Cultural sensitivity involves recognizing and respecting differences in communication, beliefs, values, and behaviors among diverse groups, while also acknowledging that variations exist within cultures. It highlights the importance of understanding our own cultural biases and encourages building trust through effective communication, especially regarding race, ethnicity, and gender. Discrimination negatively affects individuals based on group membership, and fostering cultural awareness is crucial for improving interactions and relationships in diverse communities.

1. Cultural Sensitivity Roots, Race, Ethnicity And Gender

2. What is Cultural Sensitivity? Cultural sensitivity begins with a recognition that there are differences between cultures These differences are reflected in the ways that different groups communicate and relate to one another Cultural sensitivity is more than an awareness that there are differences in culture in order to interact effectively A culturally competent person views all people as unique individuals and realizes that their experiences, beliefs, values, and language affect their perceptions

3. Increasing Awareness Recognizing differences among cultures is important, but we should also be aware that differences also exist within cultures The assumption that a common culture is shared by all members of a racial, linguistic, or religious group is erroneous We must recognize our own cultural values and draw parallels where possible; we should also identify any prejudices and stereotypes that prevent us from communicating effectively with people from different cultures Realize that, like it or not, we most likely hold some stereotypes about culture and gender

4. Questions To Ask Ourselves Do we try to learn the names of those from other cultures? Are we patient with their attempts to use English? Do we make assumptions about people based on their race, ethnicity, or gender? Are we doing everything we can to learn about them?

5. Personal Map Exercise

6. Stereotypes People harbor positive and negative stereotypes about people Stereotypes about race? Stereotypes about culture? Stereotypes about gender?

7. Discrimination Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group

8. How Discrimination Affects Us

9. Showing Sensitivity to Culture Take them to the school they will be attending Walk around your neighborhood Take them to the library, weekly Take them to sporting events. Outside the U.S. soccer is huge! Find an ethnic market. Have them help you buy and prepare food from their country and make it part of your regular menu Ask them to sing and/or dance for you, if they are comfortable doing so

10. Showing Sensitivity to Culture Explain some of your religious traditions and ask them about theirs. Ask about times that are important to them and make them important to you Be mindful of their connection to church, community, culture, and family Be patient as they try to use new English skills

11. Control Emotions even when not directed at the children. They will read your body language and assume it ’s them. 80-90% of communication is non-verbal. Save frustration for private moments with spouse or consultant Make their church your priority Increasing Your Relationship and Building Trust

12. Using Interpreters Discuss the focus of the session with the interpreter before the youth arrives; be clear about what the interpreter should convey to the patient Speak in short sentences or phrases, to make translating easier for the interpreter. Make sure the youth understands what he or she has been told by asking for him/her to repeat the message in his/her own words Focus on the speaker, not the interpreter Be sensitive to cultural differences when using nonverbal communication. For example, a touch has many cultural meanings. You must be aware that personal space has different boundaries in different cultures.

13. Showing Sensitivity to Gender Being aware that there are differences between males and females, but those differences are not universal Aspects of gender Assignment: The gender we are given at birth, either being male or female In this aspect, our genders are prescribed by the society in which we are born

14. Role: This is the set of behaviors, mannerisms, and other traits that society says we should express as part of our assigned gender Identity: This is what we think our gender should be at any given time Many people do not question their gender and let their assigned gender function as their identity.

15. Attribution: This is the gender we assign people when we first meet them and is based on a set of cues that differentiate from culture to culture. What is a real man? What is a real woman? What if your youth has questions about his/her gender identity?

16. Conclusions In our society today, communities are made up of people with a wide range of ideas and orientations, even about issues as fundamental as race, ethnicity, and gender Anyone engaging in his/her community may be challenged by ideas and orientations that they have not considered Among these ideas, differing ideas about race, culture, and gender can be very challenging, especially if a person hasn ’t thought about the issues Expectations about others affect day-to-day working relationships Drawing conclusions based on stereotypes is wrong and can be harmful