Cultural awareness: a skill under construction?
Cultural awareness implies an understanding of how a person’s culture may inform their values, behaviour, beliefs and basic assumptions.
Cultural awareness recognises that we are all shaped by our cultural background, which influences how we interpret the world around us, perceive ourselves and relate to other people.
Key considerations to be culturally aware
- Be aware of your own cultural influences.
- Be aware of judging other people’s behaviour and beliefs according to the standards of your own culture.
- Be aware of making assumptions about cultural influences and applying generalisations to individuals.
- Understand that the behaviour and beliefs of people within each culture can vary considerably.
- Understand that the extent to which people adopt practices of their new country and retain those from their cultural background can vary within communities, even within families.
- Understand that not all people identify with their cultural or religious background.
- Understand that culture itself is a fluid entity, undergoing transformations as a result of globalisation, migration and the diaspora influence.
- Increase your knowledge about different cultural practices and issues through cultural background information sessions and/or resources and cultural awareness training.
- Understand the importance of appropriate communication.
You don’t need to be an expert in every culture or have all the answers to be culturally aware; rather, cultural awareness helps you to explore cultural issues more sensitively.
To check how culturally aware you are, click here and do the quiz. After submitting your answers come back here to check the answers.
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