in cross-cultural issues with opportunities for professional development.

The Multicultural Pavilion  offers resources and dialogue for educators, students and activists on all aspects of multicultural education.

The National Center for Cultural Competence  at Georgetown University increases the capacity of health care and mental health programs to design, implement and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems. Publications and web links available.

National Public Radio's Life Kit project  discusses the importance of having parents talk about social identities with their children.

SIL International makes available " The Stranger’s Eyes ," an article that speaks to cultural sensitivity with questions that can be strong tools for discussion.

Study, Discussion and Action on Issues of Race, Racism and Inclusion : a partial list of resources utilized and prepared by Yusef Mgeni.

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack : Reflect on how your privilege allows you to walk through the world in order to better connect with others in this essay by Peggy McIntosh.

Organizations:

Center for Living Democracy 289 Fox Farm Rd PO Box 8187 Brattleboro, VT 05304-8187 (802) 254-1234

National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) 1835 K Street, N.W., Suite 715 Washington, D.C. 20006 (202) 785-9400

Re-evaluation Counseling 719 Second Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 284-0113

Southern Poverty Law Center 400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104

Print Resource

Axner, D. (1993).  The Community leadership project curriculum . Pomfret, CT: Topsfield Foundation.

Banks, J. (1997).  Educating citizens in a multicultural society . New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Brown, C.,& Mazza, G. (1997).  Healing into action . Washington, DC: National Coalition Building Institute.

DuPraw, M.,& Axner, M. (1997).  Working on common cross-cultural communication challenges . In Martha McCoy, et. al., Toward a More Perfect Union in an Age of Diversity. Pomfret, CT: Topsfield Foundation, 12-16.

Ford, C. (1994).  We can all get along: 50 steps you can take to end racism . New York, NY: Dell Publishing.

Kaye, G., & Wolff, T. (1995).  From the ground up: A workbook on coalition building and community development . Amherst, MA: AHEC/Community Partners. (Available from Tom Wolff and Associates.)

McCoy, M.,&  et al. (1997).  Toward a more perfect union in an age of diversity: A guide for building stronger communities through public dialogue . Pomfret, CT: Topsfield Foundation.

McIntosh, P. (1988).  White privilege and male privilege: A personal account of coming to see correspondences through work in women's studies . Wellesley, MA: Center for Research on Women, Wellesley College.

Okihiro, G. (1994).  Margins and mainstreams: Asians in American history and culture . Seattle, WA: The University of Washington Press.

Takaki, R. (1993).  A different mirror: A history of multicultural America . Boston: Little, Brown and Company.

Essay on Respecting Cultural Diversity Begins At School

Students are often asked to write an essay on Respecting Cultural Diversity Begins At School in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Respecting Cultural Diversity Begins At School

Understanding cultural diversity.

Cultural diversity means many different types of people, from various places, living together. It includes different languages, religions, and traditions. Schools are places where children from different backgrounds come together to learn and grow.

Importance of Respect

Respecting cultural diversity is important. It helps us understand and accept others, despite our differences. It also creates a peaceful environment in schools. When we respect others, we also learn to respect ourselves.

Role of Schools

Schools play a major role in teaching respect for cultural diversity. They can do this by including lessons about different cultures in the curriculum. This will help students learn about and respect different cultures.

Benefits of Respecting Diversity

Respecting cultural diversity has many benefits. It helps us learn new things, make friends from different cultures, and live peacefully. It also helps us become better citizens of the world.

In conclusion, respecting cultural diversity starts at school. It’s important for us to learn about and respect different cultures. This will help us grow as individuals and create a peaceful world.

250 Words Essay on Respecting Cultural Diversity Begins At School

Cultural diversity means the mix of different cultures in a place. It’s like a big pot of soup with many different ingredients. Each ingredient keeps its own taste but also adds to the flavor of the whole soup. In the same way, each culture keeps its own identity but also adds to the richness of the society.

Schools play a big role in teaching us about cultural diversity. Just like we learn math and science, we can also learn about different cultures. We meet students from different backgrounds in school. By interacting with them, we learn about their cultures. This helps us understand and respect their ways of life.

Respecting Cultural Diversity

Respecting cultural diversity means accepting and valuing these differences. It’s like appreciating all the different ingredients in the soup. In school, it means treating all students equally, no matter their culture. It also means not making fun of someone because they are different.

Benefits of Respecting Cultural Diversity

When we respect cultural diversity, we create a friendly environment. Everyone feels safe and accepted. This helps us learn better. It also prepares us for the future. In today’s world, we often work with people from different cultures. If we learn to respect cultural diversity in school, we will find it easy to work with diverse teams in the future.

In conclusion, respecting cultural diversity begins at school. It helps us understand and value different cultures. It prepares us for the future and makes our society richer. So, let’s start respecting cultural diversity in our schools today!

500 Words Essay on Respecting Cultural Diversity Begins At School

Introduction.

Schools are like small worlds where many cultures meet. Kids from different backgrounds come together to learn. This makes schools the perfect place to start respecting cultural diversity.

Cultural diversity is about the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region. It’s also about the peaceful coexistence of different cultures in the world. Respecting cultural diversity means understanding that every culture has its own unique value. It means accepting and appreciating the differences and similarities between cultures.

The Role of Schools

Schools play a big role in teaching kids to respect cultural diversity. They are the first place where children interact with others from different cultures. This is where they learn about the world beyond their homes. Schools have the power to shape a child’s thoughts and attitudes towards other cultures.

Teaching Respect for Cultural Diversity in Schools

Teachers can use many ways to teach kids about cultural diversity. Storybooks and lessons about different cultures are a good start. They can also organize cultural exchange programs where students can learn about other cultures. Schools can celebrate cultural diversity days where students can share their customs and traditions.

When children learn to respect cultural diversity, they grow into better adults. They learn to be open-minded and accepting of differences. They also learn to appreciate the richness of different cultures. This can help them in their future jobs and lives.

Challenges and Solutions

Teaching respect for cultural diversity is not always easy. Some children may find it hard to understand or accept differences. Teachers can help by creating a safe space for discussions. They can encourage students to ask questions and share their thoughts.

Respecting cultural diversity is an important lesson that begins at school. It helps children understand and appreciate the world around them. It prepares them for a globalized world where cultural diversity is the norm. Schools are the first step in this journey of understanding and respecting cultural diversity.

In the end, it’s all about learning to see the world through different eyes. And schools are the best place to start this journey.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Respect Of Teachers
• Essay on Respect For Students
• Essay on Respect For Persons With Disability

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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How to Respect Other Cultures

Last Updated: March 4, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Alicia Oglesby . Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. This article has been viewed 358,093 times.

Sometimes it is easy to become consumed with our own beliefs and habits. We can find it challenging to accept other ways of life. However, close mindedness and intolerance are not constructive for anyone, especially when there is so much we can learn about other cultures. Learning to accept and respect other cultures is an important step to having new experiences and learning about the world.

Increasing Your Knowledge Base

• Your filter describes the way you view the world. Many different factors can affect your filter.
• Some factors that affect your view, or filter, are ethnic background, religion, and age. Your filter is also affected by your income level and your education level.
• Spend some time reflecting on your filter. Ask yourself questions such as, "How does my income affect the way I look at others?" or "Do I have any biases because of my religion?"
• Becoming more self-aware can help you realize new things about your own culture. This, in turn, can open your eyes to appreciating cultural differences.

• For example, if you are interested in Japanese culture, look for a book on the history of Japan. Background knowledge of the history can help you comprehend the culture.
• You can also try fiction. Reading a fictional account of a new culture can give you a more clear understanding of what life is like in that culture.
• Try reading Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" for an interesting story about life in Nigeria. Or consider reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" to learn about Italy, India, and Indonesia.
• Ask your local librarian for guidance. Ask for recommendations for both fiction and non-fiction works.

• Attend a different type of worship. If you are Catholic, you might have only experienced a traditional Catholic mass.
• Visit a different type of worship service. For example, visit a Jewish synagogue or go to a mosque.
• Make sure to inquire as to whether visitors are allowed at services. Also take care to ask about any guidelines for dress or behavior.
• Do your research. Read books and newspaper articles about different religions. For example, you could read about what it means to be a Buddhist.

• Colleges also offer classes in topics such as the history and religions of other cultures. Many of these types of classes are even available online, and some are free.
• Ask a friend to take a class with you. The two of you could have fun learning to speak beginning Spanish.

• Try to place yourself in situations where your will be around people from many cultures. If you are in college, your campus might sponsor multi-cultural awareness events. Make it a point to attend.
• Make an effort to make new friends. Join a new sports team or spend time in a diverse neighborhood.
• Take time to talk to people. Listening to their stories and experiences is a great way to connect with a new culture.

Respecting Other Customs

• Often, people in the cultural minority suffer discrimination. You can show that you will not respect discrimination in any form.
• For example, maybe one of your coworkers makes culturally insensitive jokes. You can try saying, "Bob, I know you mean well, but that kind of comment is offensive to myself and others."
• Stand up for the rights of others in your community. For example, if your city tries to block the building of a mosque, attend a city council meeting and make your voice heard.

• However, in India, it is common and polite to not always directly answer questions. Take time to observe other people interacting so that you can personally observe cultural differences.
• Many British people think that Americans are fake. That is because Americans typically tend to be more outwardly optimistic than people from other cultures.
• When you are speaking to a British person, take time to speak genuinely. You can teach each other about your cultural differences.
• Your own cultural filter might make you nervous to approach a woman wearing a hijab. But don't be afraid to go up to her on the bus and say, "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

• Maybe you have a coworker who has a habit of bringing interesting foods for lunch. Try saying, "What is that you're eating? It smells great."
• Perhaps you have a co-worker who routinely arrives at the office later than others. Instead of assuming that she is lazy, ask a friendly question. You might learn that your boss has agreed to accommodate her prayer schedule.
• If you have a friend who is from Japan, ask him about the custom of bowing. He will likely be delighted to talk to you about his culture.

• Maybe you are traveling in Asia. The food might not be what you are used to, but be willing to try new things.
• Be aware that just because people behave differently does not make them better or worse than you. For example, Middle Easterners often engage in more elaborate greetings and small talk than most Americans.
• Be willing to participate in new types of conversations. You'll likely learn something, and you might also enjoy it.
• Outwardly demonstrate your respect. Do not roll your eyes or scowl when you encounter an unfamiliar sight.

• If your child comes home from school and asks you why his friend can't play on Saturdays, you can use that as a teaching moment. Explain that some faiths or cultures observe Saturday as a holy day.
• Look for a school that teaches multiculturalism. Before enrolling your child, ask if there are multiple languages taught, or if the kids will be exposed to different kinds of art.
• Set a good example. If you behave with kindness and respect, your children are more likely to model that behavior.

Trying New Things

• Ask some friends to join you at an Ethiopian restaurant. Not only will you get to experience delicious food, but you will probably have fun eating with your hands.
• Ask your Orthodox Jewish friend to tell you about her favorite Kosher meal. Ask about how it is prepared.
• Try cooking something new each week. You can make dinners from around the world and involve your family in your cultural exploration.

• Listen to a new type of music. Consider attending a recital of African tribal music or listening to an Italian opera.
• Watch a foreign film. Go to a local art house and see a film with subtitles.
• Look at different types of art. When your local museum as an exhibit of Egyptian art, make a point to go.

• Learn new greetings. Your new neighbor will feel very welcome if you make an effort to greet them with a friendly "Bonjour!" or "Konnichiwa!" instead of hello.
• Take a class. Many community centers offer affordable (or free) language courses. Take advantage of their offerings.
• You can also take online courses or download a translator app for your phone.

• Be a respectful traveler. For example, if you decide to travel to the United Arab Emirates, be aware that women are expected to dress modestly.
• Try some "local" activities. When you travel, there are many typical tourist sites that you will want to see. But don't be afraid to ask a local to point you towards their favorite neighborhood.
• Be aware of your safety. You want to enjoy yourself, but make sure that you are always aware of your surroundings and using common sense.

Expert Q&A

• Watching movies from different countries, like Bollywood movies or those on ancient happenings can be eye opening and help you appreciate different societies. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you're into fashion, try sampling different culture's dress and styles. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• There are lots of magazines available on different cultures. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/building-relationships/main
• ↑ http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/what-can-you-learn-from-other-religions/?_r=0
• ↑ http://blogs.wsj.com/expat/2015/05/14/for-cultural-communication-this-author-says-its-all-about-r-e-s-p-e-c-t/
• ↑ https://www.goabroad.com/articles/intern-abroad/traveling-opens-your-mind
• ↑ https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/tips/celebrating-our-cultural-differences/
• ↑ http://ideas.ted.com/what-americans-can-learn-from-other-food-cultures/

About This Article

Respecting other cultures is all about keeping an open mind and learning about different ways of life. Try reading a book or watching a documentary on different cultures and religions to see how people live differently in other parts of the world. You can also make friends with people from different backgrounds and ask them about their culture. For example, if you go to school or work with a Muslim person, say something like, “Can you tell me about the prayers you do? I’m really interested in different religions.” If you hear someone else make an insensitive comment about another culture or religion, calmly correct them. For instance, you could say, "I know you mean well, but that kind of comment is offensive to myself and others." For more tips, including how to learn basic phrases in a different language, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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8 Respect for Diversity

Nghi D. Thai and Ashlee Lien

Chapter Eight Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Understand cultural humility as an approach to diversity
• Identify and define dimensions of diversity
• Appreciate the complexity of identity
• Identify important cultural considerations for working within diverse communities

Respect for diversity has been established as a core value for Community Psychology, as indicated in Chapter 1 (Jason et al., 2019). Appreciating diversity in communities includes understanding dimensions of diversity and how to work within diverse community contexts, but also includes a consideration of how to work within systems of inequality. Community psychologists must be mindful of diverse perspectives and experiences when conducting research and designing interventions, as well as working to combat oppression and promote justice and equality. By working within a framework of cultural humility, this chapter attempts to provide a basic understanding of the dimensions of diversity that are most common in Community Psychology research and practice. Further, we explore how these dimensions contribute to complex identities and considerations for community practice.

CULTURAL HUMILITY

As our world becomes increasingly diverse and interconnected, understanding different cultures becomes crucial. Without a basic understanding of the beliefs and experiences of individuals, professionals can unintentionally contribute to prejudice and discrimination or negatively impact professional relationships and effectiveness of services. To understand cultural experiences, it is important to consider the context of social identity, history, and individual and community experiences with prejudice and discrimination. It is also important to acknowledge that our understanding of cultural differences evolves through an ongoing learning process (Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998).

Cultural competence is generally defined as possessing the skills and knowledge of a culture in order to effectively work with individual members of the culture. This definition includes an appreciation of cultural differences and the ability to effectively work with individuals. The assumption that any individual can gain enough knowledge or competence to understand the experiences of members of any culture, however, is problematic. Gaining expertise in cultural competence as traditionally defined seems unattainable, as it involves the need for knowledge and mastery. Instead, true cultural competence requires engaging in an ongoing process of learning about the experiences of other cultures (Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998). Further reading on cultural competence by Stanley Sue can be found here .

Cultural humility is the ability to remain open to learning about other cultures while acknowledging one’s own lack of competence and recognizing power dynamics that impact the relationship. Within cultural humility it is important to engage in continuous self-reflection, recognize the impact of power dynamics on individuals and communities, embrace “not knowing”, and commit to lifelong learning. This approach to diversity encourages a curious spirit and the ability to openly engage with others in the process of learning about a different culture. As a result, it is important to address power imbalances and develop meaningful relationships with community members in order to create positive change. A guide to cultural humility is offered by Culturally Connected .

DIMENSIONS OF DIVERSITY

The recognition and appreciation of diversity is a core principle for the field of Community Psychology. Although it is impossible to discuss all of the dimensions of human diversity in this section, we present some common dimensions examined in Community Psychology research and action and point toward where our field could place more emphasis. We also acknowledge the importance of intersectionality , which will be touched upon throughout this chapter, and the process of cultural humility in understanding diversity.

Culture is an important dimension of diversity for community psychologists to examine. In general, culture has been challenging to define, with modern definitions viewing culture as a dynamic concept that changes both individuals and societies together over time. Further, culture in today’s society refers to more than just cultural and ethnic groups but also includes racial groups, religious groups, sexual minority groups, socioeconomic groups, nation-states, and corporations. While numerous definitions for culture are available, there are key defining components, such as shared meanings and shared experiences by individuals in a group that are passed down over time with each generation. That is, cultures have shared beliefs, values, practices, definitions, and other elements that are expressed through family socialization, formal schooling, shared language, social roles, and norms for feeling, thinking, and acting (Cohen, 2009).

Using a Community Psychology approach, culture can be examined at multiple ecological levels to understand its impact. This means that culture can influence the norms and practices of individuals, families, organizations, local communities, and the broader society. For example, cultural influences can have an impact on how members function and interact with one another. Further, culture should be understood within a broader context of power relationships, and how power is used and distributed (Trickett, 2011).

While physical differences often are used to define race, in general, there is no consensus for this term. Typically, race has been defined using observable physical or biological criteria, such as skin color, hair color or texture, facial features, etc. However, these biological assumptions of race have been determined to be inaccurate and harmful by biologists, anthropologists, psychologists, and other scientists. Research has proven no biological foundations to race and that human racial groups are more alike than different; in fact, most genetic variation exists within racial groups rather than between groups. Therefore, racial differences in areas such as academics or intelligence are not based on biological differences but are instead related to economic, historical, and social factors (Betancourt & Lopez, 1993).

Instead, race has been socially constructed and has different social and psychological meanings in many societies (Betancourt & Lopez, 1993). In the US, people of color experience more racial prejudice and discrimination than white people. The meanings and definitions of race have also changed over time and are often driven by policies and laws (e.g., one drop rule or laws ).

Case Study 8.1 Is Race a Selected Identity?

Rachel Dolezal, also known as Nkechi Amare Diallo, was born to white parents with no known African ancestry. As a young adult, she became involved in civil rights, became a college instructor of Africana Studies, and began self-identifying as a black woman. She even became president of the Spokane, Washington chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She resigned from her position with the NAACP and was dismissed from her role as an instructor after information surfaced casting doubt upon her racial heritage. She later acknowledged that she was born to white parents but continued to insist that she strongly identifies as a black woman. Read more here .

Ethnicity refers to one’s social identity based on the culture of origin, ancestry, or affiliation with a cultural group (Pinderhughes, 1989). Ethnicity is not the same as nationality , which is a person’s status of belonging to a specific nation by birth or citizenship (e.g., an individual can be of Japanese ethnicity but British nationality because they were born in the United Kingdom). Ethnicity is defined by aspects of subjective culture such as customs, language, and social ties (Resnicow et al., 1999).

While ethnic groups are combined into broad categories for research or demographic purposes in the US, there are many ethnicities among the ones you may be familiar with. Latina/o/x or Hispanic may refer to persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Spanish, Dominican, or many other ancestries. Asian Americans have roots from over 20 countries in Asia and India, with the six largest Asian ethnic subgroups in the US being the Chinese, Asian Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Koreans, and Japanese (read more here ).

Gender refers to the socially constructed perceptions of what it means to be male or female in our society and how those genders may be reflected and interpreted by society. Gender is different from sex , which is a biological descriptor involving chromosomes and internal/external reproductive organs. As a socially constructed concept, gender has magnified the perceived differences between females and males leading to limitations in attitudes, roles, and how social institutions are organized. For example, how do gender norms influence types of jobs viewed as appropriate or not appropriate for women or men? How are household or parenting responsibilities divided between men and women?

Gender is not just a demographic category but also influences gender norms, the distribution of power and resources, access to opportunities, and other important processes (Bond, 1999). For those who live outside of these traditional expectations for gender, the experience can be challenging. In general, the binary categories for sex, gender, gender identity, and so forth have received the most attention from both society and the research community, with only more attention to other gender identities (e.g., gender-neutral, transgender, nonbinary, and GenderQueer) in recent years (Kosciw et al., 2015).

But the attention to other gender identities is increasing, both academically and publicly. One example is the case of Nicole Maines challenging her elementary school’s restroom policy , which resulted in a victory when the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that she had been excluded from the restroom because of her transgender identity. While community psychologists are making efforts to conduct more research on the various gender identities on the gender spectrum, more research needs to continue in this area.

Community Psychology’s emphasis on context has also included aging , or the developmental changes and transitions that come with being a child, adolescent, or adult. Power dynamics, relationships, physical and psychological health concerns, community participation, life satisfaction, and so forth can all vary for these different age groups (Cheng & Heller, 2009). Although the field has started to include aging issues in research, Cheng and Heller (2009) searched for publications on older adults in major Community Psychology journals and found that this segment of the population has been neglected. Although the skills, values, and training of community psychologists would likely make a difference in the lives of older adults, the attitudes within our profession and society are current barriers.

Social Class

Like the other components of diversity, social class is socially constructed and can affect our choices and opportunities. This dimension can include a person’s income or material wealth, educational status, and/or occupational status. It can include assumptions about where a person belongs in society and indicate differences in power, privilege, economic opportunities and resources, and social capital. Social class and culture can also shape a person’s worldview or understanding of the world; influencing how they feel, act, and fit in; and impacting the types of schools they attend, access to health care, or jobs they work at throughout life. The differences in norms, values, and practices between lower and upper social classes can also have impacts on well-being and health outcomes (Cohen, 2009). Social class and its intersection with other components of one’s identity are important for community psychologists to understand. Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? is a seven-part documentary that focuses on the connection between social class, racism, and health.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation refers to a person’s emotional, romantic, erotic, and spiritual attractions toward another in relation to their own sex or gender. The definition focuses on feelings rather than behaviors since individuals who identify with a minority sexual orientation experience significant stigma and oppression in our society (Flanders et al., 2016). Sexual orientation exists on a continuum or multiple continuums and crosses all dimensions of diversity (e.g., race, ethnicity, social class, ability, religion, etc.). Sexual orientation is different from gender identity  or gender expression . Over time, gay, lesbian, asexual, and bisexual identities have extended to other sexual orientations such as pansexual, polysexual, and fluid, and increasingly more research is being conducted on these populations within the field of Community Psychology (Kosciw et al., 2015). As a historically marginalized and oppressed group with inadequate representation in the literature, sexual minority groups face a variety of problems and issues that necessitate further research. The empowering and participatory approaches and methods used in Community Psychology can be beneficial for research with sexual minority groups.

Ability/Disability

Disabilities refer to visible or hidden and temporary or permanent conditions that provide barriers or challenges, and impact individuals of every age and social group. Traditional views of disability follow a medical model, primarily explaining diagnoses and treatment models from a pathological perspective (Goodley & Lawthom, 2010). In this traditional approach, individuals diagnosed with a disability are often discussed as objects of study instead of complex individuals impacted by their environment. Community Psychology, however, follows a social model of ability in which diagnoses are viewed from a social and environmental perspective and consider multiple ecological levels. The experiences of individuals are strongly valued, and community-based participatory research  is a valuable way to explore experiences while empowering members of a community with varying levels of ability/disability. Learn more by watching the Employment Choice for People with Severe Physical Disabilities video .

Culture must be considered when viewing ability from a social perspective (Goodley & Lawthom, 2000), and may impact whether or not certain behaviors are considered sufficient for inclusion in a diagnosis. For example, cultural differences in the assessment of “typical” development have impacted the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in different countries . Further, diagnoses or symptoms can be culturally-specific, and culture may influence how symptoms are communicated . The experience of culture can significantly impact lived experience for individuals diagnosed with a disability.

It is important to consider how intersectionality impacts the experience of disability. For example, students of color and other underserved groups have a higher rate of diagnosis of learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and intellectual disabilities (Artiles et al., 2010), which may be due to economic, historical, and social factors. Diagnosis must be considered as disabled youth are at a disadvantage in a number of indicators of educational performance , leading to more substantial disparities later in life.

How one identifies individuals with a particular label indicating their race, gender or sexuality is rather complicated, and unless investigators are careful in their definitions of these terms, many problems can be encountered, as has been reviewed above. Identifying who has a disability or health condition can also be a challenge and can have real, tangible consequences for an affected group. As an example, if prevalence research suggests that a particular disability or health condition is relatively rare, it is possible that few federal and state resources will be devoted to those individuals. But if the methodology for selecting individuals is flawed, then the prevalence rates will be inaccurate and potentially biased. This is what occurred with the health condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome, now also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, as indicated in Case Study 8.2.

Case Study 8.2 How Flawed Research Can Lead to More Stigma

When the Centers for Disease Control tried to estimate the prevalence of those with this illness, they concluded that only about 20,000 people had this condition in the US, and most with this illness tended to be white, middle-class women, which is what led to the stigmatizing label “Yuppie Flu disease.” However, the way the investigators conducted this research was flawed; they asked health care personnel to identify individuals with this illness, but as many health care professionals did not believe that this was a real or legitimate, they tended to refer few individuals to the study. In addition, as many individuals with a chronic health condition do not have access to the healthcare system, many individuals with this illness were not able to be brought into the prevalence study. However, when a group of community psychologists used better research methods that involved deriving their sample from randomly contacting people in the community, without depending on referrals from physicians, they estimated that about a million individuals had ME/CFS. In addition, those identified tended to be from lower socioeconomic status groups and communities of color (just the opposite of what led to the characterization of Yuppie Flu) (Jason et al., 1999). The findings from this study were widely disseminated and led to reductions in some of the bias and stigmatization that has been directed to those with this illness.

The impact of disability on identity and intersection with other social identities is important for community psychologists to understand. Community Psychology’s unique perspective has contributed to applied research conducted among communities and individuals with disabilities. The need for understanding, empowerment, and advocacy through participatory action research continues to exist for individuals with disabilities.

Religion & Spirituality

There are many definitions of religion , most of which typically include shared systems of beliefs and values, symbols, feelings, actions, experiences, and a source of community unity (Cohen, 2009). Religion emphasizes beliefs and practices, relationships with the divine, and faith, all of which differentiate it from common definitions of culture. Further, religion is an important predictor for well-being, satisfaction, and other life outcomes (Tarakeshwar et al., 2003). While religion has been neglected in psychological research, it has been included in Community Psychology’s conceptualization of diversity since the beginning of the field.

Religion and spirituality were formerly considered a joint concept but have been differentiated in the past century. Definitions of spirituality typically focus on relationships with a higher power and a quest for meaning . The differentiation between religion and spirituality has become more relevant recently as many individuals consider themselves more spiritual than they are religious. Community Psychology has long considered religion as a dimension of diversity, but the importance of spirituality in our understanding of community has been a more recent development.

The importance of religion and spirituality to physical and emotional well-being and a strong sense of community merits the inclusion of both, in research and practice (Tarakeshwar et al., 2003). Community psychologists understand the importance of working in natural settings, which frequently include religious and spiritual settings. Collaboration with religious organizations and embedding interventions into these settings may have positive impacts on individuals in the community and may also help religious organizations reach goals.

IMPACT OF IDENTITIES

While the various dimensions of diversity discussed above are a start to understanding human diversity, they do not fully describe an individual, community, or population. Instead, we must consider that these dimensions do not exist independently of each other and that the interaction of these dimensions is referred to as intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989). Intersectionality focuses on how the dimensions can overlap and give rise to different experiences as well as multiple privileges or inequities; for example, racial/ethnic and sexual minority men will experience more health disparities than white and/or heterosexual men . Community psychologists recognize the significance of intersectionality, but published research in this area is still lacking compared to other disciplines. “ The urgency of intersectionality ” video can help you learn more about intersectionality.

Privilege , or the unearned advantages that individuals have based on membership in a dominant group (e.g., race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, ability), contribute to the systems of oppression for non-privileged individuals and groups. While privilege can come in multiple forms and individuals can have multiple privileges, white privilege , or the advantages that white people have in society, are important for psychologists to examine more extensively to understand how white people participate in systems of oppression for racial minority groups in the US (Todd et al., 2014). For example, white experiences and perspectives tend to be pervasive in curriculum, policy, pedagogy, and practices (Suyemoto & Fox Tree, 2006) at the exclusion of work and research by people of color.

Janet Helms’ (1995) important work on the white racial identity model describes how white people move from a racist identity to a non-racist identity as they become more aware, move beyond an effective understanding of racial minorities to an experiential one, and understand their role in a racist society. Other community psychologists have explored how to create organizational contexts that are more inclusive and address white privilege (Bond, 1999) or have examined how white privilege influences commitment and interest toward social justice (Todd et al., 2014). While community psychologists are contributing to this research, more studies are needed to understand the relationship between identity, privilege, and social justice and action in community contexts.

Diversity in Practice

Using a framework of cultural humility, community psychologists consider context. This provides the ability to view various dimensions of diversity while considering the impacts of prejudice and discrimination. It is also important to consider how cultural practices differ in all settings in which the individual operates. Considering context expands the perspective of culture to include historical context, intersectionality of identities, and the experience of prejudice and discrimination.

The Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) has identified sociocultural and cross-cultural competence as one of the 18 foundational principles of Community Psychology practice , and defines it as “the ability to value, integrate, and bridge multiple worldviews, cultures, and identities.” SCRA expands upon the importance of recognizing multiple contexts to integrate elements of cultural humility in practice settings. Prior to working in communities, it is important to examine one’s own worldview and consider how it interacts with the community through culture and power dynamics. It is important to recognize and articulate dynamics related to culture and power differentials with the communities in which community psychologists work. Due to the complexity of these dynamics, respecting diversity in practice may require the formation of relationships with various members of a community who may be able to serve as a guide for working with the community in culturally valid ways.

Diversity in Research

Adopting cultural humility is necessary for considering diversity in research. In research, it is important to consider how questions are asked or which samples are included in a study. In addition, the importance of topics of research to diverse communities must be considered, which may require developing research topics and questions with the populations that are being impacted. Participatory action research is a valuable tool for developing topics in an inclusive way and is a method frequently used by community psychologists to find solutions in the social environment (Kidd & Kral, 2005).

Research must also consider the power dynamics between the researcher and the community as well as the dynamics within the community. The use of culturally-anchored methodologies is important for exploring research questions in the appropriate context. Marginalized groups are often compared to a majority group, but these comparisons may not always acknowledge the implications of power dynamics present in such comparisons. When developing the methodology, it is important for the researcher to acknowledge one’s own cultural assumptions, experiences, and positions of power. Recognition of these aspects of self will lead to a more careful framing of the research question within context. Finally, it is important to consider where to disseminate research findings to reach wide audiences.

DESIGNING CULTURALLY-SITUATED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Designing programs in the community needs to start with an understanding of the diverse cultures and communities in which they will be situated. To that end, collaborative and ecological systems approaches used by community psychologists are incorporated throughout the design of community prevention and intervention programs. Altogether, these approaches situate culture at every level of planning a program from the conceptualization to the implementation. In Case Study 8.3, Trickett (2011) provides a cautionary example of what can happen when culture is not more deeply considered in community interventions.

Case Study 8.3 Water Boiling in a Peruvian Town

In “Water Boiling in a Peruvian Town” by Ed Wellin (1955; see Trickett, 2011), a three-year public health intervention was implemented to decrease the water-related health risks in Los Molinos, a rural Peruvian town. The promotion of the evidence-based practice of boiling water targeted women, with the assumption that increased knowledge about the health benefits of boiling water would persuade them to change. The intervention was delivered by a health worker who took up residence in Los Molinos and her goal was to have the women boil their water before using it. The intervention turned out to be unsuccessful—the majority of women did not start this practice, due to several factors steeped in cultural beliefs and local customs or conditions. For example, the cultural meanings of hot and cold in their culture meant that boiled water was used for certain health issues, but it was not associated with germs or diseases. Over time, boiled water was culturally linked to illness and very much disliked by the local people. The intervention’s impact was also further affected by the women’s inability to boil because of their daily routines, social ostracization for boiling because of the meanings of cold and hot water, and lack of interest in women’s lives by the gendered town’s leadership.

This case study demonstrates the significant impact of culture on well-intentioned and scientifically-based interventions meant to improve community health and well-being. For that reason, Trickett provides recommendations about how Community Psychology can contribute more to the understanding of culture in research and practice. Some of these recommendations include focusing on communities more than programs, understanding that choice is more important than change, working with local experts in the community, and using research designs and methods that are appropriate for diverse cultures and populations.

Another approach proposed by Resnicow and colleagues (1999) considers surface structure and deep structure for designing culturally-anchored community programs. Surface structure includes aspects of the program that are observable such as gender, race, and ethnicity of the staff members; setting; language(s) used; and choices of cultural components, such as music or food. Deep structure includes knowing the historical, social, and psychological aspects of the culture to understand core cultural values, beliefs, and practices. However, attending to both surface and deep structures will not guarantee the success of the program. Matching the race or ethnicity of the staff to program participants is not always enough to establish trust or resolve all cultural differences. Similarly, programs using deep structures may appeal differently to those with different acculturation statuses; therefore, more research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of these culturally anchored programs.

Overall, as our knowledge and work with diverse communities continues to expand, the culturally-situated and anchored approaches used by community psychologists will continue to be very important for designing programs. Central to this will be the evolving development of a cultural Community Psychology which incorporates theories and methods from cross-cultural and cultural psychology in research and practice (O’Donnell & Tharp, 2012).

This chapter presented the framework of cultural humility as an ongoing approach to working with diverse communities. It is important to recognize various dimensions of diversity and how they intersect to produce unique experiences of inequity or privilege. Community psychologists go beyond traditional research and practice by working with members of marginalized groups to challenge oppression through participatory action research and to provide tools for empowerment and self-directed change.

Critical Thought Questions

• How would you explain the differences between cultural humility and cultural competence? Why is cultural humility more beneficial for understanding diversity?
• How do race and ethnicity differ? How is race socially constructed?
• What gender norms are present in today’s society? Would you say these gender norms are beneficial or not? Why?
• Why is it important to focus more research on the spectrum of sexual identities?
• Although disability involves a physical/biological reality, it is also a social construction. How is disability a social construction?
• What is intersectionality and how does it impact a person’s experiences?
• Why should the culture of a community be considered before designing community programs?

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View the Chapter 8 Lecture Slides

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Acknowledgment, acceptance, and respect for the full range of human characteristics in their social, historical, and cultural contexts.

The surroundings, circumstances, environment, background, or settings which determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence.

Possessing the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively work with members of a culture.

Ongoing process of learning about other cultures and being sensitive to cultural differences. Cultural humility includes acknowledging one’s own lack of knowledge about aspects of culture and recognizing power dynamics that impact the relationship.

An intersectional approach takes into account the historical, environmental, socio-cultural, and political context and recognizes the unique experience of the individual based on the intersection and implications of all relevant grounds.

Dynamic concept of shared meanings and experiences that are passed down over time and generations. Culture includes shared beliefs, values, practices, definitions and other elements that are expressed through family socialization, formal schooling, shared language, social roles, and norms for feeling, thinking, and acting.

Social construct based on observable physical criteria, such as skin color or other physical features. Racial differences include economic, historical, and other social factors that contribute to a system of disadvantage and privilege.

One’s social identity based on culture of origin, ancestry, or affiliation with a cultural group.

A person’s status of belonging to a specific nation by birth or citizenship.

Socially-constructed perceptions of what it means to be male or female in our society and how those genders may be reflected and interpreted by society.

Biological descriptor involving chromosomes and internal/external reproductive organs.

The developmental changes and transitions that comes with being a child, adolescent, or adult.

Social construct based on a person’s income or material wealth, educational status, and/or occupational status.

A person’s emotional, romantic, erotic, and spiritual attractions toward another in relation to their own sex or gender.

A person’s inner psychological sense of being male, female, or another category.

A person’s external expression of being male, female, or other.

Visible or hidden and temporary or permanent conditions that provide barriers or challenges, and impact individuals of every age and social group.

Research that involves an exchange of resources and ideas between researchers and the community members as a way of understanding that is guided by community needs, also known as "participatory action research."

Shared systems of beliefs and values, symbols, feelings, actions, and experiences that often focus on relationships with the divine.

Focuses on an individual’s relationship with a higher power and a quest for meaning.

Unearned advantages that individuals have based on membership in a dominant group.

Introduction to Community Psychology Copyright © 2019 by Nghi D. Thai and Ashlee Lien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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10 Ways to Respect Different Cultures: A Cultural Sensitivity Guide

Traveling or moving to a new country is an exciting adventure, but it’s always important to take note of their diverse cultural customs and etiquette to avoid unintentionally causing offense. Employing cultural sensitivity on your travels will certainly help you when it comes to respecting other cultures.

You might be asking, ‘What is cultural sensitivity?’ In essence, it is all about embracing and appreciating the richness of diverse cultures. It’s about being open-minded, understanding differences, and communicating with respect and empathy to foster inclusivity and positive connections with people from various backgrounds.

To guide you on your travels, here is a list of 10 ways to respect different cultures when visiting other countries. Let’s get started!

1. Use Adequate Greetings and Gestures

Body language is considered a silent language   – simple unspoken gestures or posture can foster understanding and mutual respect. Smiling, nodding and eye contact are just a few universal ways in which you can speak volumes without uttering a single word! 

Greetings and gestures can vary widely, so it’s useful to familiarize yourself with local customs. For example, in many Middle Eastern countries, it’s common to greet others with a warm handshake, while in countries like Thailand, a slight bow gesture, referred to as the ‘ wai ’, is customary. Taking the time to learn and practice basic greetings and gestures with locals or friends can go a long way toward respecting different cultures.

2. Learn the Basics to Help You Communicate

While it’s not realistic to become fluent in every language you come across, learning a few basic phrases can go a long way in showing respect and building connections with locals. Learning how to say words like “hello,” “thank you,”  “excuse me” and “sorry” in the local language can make a positive impression.  Before traveling abroad, look into joining a language group in your local area, or even online. Not only will you be able to quickly learn the basics of your chosen language, but you get to brush up on your social skills by making new connections!

3. Don’t Be Late

While being fashionably late can be the norm in some places, it can be seen as rude in others. Take Germany for example, where punctuality is important and arriving late is considered a serious breach of etiquette. So, set your alarm clock and make sure to be on time for your appointments, meetings, or even casual get-togethers!

Speaking of casual get-togethers, a good way to meet people in a new city and learn to respect different cultures is by joining SPEAK events , where you can spend some time with the local community and people from all over the world, and understand a bit more about their cultures.

4. Participate in Local Customs and Traditions

Every country has its own unique customs and traditions that are ingrained in its culture. Educate yourself about these practices and show respect by following them. Whether it’s removing your shoes before entering someone’s home, participating in local festivals or covering your head at sacred sites, embracing and honoring these traditions will not only avoid offense but also deeply enrich your travel experience.

5. Adapt While Eating

Food is an integral part of any culture, and dining customs can vary significantly from country to country. In Ethiopia, it is customary to eat with your right hand when eating their national dish ‘injera’ while in China it’s essential to respect chopstick etiquette and avoid stabbing and pointing at food. Embracing the unique customs you encounter will only add to your culinary experience and help you better savor the flavors. Bon appétit!

6. Learn How to Tip

Tipping can be a small gesture that makes a big difference in showing your appreciation for good service. While leaving gratuity is customary in the United States, it’s not always expected or practiced everywhere. Take Japan, for example, where exceptional service is already considered part of the package. So, to navigate the tipping terrain smoothly, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the local customs.

7. Play it Safe With Jokes

Laughter is universal, but what makes people laugh can vary across cultures. Jokes that may be well-received in one country might fall flat or even offend in another. It’s always wise to test the comedic waters cautiously or stick to universally funny topics, like adorable animal videos or puns that transcend language barriers.

8. Bargain and Negotiate with Respect

In many parts of the world, haggling and bargaining can be an exciting part of shopping – It’s like a friendly dance where you can find great deals and connect with the local culture. Remember, the key is to approach this practice with respect and a warm attitude. Instead of focusing solely on getting the lowest price, aim for a fair deal that leaves both you and the seller happy. So, put on a friendly smile, embrace the lively exchange, and be mindful of the cultural sensitivities that surround the art of negotiation. 

9. Pay Attention to Photography Etiquette

Capturing memories through photography is a wonderful way to preserve your travel experiences, but it’s important to be mindful of local sensitivities. Always ask for permission before taking someone’s photo, especially in more traditional or sacred settings. Additionally, certain places may have restrictions on photography, so respect any signage or guidelines provided.

10. Learn How to Properly Address Elders

In many cultures, respect for elders is deeply ingrained. This can include addressing them with appropriate honorifics or using formal language when speaking to them. Take cues from the locals and observe how they interact with older individuals to ensure you’re treating them with the respect they deserve.

Ready to Set Off?

As you begin your global adventures, remember that cultural sensitivity, awareness and adaptability are key to ensuring a respectful and enjoyable experience. By being mindful of these 10 things when visiting other countries, you’ll be well-prepared to avoid any unintentional mishaps. Happy travels!  

Keep reading more about cultures in our articles Understanding Cultural Variations in Body Language and Building Stronger Connections and A Practical Guide To Chinese Culture Etiquette: ‘客气’ .

Author: Daniela Afonso

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Professional Etiquette as an Online Student

• The Importance of Professional Etiquette in Online Environments (5 minutes)
• Tips for Email Etiquette (5 minutes)
• Tips for Virtual Meeting Etiquette (5 minutes)

Interpersonal Rules of Etiquette

Addressing diversity.

• Professional Etiquette as an Online Student (2 minutes)

Interpersonal rules of etiquette are also still in play in virtual settings, and in some cases, they may be even more important. For instance, fully remote universities, like Walden, employ and educate individuals from all over the globe.

One of Walden’s greatest strengths is its diversity.

However, with this strength comes a responsibility to ensure that all staff and students feel safe and respected , regardless of their cultural, religious, or personal backgrounds. This means respecting and understanding individual differences and the role they play in influencing behaviors and decisions that might be unfamiliar to you.

Use the flip cards to explore ways to improve your cultural sensitivity:

Examine Your Biases

Recognizing the unique lens through which you view the world can help you understand others’ perspectives.

Learn About Other Cultures

Travel, attend local or virtual cultural events, watch movies in a non-native language, and make friends from different backgrounds.

Appreciate Differences

Engaging with a diversity of perspectives improves critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.

When learning to be sensitive of others’ backgrounds, use the ADDRESSING model to gain awareness of your own identity, as well as the identities of those around you.

Consider the following:

Showing consideration for the unique aspects of others’ identities is key in understanding why they may behave and think differently from you. This is the first step in becoming more culturally competent and ensuring that you treat students, staff, and instructors with respect, regardless of their backgrounds. 

Being culturally sensitive means remaining aware of who we are, who others are, while also understanding how our worldviews, beliefs, and biases impact the way we perceive others.

-Mariangelly Sierra, Walden Peer Mentor

Learn more:

Embracing diversity and learning to respect others is a lifelong process. Check out these blog posts on Increasing your Cultural Sensitivity and 3 Strategies for Self-Examining Hidden Bias and Stereotypes .

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• Next Page: Professional Etiquette as an Online Student (2 minutes)
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113 Respect Essay Titles & Prompts

If you are here, you probably need to write a respect essay. It is a very exciting topic for students of all levels. There are many good respect topics to write about: respect of people, respect of laws, military respect, respect and responsibility, etc. Check the complete list of respect essay titles below

🏆 Best Respect Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

⭐ simple & easy respect essay titles, 📌 most interesting respect topics to write about, 👍 good respect essay titles for students, ❓ questions about respect.

Respect is a term known to everyone since early years. But what it really means to respect? It is essential to separate this word from politeness, love, or other feelings. In simple terms, resect can be defined as a tribute honor and considerations of someone’s emotions, wills, rights, and goals.

In a respect essay, you can discuss mutual respect, forms of respect in different cultures, and other issues. We recommend you first define why it is important to respect each other. Having this question answered, it will be easier to analyze the role of respect in particular situations.

• Plato and Aristotle’s Views of Virtue in Respect to Education Arguably, Plato and Aristotle’s views of education differ in that Aristotle considers education as a ‘virtue by itself’ that every person must obtain in order to have ‘happiness and goodness in life’, while Plato advocates […]
• Tolerance and Respect for Cultural Differences The author concludes the essay in the third section by revisiting the thesis statement and highlighting the various approaches used to develop attitudes that promote respect and tolerance.
• The Importance of Respect in the Military This paper seeks to discuss the importance of respect in the military. Therefore, respect in the army ensures that the jobs of both the seniors and the subordinates are done.
• Jacques Louis David’s Art with Respect to Question of Gender The most “sound” in the context of “femininity” and “masculinity” are the pictures The Oath of the Horatii, The Death of Socrates and The Lictors Returning to Brutus the Bodies of His Songs and The […]
• Pharmacy: Advocacy, Integrity, and Respect A pharmacist that does not have integrity would easily give in and sell the drugs to a relative or a friend.
• Respect in Daily Lives The show of respect is very important especially to the adults, as they act as role models to the young children. Without respect, it would be hard to settle such differences, as no one would […]
• Respect, Honor, & Love Children for Their Parents They should never disrespect them or talk to them rudely and calmly listen to whatever they say. Children must always accompany their parents to the temples and worship wholeheartedly in front of the Gods.
• Respect for Elder’s Wisdom Each of the two elders gave independent versions of socialisation in the Emirati society in the past, and how the society has transformed with the emergence of communication technologies.
• Importance of Bible With Respect to Christian Ministry It also mentions the roles and responsibilities of Christian ministry in the society and in the church, basic requirements to become as a minister etc in the base of New Testament.
• Respect in a Diverse Workplace This is because employees who lack respect are likely to involve themselves in behaviors that portray lack of respect to both the person and to the contribution made by other employees in an organization.
• The Meaning of Respect Regardless of where exactly the person is – at a formal dinner, on a walk, at work, school or university – a certain degree of respect is required and expected from a person. The purpose […]
• Addressing the Disrespect in the Military It is important that every person in the military adhere to the conducts whether in uniform or not. Therefore, issues of disrespect tend to be very minimal in the military.
• Discussion: Law Enforcement and Respect In the case study, the situation highlights a situation in which Arnold, a homeless drug user, refuses to leave the entrance of a building in a low-income apartment complex without causing disturbances.
• Trust and Respect: “The Effects of Hazing and Sexual Harassment” First, it destroys the public image of the U.S.military and leads to the situation when people associate military service with abuse, humiliation, and the inability to serve their country with dignity.
• Respect and Self-Respect: Impact on Interpersonal Relationships and Personal Identity It is fundamental to human nature to want to be heard and listened to.indicates that when you listen to what other people say, you show them respect at the basic level.
• Fostering Dignity and Respect in Caring To mitigate this situation, the management of the home care organization should strive to make sure that a patient’s decision is respected and valued.
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect for Human Dignity in America The purpose of this paper is to evaluate cultural acceptance in the US in connection to respect and provide means of increasing respect for other cultures.
• How the Courts Address or Respect Our Rights as Citizens The BOARD OF CONTROL OF FLORIDA, A body corporate, No.643. The case began in April 1948 The plaintiff was a black student who had applied to be admitted to the University of Florida’s College of […]
• Respect and Integrity of Company Employees On this note, economy of one’s country or state is bound to grow since new ideas will bring in more innovations that are key to the economic stability. The value of respect is strong and […]
• Business Obligations With Respect to Environment The analysis focuses on the ethical concerns faced by Virgin Blue Holdings which is one of the major airline company’s in Australia, and how the management deals with these issues within the environmental setup.
• No Respect Given to Military Family The purpose of this essay is to study the impact of the problem of insufficient respect for military families on society and individuals and to find solutions to this issue.
• Helping Business Behave Morally With Respect to Consumer Safety The organization should consider factors that affect marketability of the product, such as the costs involved, any warranties, which may be implied on the product and the quality of the product as customers are concerned […]
• Free Speech and Mutual Respect on Campus In case the notion of free speech on campus will be misinterpreted and evil ones will use their free speech policy to hurt others, what sad consequences this will lead to?
• Social Factors in the US History: Respect for Human Rights, Racial Equality, and Religious Freedom The very first years of the existence of the country were marked by the initiatives of people to provide as much freedom in all aspects of social life as possible.
• Why Comedy Gets No Respect The Golden Globe awards, on the other hand, divide the Best Motion Picture category into the sub-categories of drama and musical/comedy, and in that second category, many of the great comedies produced in the past […]
• Earning Respect From Employess and Superiors The manager can do this by earning the respect of both his staff and superiors. Moreover, a manager can earn respect from his staff if he listens and takes interest in the things happening to […]
• Partner Healthcare System INC Case: Competing Interests and Respect After the lapse of a certain period of time, in 1994, the Boards of BWH and MGH accorded their approval to designate the MGH/Brigham Health Care System Inc as to the sole member of the […]
• Concept in Understanding Contemporary Policy Processes in Europe with Respect to Government and Policies The emergence of MLG where on the one hand has created the need for collective decision making over complex problems which leads to a loss of control for nation-states, on the other have brought the […]
• Critical Evaluation of Organisational Learning With Respect to HP Research Labs By the change process HP is able to point out its flaws in the light of literature, various barriers like communication barrier, cultural barrier and the barrier of sharing knowledge among its various centres.
• Sweatshops and Respect for Persons One of the identified flaws in the logic of the authors is that while they focus on the ethical issues surrounding sweatshops and the responsibility of multinational corporations in providing decent working conditions, Arnold and […]
• Marketing Research with Respect to Modern Office Suppliers In this paper, the SWOT analysis of Staples and Amazon will be carried out as Modern Office Suppliers is planning to operate in the manner that these two companies operate.
• Respect and Its Significance Respect is thus imperative in any society since a great deal of the collectively desirable quality, virtues and morals which establish human dignity, and give the best out of a person and the society at […]
• Feminism and Respect for Culture A crucial gender aspect that continues to trouble the unity of the people across the world is gender bias, which seems to encourage the formation of the feminist campaigns.
• New Respect Is Bestowed on Fiscal Policy The article also explores some of the fiscal policies that have been “used around the world since the 2008 economic crisis”.
• Communication of Respect in Interethnic Service Encounters The woman’s English is perfect, and she seems to be a loyal customer and the one who has developed a certain connection with the cashier.
• When a Multinational Corporation Should Violate or Respect Local Cultural Norms A multinational following these cultural norms would be respecting local culture because it considers the level of economic development in the country.
• Managing Cultural Diversity: Sustain and Respect Cultural Identities The report concentrates on the discussion on benefits and challenges of cultural diversity, the opportunity cultural diversity offers and provides practical recommendations that can help the management to deal with the multicultural diversity issues effectively.
• Saint Leo’s Core Value of Respect and Socio-Cultural Impacts on Tourism These factors result to changes in different aspects of the society such as religion, cultural practices and other influential factors like where the society emulate the aspects of the tourists.
• Responsibilities of Computer Professionals to Understanding and Protecting the Privacy Rights It is therefore the responsibility of computer professionals to take all the necessary steps that would help preserve the privacy of computer users, some of which have been mentioned in this essay.
• Why Trust and Respect are Crucial for a Relationship
• The Importance of Respect and Responsibility Among Students in School
• Why Is It Important To Promote Acceptable Behaviour And Respect
• The Mindset of Athletes with Respect to Injuries
• Theoretical Views of Weber and Gidden in Respect to Globalization
• The Importance of Respect in Resolving Social Issues Such as Discrimination and Racism
• When And Why Do States Respect Norms
• Women’s Fight for Respect and Equality in the Workplace
• The Need for Cross-Cultural Communication and Respect in Australia
• The Hindu Belief In Respect For All Living Creatures
• The Loyalty, Respect and Trust of Oedipus the King
• The Health Costs of Inaction with Respect to Air Pollution
• The Importance of Respect Throughout Society
• Tolerance, Empathy and Respect and Diversity Programming
• The Government Should Respect Property Rights
• The Rise And Public Respect Of President Nixon
• The Importance of Trust and Respect in an Organization or Family
• Upholding Education With Great Respect
• Women Deserve More Respect For Women
• The Theme of Respect for Father in Seamus Heaney’s Poems Digging and Follower
• The Law Enforcement Must First Achieve Respect And Trust
• The Importance and Role of Respect for Authority in The Iliad by Homer
• Vulnerability and the Right to Respect for Private Life as an Autonomous Source of Protection
• The Importance Of Respect In John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row
• Valuing People, Fostering Dignity and Respect
• U.S. Foreign Policy in Respect to China
• Treating Animals with the Same Respect as Humans
• The Values Of Democracy, Society, Respect For Human Rights
• The Respect of George Washington for the Sanctity of Human Rights
• We Should Respect Every Citizen’s Right to Vote
• When Security Gets No Respect
• Treat the Person with Respect and Dignity
• The Lack of Respect for Army in the United States
• The Importance of the Government’s Respect of the Citizens for a Successful Democratic Nation
• Women’s Struggles to Gain Status, Respect and Rights in the Society
• The Roles of Respect in “Spanglish” and “The Stolen Party
• The Struggle for Equality and Respect in a Man’s World
• The Ideal Vision And Respect For The Human Body
• Vietnam War Veterans Deserve More Respect
• The Importance Of Integrity And Self Respect
• The Internet, Moral Judgment and Respect
• The Importance of Respect and Effort in the Course of Religion
• Understanding the Real Concept of Self-Respect
• The Principle Of Respect For Autonomy
• How Can Teachers Respect History in the Classroom?
• Why Should Our Veterans Be Given Respect?
• What Role Does Respect Play in Your Relationships With Friends and Family?
• Should Companies Treat Their Employees With Respect and Treat Each One of Them With Dignity?
• What Are the Benefits of People Treating Each Other With Respect?
• Why Should Professionalism, Respect, and Effective Communication Be Practiced in the Workplace?
• How Did Socrates Feel About the Leaders of Athens? Did He Respect Them?
• When Was the Last Time You Disrespected Someone?
• Why Do Teachers Deserve More Respect?
• Does More Respect From Leaders Postpone the Desire to Retire?
• How Did Joan Didion Define Respect?
• What Are Some Respectful Behaviors?
• Why Are Trust and Respect Crucial for a Relationship?
• What Does Self-Respect Mean?
• Can Society Function Without Respect?
• What Is the Difference Between Respecting a Person and Respecting Our Planet?
• Why Should You Respect a Person’s Religion Beliefs?
• What Do Trust and Respect Mean and How They Should Be Earned?
• Are Latina Women Treated With Respect?
• How Much Do Americans Respect the Time of Others?
• Does Everyone Deserve Respect? Why or Why Not?
• How Does Students’ Ethnicity Influence Their Respect for Teachers?
• How Do You Think Respect Affects Your Community, the World?
• Who Deserves Respect?
• How the Maori People Earned Respect and Admiration From the English?
• Why Doesn’t Charles Bukowski Get Much Respect in the U.S. as a “Serious Author”?
• What Does It Feel Like to Be Respected?
• How Important Is Respect in Our Lives?
• Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Respectful Person? Why or Why Not?
• How Do You Show Respect to Others?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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