Multicultural Competency

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(1) What biases, perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs might you hold about culturally diverse groups

Central to the perpetuation of prejudice and discrimination are prevailing attitudes and perceptions that persons may hold concerning specific groups (Wagner, 2005). As Wagner points out, antiracial attitudes are "ways of differing from Eurocentric norms, and challenging the underpinnings of a system grounded in white male privilege" (p. 261). For example, in her article, Lewin (2005) explains how Anglo-Indian women were discriminated against in Australia based on markers such as: (a) establishing English as a first language, (b) attacking their Christian affiliation, and (c) denouncing their style of dress. Thus, individuals are perceived differently in both social and cultural categories and referred to as "other" in a cultural framework. For instance, in another example, bias perceptions are held toward African Americans that suggest they have mental deficiencies and cannot compete with other students academically (Pope-Davis, Coleman, Ming Liu, & Toporek, 2003).

(2) How might attitudes or perceptions influence your interaction with individuals who are culturally different from yourself?

Thus to be culturally aware suggests taking interest in the growing, diverse society in which we live. For example, in one's self-assessment, concerns should emerge that questions whether the person is comfortable when interacting with others on various levels of diversity such as: (a) race, (b) gender, (c) sexual orientation, and socio-economic issues. Further, does he or she make conscientious efforts in speech and behavior to avoid offending others from different cultural backgrounds? Biased attitudes toward a specific ...