CTb II A "Introduction to Cultural Competence"

Introduction to Cultural Competence

A Beginning Place

While there is much emphasis upon Sensitivity and Diversity, the key to functioning is one’s capacity to interact with the varied people with their varied personalities that make up various cultures and sub-cultures.  Thus the subject of Cultural Competence will be approached with the following in mind.

1.  Cultural Competence is best approached from an ethical understanding of the mores of the culture and/or sub-culture in one’s area of influence.

2.  Cultural Competence are skill and action, actually interaction, words. 

Therefore,

a.    It is important to examine one’s own prejudices and biases.

b.     It is important to understand that it is not so much what the biases and prejudices one may possess but how one interacts with others who may or may not be different. 

c.    It is therefore important to see these concepts as interactive skills.

WORDS HAVE VALUES AND FEELINGS ATTACHED

The vocabulary of this area of study is not without a value of some sort and some degree of feeling attached.  Depending upon the person with whom you are talking there are words within the English language that at once have varied meanings and bring forth some degree of emotion.  Sometimes these words prompt feeling because they violate our sense of ethical justice.  Other times it is because of our sense of moral justice (more about this difference later)

 Here is a short list of some of the words that will bring these responses.

• Diversity
• Sensitivity
• Imposition
• Discrimination
• Morals
• Bias
• Prejudice
• Modernism
• Ethics
• Bigotry

Now to be sure there are definitions, meanings, personal meanings, and intended/unintended consequences to the words just listed and others like them.  

These Words Have Definitions

While it is not possible to examine every word, consider the following definition of “Discrimination.

“1. An act or instance of discriminating…”  (http://dictionary.reference.com)

Another definition of the word is as follows,

1620s, from L. discriminatus, pp. of discriminare "to divide, separate," from discrimen (gen. discriminis) "interval, distinction, difference," derived noun from discernere (see discern). The adverse (usually racial) sense is first recorded 1866, Amer.Eng. Positive sense remains in discriminating. Related: Discriminated. Also used 17c. and after as an adjective meaning "distinct." (http://www.etymonline.com)

These Words Have Meanings

One definition goes on to include what today is the most commonly thought of use of the word. 

“2. Treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.”  (http://dictionary.reference.com)

Of course as with people words are known for both the family in which they are found and the company those words keep.  In this case the family (synonyms) includes such words as, “choice, differentiation, discernment, distinction, divergence, selection, respecting” and I am sure there are many more.

As to the second point, the company the word, discrimination keeps, it is found in the second definition above in that it has been given a negative value as it keeps company with such words as racism and sexist. 

An Observation of Definitions and Meanings:  The pertinent observation is that definitions are largely without feeling.  Meaning on the other hand and as you will note in a later example, will most often have an emotional component involved.

Such a treatment could be given to most all of the words on the list as each of them has a definition which may or may not line up with the meaning of the word.  However, there is more and we see it in the word just considered.

These Words Have Personal Meanings

So far the discussion has been largely impersonal and emotionally sterile in tone.  However, these are words that have also been personal in experience and meaning.  Therefore, the people we contact on a day to day basis, may not be able to articulate a definition or even be able to discuss them in terms of meaning.  However, the one thing they would be able to do is to discuss them in terms of personal experience, life impact, and implication for those they care about be they family or some other referent group.  Thus the emotional component!

The Words Have Intended/Unintended Consequences

When one considers the notion of discrimination as it is understood in today’s culture, it suggests that it is just and equitable to disadvantage one groups in order to advantage another. 

The point is that these terms and related behaviors have consequences in the day to day lives of people.  The prime example is racial discrimination.  At its very core it assumes the side of a racial minority who though better qualified is passed over for a white man who might be less qualified. 

Of course this is the unintended consequence of the whole notion of affirmative action in that it did not stop with putting both men on an equal footing but proceed to advantage the racial minority over the other.  Such of course is racism but in the reverse of what it was, thus reverse discrimination.  Again, because these things impact lives, families, life-styles, and so much more, there is an emotional component to them.

CORE VALUES ARE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING

Recently a class evaluation for this area of study read as follows,

 “…there are bigots in chaplaincy; the presenter’s theology was reflected in presentation.  I was offended.  Rather have a non Christian do this part of the program.”

This is presented because within the narrative there exists several presuppositions.  However, those differences are not what prompted the evaluation.  It was written because “I was offended.”  So the first presupposition that is essential to the discussion is that of the emotional component.

I suspect that it was not the discussion of how words such as listed above may be defined nor such meaning as was attached to them but the personal experience and thus the personal meaning they had for the evaluator.

Presupposition One: Labeling

After the emotional issue the next concern was that there was “name calling” or "labeling."  Such always interrupts communication for it casts people in roles that may or may not be true.  Even if true it interferes with connection and interaction.  Difference and conviction in terms of beliefs, positions, doctrines, and other differences, does not constitute bigotry.   However, such a jump apparently was made in the thinking of the evaluator.

The lesson:  Chaplaincy is all about relationships.  It is incumbent upon those involved to be aware that these are emotional issues and that care must be exercised in how one presents and interacts with others.  However, such presentation must not compromise one’s deeply held convictions.

Presupposition Two: Amoral Discussions

These matters cannot be discussed except that one’s philosophy, doctrine, and theology be a part of the discussion.  They can be discussed on a moral level but that soon breaks down since the national culture and even the local culture is comprised of multitudinous sub-cultures with their own notions of mores.  For the one with ethics, any discussion that does not include objective reality/truth falls short of what is foundational thinking.

Presupposition Three:  Core Values Always There

A non-Christian does have core beliefs that would not be reflected in the presentation.  I suspect that by this time in that evaluation much of what was being written was a reflection of the emotions and if quarried the evaluator would see that all have core beliefs that are reflected.  The example here presupposes that the amoral or non-religious are devoid of philosophy, doctrine, or theology.

Observation of the Evaluation

As one goes about serving others in the various venues of life, unless one simply meets the symptoms which are the manifestation of the basic needs, there must come a point at which one deals with the deeper issues that caused the symptoms.  As they say, to do otherwise is to “…put Band-Aids on cancer….”

One must have at least a moral framework, if not an ethical framework from which to serve others.  To do otherwise is to do less than serve.  Consider the following example.

The National Association of Social Workers:  Even social workers, not known for their religious/conservative views still hold the following to be important.

“Social workers shall function in accordance with the values, ethics, and standards of the profession, recognizing how personal and professional values may conflict with or accommodate the needs of diverse clients.”  (from the National Association of Social Workers’ Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice)

 It is interesting to note that this is the very first of the standards presented.

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY

To interact with the subjects in this area of study is to enter a very, very sensitive area.  This is so because the implications impact people’s lives, where they live, how they get along with others, and their opportunities for getting ahead.  That being the case whether it is the meanings people give to these words have a great impact upon how one might functions in and among the interaction in one’s personal life, in one’s life of service to others, and even in one’s relationship with oneself.  

Therefore it is of utmost importance that these things be handled with,

§  Respect for other people, their thoughts, and feelings.  Just because one respect these things in another does not mean you necessarily agree with them.

§  Honor for other people.

§  Honesty with other people.  One cannot deny who they are and what they believe and long be respected.  However, being honest does not mean that one “rolls over” another.

§  Permission.  Asking permission honors and respects the other person and even in the most difficult of situations, one does well to gain permission.

 Finally, my hope is that you will journey thought these things with me and that as you do so, your responses to my blogs will teach me as I attempt to share with you.