Social and Cultural Diversity Paper Instructions Overview The Social and Cultural Diversity Paper (1,500 to 1,700 words) requires the student to identify and reflect on possible personal biases regarding gender, religion, sexual or gender orientation, race, socioeconomic status, disability status, or culture. In addition, a self-care plan is developed for the mental health and wellness provider. The purpose of this paper is to raise the student’s personal and professional level of awareness regarding the subject of diverse populations and how to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue as a mental health and wellness provider. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Process Schedule The Social and Cultural Diversity Paper assignment will be accomplished in a four-step process, with individual steps submitted and graded regularly throughout the course, according to the following schedule: 1) Outline (Due Topic 4) 2) References (Due Topic 5) 3) First Draft (Due Topic 7) 4) Final Paper (Due Topic 8) Content Guidelines When constructing this paper, use a four-part structure according to the following guidelines: Part 1: Personal Reflection The first part of the paper requires you to identify information from your own personal history. Use the following questions to help guide your reflections: 1. Identify your personal biases and how those biases may present challenges to you as a mental health professional. Remember, everyone has biases. The point is not to project them onto your clients. Note: It is preferred you discuss your cultural biases. 2. Describe your personal history by documenting experiences with discrimination you may have experienced and how your cultural background impacted these experiences. 3. Identify memories of contact with those who were culturally different than you, and your experiences associated with these differences. Be specific. 4. How has your life experience affected how you may relate to persons different than you? Be specific. Part 2: Racism and Discrimination The second part of the paper requires you to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of racism/discrimination. Use the following questions to help guide your reflections: 1. Distinguish between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. 2. What does it mean to be a subtle racist? Please include a referenced definition and example. 3. Why could there be significant differences in perceptions and values of members within the same ethnic group? Be specific. Part 3: Multicultural Competence The third part of your paper requires you to review and reflect on multicultural com.

1. Social and Cultural Diversity Paper Instructions
Overview
The Social and Cultural Diversity Paper (1,500 to 1,700 words)
requires the student to identify and reflect on possible personal
biases regarding gender, religion, sexual or gender orientation,
race, socioeconomic status, disability status, or culture. In
addition, a self-care plan is developed for the mental health and
wellness provider. The purpose of this paper is to raise the
student’s personal and professional level of awareness regarding
the subject of diverse populations and how to prevent burnout
and compassion fatigue as a mental health and wellness
provider.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the
APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An
abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to
beginning the assignment to become familiar with the
expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please
refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
Process Schedule
The Social and Cultural Diversity Paper assignment will be
accomplished in a four-step process, with individual steps
submitted and graded regularly throughout the course, according
to the following schedule:
1) Outline (Due Topic 4)
2) References (Due Topic 5)
3) First Draft (Due Topic 7)
4) Final Paper (Due Topic 8)

2. Content Guidelines
When constructing this paper, use a four-part structure
according to the following guidelines:
Part 1: Personal Reflection
The first part of the paper requires you to identify information
from your own personal history. Use the following questions to
help guide your reflections:
1. Identify your personal biases and how those biases may
present challenges to you as a mental health professional.
Remember, everyone has biases. The point is not to project
them onto your clients.
Note: It is preferred you discuss your cultural biases.
2. Describe your personal history by documenting experiences
with discrimination you may have experienced and how your
cultural background impacted these experiences.
3. Identify memories of contact with those who were culturally
different than you, and your experiences associated with these
differences. Be specific.
4. How has your life experience affected how you may relate to
persons different than you? Be specific.
Part 2: Racism and Discrimination
The second part of the paper requires you to demonstrate an
understanding of the concepts of racism/discrimination. Use the
following questions to help guide your reflections:
1. Distinguish between stereotypes, prejudice, and
discrimination.
2. What does it mean to be a subtle racist? Please include a
referenced definition and example.
3. Why could there be significant differences in perceptions and
values of members within the same ethnic group? Be specific.
Part 3: Multicultural Competence
The third part of your paper requires you to review and reflect
on multicultural competence as a professional. Use the
following to help guide your reflection:
1. What did you learn about the importance of cultural
sensitivity in providing professional services to clients?

3. 2. How do communication styles differ across cultures?
3. How might strategies to build rapport be differentiated based
on culture?
4. What resources could help you to become more informed
regarding cultural diversity? Cite resources you can use to
dispel yourpersonal biases.
5. Provide an example of cultural bias in
counseling/psychological research and support your answer with
at least one scholarly reference.
6. How could you apply your learning to your future practice as
a mental health and wellness professional?
Part 4: Self-Care for Providers
The fourth part of your paper requires you to develop a self-care
plan for the mental health and wellness provider. This is not for
the client. Identify four different strategies for providers to use
to mitigate burnout and compassion fatigue.
1. Describe the factors associated with burnout and compassion
fatigue. What are the symptoms?
1. Describe why it is important to develop a self-care plan
before burnout or compassion fatigue occurs.
1. List and describe four different strategies to mitigate burnout
or compassion fatigue.
1. Conclude with why you selected the four strategies and how
you think they will help you as a professional provider of
mental health services.
1. Use two to three resources to justify your descriptions and
strategies for self-care.
© 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
© 2018. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
SOCIAL CULTURAL DIVERSITIES
Running head: SOCIAL CULTURAL DIVERSITIES
2

4. Social Cultural Diversities
Name:
Institution affiliation:
Divergence in the way of life between people who live together
is referred to as cultural diversity. This is a concept where
multiculturalism appears. Gender, religion, race and social
economic status are some of the categories where biases are
highly indicated. Diverse groups which have come together like
in colleges, , and settlement areas, there is a high possibility of
biases between the different categories of people.
One of the biases I have had was a cognitive bias. The origin of
the human race, where we came from and who created us was
among my biases. I had a conclusion that we humans came from
elsewhere in space and landed on earth where we inhabited
(Abrams, 2009). This became my conclusion until I came to
learn of all the theories of human origin.
Being discriminated is one of the fears amongst many people
mostly around my area. I once experienced discrimination when
my fellow classmates used to make inappropriate jokes to me
and my family due to poverty (Noon, 2018). Negative
nicknames which made me feel rejected in the society. Being
harassed by big students in my class was also among the
discriminations I have ever experienced in my past.
Being the only student from upcountry made my life very
difficult in my high school life. During bet times, I was forced
to take my rest as the last person due to bad behaviors of my
roommates. Co-curricular activities were not on my favor as all
the teammates did not want to interact with me. During meal
times, (Abrams, 2009) I had to take my meal alone for no one
ever wanted to get associated with me at any point. Being from
upcountry made me be discriminated as my ethnic group was
not well recognized in my country.
For all the experiences I have undergone through, I cannot let
anyone to have such experiences that I went through.

5. Discriminating a person because of the cultures or race is one of
the act I cannot try at any point. Treating people with the
respect they require and loving them will always be noticeable
in my entire life.
Racism may happen in many places as it takes many forms.
Discrimination, hatred or prejudice are kinds of racism that a
person may experience because of color, ethnicity, religion,
gender, physical and psychological disabilities, and origin
among others. Harassment or acts of abuse are usually
associated with racism but it does not involve violent behaviors
(Noon, 2018). It can be revealed through the actions and
attitudes of people but sometimes it cannot be indicated at all. It
is not all about words, beliefs or actions but it also includes
being excluded from certain public or common groups,
activities because of where one comes from. Barriers that hinder
people from enjoying equality and dignity due to race is also
racism.
A person who has a negative attitude toward a certain specific
group of people is referred to a subtle racist. This person's
actions are very indirect and are really expressed through hints
only. In the past years, black Americans have experienced
racism in the country because of their dark color. In workplaces
and even schools, cases have been reported of discrimination
and even harassmentto the blacks. White’s rejected black’s in
their churches hence they were forced to form their own
religions. In the few past, in politics, leaders have always
indicated racism in their politics.
There have been indicated racism not only outside different
ethnic groups but also in the same ethnic groups. People with
special needs have Benn discriminated in workplaces and also
in the local activities. Gender inequalities like men have
specific tasks they can do that woman cannot do making women
to be a minority group. Employers may discriminate certain
people while allocating duties, benefits, training, and other
activities. Harassment in the offices where an employer may use
his powers to harass the employees (Noon, 2018). Allocation of

6. duties as employees may be allocated minor duties which do not
match with his or her line of employment. Some information
requested during job application is somehow discriminative
although, for some reasons, they are always for affirmative
purposes.
Cultural sensitivity is a vital requirement for a company or
organization that is conducting business to different ethnic
groups. If these cultures are ignored, the business may offend
special and important clients (Smedley, 2005). A company that
hires employees from the ethnic groups where they are
conducting business indicate a great success in the region(s).
Norms are to be followed in many ethnic groups hence if a
company knows about them, it will successfully prosper. Using
foreign language to conduct advertisements may have cultural
relations problems for companies. Appreciation of foreign
cultures, if not taken into consideration, can alienate the
business from prospering as the local people will not have
enough knowledge of the company’s supplies and services
(Brah,1999).
Verbal and non-verbal are two types of communication used
across cultures. Almost all cultures use verbal communication
but others like in Thailand, they rely much on non-verbal
communication. It's always wise to understand a culture's
customs and expectations related to direct and indirect forms of
communication. For better and beneficial relationships, it’s
crucial to orientate time allocated well. There are those cultures
that do not beat around the bush and they emphasize a lot on the
naked truth due to people’s feelings (Smedley, 2005). This kind
of communication uses criticism and a confronting language
while indirect communication values the idea of maintaining
harmony and saving face. Personal space is highly expected to
be observed across all cultures regardless if it is a social or a
business setting.
Every culture has its own set of rules which are followed during
communication. This may be challenging while one wants to
communicate across cultures. Measures to build a better rapport

7. is challenging across cultures. For you to be successful, you
need to learn and understand general measures to follow to
create a better rapport. Choice of communication media, high
context and low context, tone, sequential and synchronic,
effectual and neutral are some of the procedures one needs to
consider before starting a conversation. You need to understand
and not make assumptions hence proper preparation is required
(Hall, 1990). Resources like culture guides can be used to equip
one with basics of certain ethnic groups or cultures. Cross-
cultural management guides, country reports, and cultural
quizzes are also good resources one can use to learn and
understand better about certain cultures.
Cultural bias is when a certain culture makes assumptions about
another culture basing their arguments on their cultural
practices (Brah, 1991). Traditional psychology is characterized
by research and theoretical biases as they normally reflect
mostly the culture of the United States and Europe. Researchers
also tend to come from these backgrounds, yet their researches
are referred to as a global description of human behavior.
Maracek and Hare-Hustin suggested that before deciding if
there exist cultural differences, one must consider the extent to
which the theory or study is biased and that is the only moment
the research has been proved to be valid (Hall, 1990).
In the future, one is required to learn and understand the
cultural diversity in which he or she wants to go and pay a visit.
Addressing techniques should be well understood so as to be
successful mostly in the business sector. Taking a good research
of an ethnic group will probably help to achieve success during
the visit and avoid embarrassment.
References.
Abrams, L. S., & Moio, J. A. (2009). Critical race theory and
the cultural competence dilemma in social work
education. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(2), 245-261.
Brah, A. (1991). Difference, diversity,
differentiation. International Review of Sociology, 2(2), 53-71.

8. Hall, E. T., & Hall, M. R. (1990). Understanding cultural
differences:[Germans, French and Americans] (Vol. 9).
Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural press.
Noon, M. (2018). Pointless diversity training: Unconscious bias,
new racism and agency. Work, employment and society, 32(1),
198-209.
Saraceno, C. (2001, May). Social exclusion: Cultural roots and
diversities of a popular concept. In conference “Social
exclusion and children”, at the Institute for Child and Family
Policy, Columbia University, New York (pp. 3-4).
Smedley, A., & Smedley, B. D. (2005). Race as biology is
fiction, racism as a social problem is real: Anthropological and
historical perspectives on the social construction of
race. American Psychologist, 60(1), 16.