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The Importance of Cultural Awareness

• Categories: Cultural Competence Cultural Diversity

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Published: Mar 18, 2021

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• How to Write a Diversity Essay | Tips & Examples

How to Write a Diversity Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on November 1, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Table of contents

What is a diversity essay, identify how you will enrich the campus community, share stories about your lived experience, explain how your background or identity has affected your life, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Diversity essays ask students to highlight an important aspect of their identity, background, culture, experience, viewpoints, beliefs, skills, passions, goals, etc.

Diversity essays can come in many forms. Some scholarships are offered specifically for students who come from an underrepresented background or identity in higher education. At highly competitive schools, supplemental diversity essays require students to address how they will enhance the student body with a unique perspective, identity, or background.

In the Common Application and applications for several other colleges, some main essay prompts ask about how your background, identity, or experience has affected you.

Why schools want a diversity essay

Many universities believe a student body representing different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community.

Through the diversity essay, admissions officers want students to articulate the following:

• What makes them different from other applicants
• Stories related to their background, identity, or experience
• How their unique lived experience has affected their outlook, activities, and goals

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Think about what aspects of your identity or background make you unique, and choose one that has significantly impacted your life.

For some students, it may be easy to identify what sets them apart from their peers. But if you’re having trouble identifying what makes you different from other applicants, consider your life from an outsider’s perspective. Don’t presume your lived experiences are normal or boring just because you’re used to them.

Some examples of identities or experiences that you might write about include the following:

• Race/ethnicity
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Nationality
• Socioeconomic status
• Immigration background
• Religion/belief system
• Place of residence
• Family circumstances
• Extracurricular activities related to diversity

Include vulnerable, authentic stories about your lived experiences. Maintain focus on your experience rather than going into too much detail comparing yourself to others or describing their experiences.

Keep the focus on you

Tell a story about how your background, identity, or experience has impacted you. While you can briefly mention another person’s experience to provide context, be sure to keep the essay focused on you. Admissions officers are mostly interested in learning about your lived experience, not anyone else’s.

When I was a baby, my grandmother took me in, even though that meant postponing her retirement and continuing to work full-time at the local hairdresser. Even working every shift she could, she never missed a single school play or soccer game.

She and I had a really special bond, even creating our own special language to leave each other secret notes and messages. She always pushed me to succeed in school, and celebrated every academic achievement like it was worthy of a Nobel Prize. Every month, any leftover tip money she received at work went to a special 509 savings plan for my college education.

When I was in the 10th grade, my grandmother was diagnosed with ALS. We didn’t have health insurance, and what began with quitting soccer eventually led to dropping out of school as her condition worsened. In between her doctor’s appointments, keeping the house tidy, and keeping her comfortable, I took advantage of those few free moments to study for the GED.

In school pictures at Raleigh Elementary School, you could immediately spot me as “that Asian girl.” At lunch, I used to bring leftover fun see noodles, but after my classmates remarked how they smelled disgusting, I begged my mom to make a “regular” lunch of sliced bread, mayonnaise, and deli meat.

Although born and raised in North Carolina, I felt a cultural obligation to learn my “mother tongue” and reconnect with my “homeland.” After two years of all-day Saturday Chinese school, I finally visited Beijing for the first time, expecting I would finally belong. While my face initially assured locals of my Chinese identity, the moment I spoke, my cover was blown. My Chinese was littered with tonal errors, and I was instantly labeled as an “ABC,” American-born Chinese.

I felt culturally homeless.

Speak from your own experience

Highlight your actions, difficulties, and feelings rather than comparing yourself to others. While it may be tempting to write about how you have been more or less fortunate than those around you, keep the focus on you and your unique experiences, as shown below.

I began to despair when the FAFSA website once again filled with red error messages.

I had been at the local library for hours and hadn’t even been able to finish the form, much less the other to-do items for my application.

I am the first person in my family to even consider going to college. My parents work two jobs each, but even then, it’s sometimes very hard to make ends meet. Rather than playing soccer or competing in speech and debate, I help my family by taking care of my younger siblings after school and on the weekends.

“We only speak one language here. Speak proper English!” roared a store owner when I had attempted to buy bread and accidentally used the wrong preposition.

In middle school, I had relentlessly studied English grammar textbooks and received the highest marks.

Leaving Seoul was hard, but living in West Orange, New Jersey was much harder一especially navigating everyday communication with Americans.

After sharing relevant personal stories, make sure to provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your perspective, activities, and goals. You should also explain how your background led you to apply to this university and why you’re a good fit.

Include your outlook, actions, and goals

Conclude your essay with an insight about how your background or identity has affected your outlook, actions, and goals. You should include specific actions and activities that you have done as a result of your insight.

One night, before the midnight premiere of Avengers: Endgame , I stopped by my best friend Maria’s house. Her mother prepared tamales, churros, and Mexican hot chocolate, packing them all neatly in an Igloo lunch box. As we sat in the line snaking around the AMC theater, I thought back to when Maria and I took salsa classes together and when we belted out Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” at karaoke. In that moment, as I munched on a chicken tamale, I realized how much I admired the beauty, complexity, and joy in Maria’s culture but had suppressed and devalued my own.

The following semester, I joined Model UN. Since then, I have learned how to proudly represent other countries and have gained cultural perspectives other than my own. I now understand that all cultures, including my own, are equal. I still struggle with small triggers, like when I go through airport security and feel a suspicious glance toward me, or when I feel self-conscious for bringing kabsa to school lunch. But in the future, I hope to study and work in international relations to continue learning about other cultures and impart a positive impression of Saudi culture to the world.

The smell of the early morning dew and the welcoming whinnies of my family’s horses are some of my most treasured childhood memories. To this day, our farm remains so rural that we do not have broadband access, and we’re too far away from the closest town for the postal service to reach us.

Going to school regularly was always a struggle: between the unceasing demands of the farm and our lack of connectivity, it was hard to keep up with my studies. Despite being a voracious reader, avid amateur chemist, and active participant in the classroom, emergencies and unforeseen events at the farm meant that I had a lot of unexcused absences.

Although it had challenges, my upbringing taught me resilience, the value of hard work, and the importance of family. Staying up all night to watch a foal being born, successfully saving the animals from a minor fire, and finding ways to soothe a nervous mare afraid of thunder have led to an unbreakable family bond.

Our farm is my family’s birthright and our livelihood, and I am eager to learn how to ensure the farm’s financial and technological success for future generations. In college, I am looking forward to joining a chapter of Future Farmers of America and studying agricultural business to carry my family’s legacy forward.

Tailor your answer to the university

After explaining how your identity or background will enrich the university’s existing student body, you can mention the university organizations, groups, or courses in which you’re interested.

Maybe a larger public school setting will allow you to broaden your community, or a small liberal arts college has a specialized program that will give you space to discover your voice and identity. Perhaps this particular university has an active affinity group you’d like to join.

Demonstrating how a university’s specific programs or clubs are relevant to you can show that you’ve done your research and would be a great addition to the university.

At the University of Michigan Engineering, I want to study engineering not only to emulate my mother’s achievements and strength, but also to forge my own path as an engineer with disabilities. I appreciate the University of Michigan’s long-standing dedication to supporting students with disabilities in ways ranging from accessible housing to assistive technology. At the University of Michigan Engineering, I want to receive a top-notch education and use it to inspire others to strive for their best, regardless of their circumstances.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

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Cultural Awareness Essay Example

Cultural awareness is someone's understanding of the differences between themselves and people from other backgrounds. The specific differences include attitudes and values. While growing up my family always went on vacations every summer, but we mostly stuck with three places. These places include Long Beach Island, Disney, and Outer Banks. Since we stayed in the United States, I was never introduced to a drastically new kind of culture. I hope that in my future (after the coronavirus restrictions are gone) I can get my passport and travel outside of the United States with my best friends! 

Even though I have not traveled outside of the United States I was presented with diverse kinds of values/traditions throughout my years of school. During my childhood, I wanted to be involved in every kind of club/sport that I could. In elementary school, I joined Girl Scouts and played soccer and basketball. In middle school, I joined cross country, track, and Early Act. While I was in high school, I played volleyball, track, basketball and was on the student council. Each of these activities brought me to a new group of people, because I spent so much time with them, I learned many things about each person. I learned both massive things and little things. There were a few things that surprised me. One of these includes when I ate dinner at my best friend's house and instead of eating dinner as a family at one table, they all ate at a separate time in various places in the house. This may sound like a little non-important event but in my family, it would be weird for that to happen. Every night (except if one of us is working) we are all seated around our kitchen table enjoying our meal together, this is our time to talk about how our day went, and just spend some time together. My best friend and I were raised differently in that standard because in my mind that is disrespectful to not eat with family members but to her, it is a routine.  

I find learning more about my friends is remarkably interesting because everyone is taught different things. Learning about other cultures could be as big as learning about someone else's language, but it could also be as small as learning your own best friends' values. Everyone must be careful when we are respecting others’ cultures, for example in the United States it is kind to shake someone’s kind (before the coronavirus) but in other countries that may not be the case. If it is actions or words, we must be open and accepting of others’ cultures. I am pursuing a business management degree and I think it would be a good idea for all companies to have a culture training course. This would include the issues of cultural diversity. By being a manager, I must lead by example, and by having this training course I will make it clear to my employees that respecting other’s cultures is very important, and by not abiding by this there will be consequences.  I may not have gone outside of the United States, but I have still learned about the people around me and what their values are.

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Cultural Awareness—How to Be More Culturally Aware & Improve Your Relationships

Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons.

Ivy Kwong, LMFT, is a psychotherapist specializing in relationships, love and intimacy, trauma and codependency, and AAPI mental health.  

The Importance of Cultural Awareness

How to be more culturally aware, what if i say the wrong thing, cultural awareness and sensitivity in intercultural/interracial relationships, can i ask someone to help me learn about their culture, pitfalls of not developing cultural awareness.

Cultural awareness, sometimes referred to as  cultural sensitivity , is defined by the NCCC (National Center for Cultural Competence) as being cognizant, observant, and conscious of the similarities and differences among and between cultural groups.

Becoming more culturally aware is a continual process and it can help to have curiosity, an open mind, a willingness to ask questions, a desire to learn about the differences that exist between cultures, and an openness to becoming conscious of one’s own culturally shaped values, beliefs, perceptions, and biases.

The Value of Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness is important because it allows us to see and respect other perspectives and to appreciate the inherent value of people who are different than we are. It leads to better relationships, healthier work environments, and a stronger, more compassionate society.

Read on to learn more about cultural awareness, including the impacts it can have, how to become more culturally aware, how to approach conversations about cultural awareness, and how to address cultural awareness in intercultural relationships.

Cultural awareness involves learning about cultures that are different from your own. But it’s also about being respectful about these differences, says  Natalie Page  Ed.D., chief diversity officer at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. “It’s about being sensitive to the similarities and differences that can exist between different cultures and using this sensitivity to effectively communicate without prejudice and racism,” she explains.

5 Reasons Why Cultural Awareness Is Important

Here are five reasons why it’s important to become more culturally aware:

• When you strive to become more culturally aware, you gain knowledge and information about different cultures, which leads to greater cultural competence, says Dr. Page
• Engaging in cultural awareness makes you more sensitive to the differences between cultures that are different than your own, Dr. Page says; you also become less judgmental of people who are different than you.
• Studies have found that greater cultural awareness in the workplace leads to an overall better workplace culture for everyone involved.
• Research has found that cultural awareness creates better outcomes for people in healthcare environments, and in other environments where people are receiving care from others.
• According to Nika White, PhD, author of Inclusion Uncomplicated: A Transformative Guide to Simplify DEI , cultural awareness can improve your interpersonal relationships. “Just like any other relationship, you must understand their culture to truly understand someone’s lived experiences and how they show up to the world,” Dr. White describes.

Knowing about the importance of being more culturally aware is one thing, but actually taking steps to do so is something else.

It’s about being sensitive to the similarities and differences that can exist between different cultures and using this sensitivity to effectively communicate without prejudice and racism.

Here are a few tips for how to go about becoming more culturally aware.

Understand That It’s a Process

“Becoming culturally aware is a process that is fluid, birthed out of a desire to learn more about other cultures,” says Dr. Page.

She says it can be helpful to study the model laid out by Dr. Ibram Kendi, the author of How To Be An Antiracist . Dr. Kendi says that there are basically three paths to growing cultural awareness:

• “The first is moving from the fear zone, where you are afraid and would rather stay in your own culture comfort zone,” Dr. Page describes.
• Next is moving into the learning zone, where you strive to learn about different cultures, how people acquire their cultures, and culture's important role in personal identities, practices, and mental and physical health of individuals and communities. The learning zone can also include becoming more aware of your own culturally shaped values, beliefs, and biases and how they impact the way you see yourself and others.
• “The last phase is the growth zone, where you grow in racial advocacy and allyship,” says Dr. Page.

Ask Questions

Dr. White says that asking questions is a vital part of becoming more culturally aware. You can start by asking yourself some important questions, such as: “How is my culture affecting how I interact with and perceive others?” Dr. White suggests.

You can also respectfully ask others about their lives. But make sure the exchanges aren’t one-sided, she recommends: when you ask others about their cultures, tell them about yours, too. “Tell your own stories to engage, build relationships, find common ground, and become more culturally aware of someone from a different culture,” she says.

Educate Yourself and Do the Work

There’s no way around it: if you want to become more culturally aware, you need to take action and educate yourself.

“Don’t lean on assumptions,” says Dr. White. “Actually research cultures different from yours.” This can help you become more aware of how culture affects every aspect of your life and the lives of others. In addition to research, educating yourself often involves seeking and participating in meaningful interactions with people of differing cultural backgrounds. “Expand your network to include people from different cultures into your circle,” Dr. White recommends.

Study the Cultural Competence Continuum Model

The Cultural Competence Continuum Model is an assessment tool that helps us understand where people are on their journey to becoming more culturally competent.

Different people fall into various categories along the continuum. Categories include cultural destructiveness, cultural incapacity, cultural blindness, cultural pre-competence, cultural competence, and cultural proficiency.

Studying this model can help us become more aware of the process of moving toward more cultural sensitivity, and become more patient with ourselves and others as we move through the process.

Acknowledge Your Own Bias

We all have our own biases when it comes to cultural awareness, because we all begin by looking at the world and at others through our own cultural lens.

It is important to acknowledge this as it can help us see how our cultural  biases  may prevent us from being as culturally sensitive as we wish to be.

Often, people don’t want to address topics having to do with culture or race because they are afraid they will say the wrong thing or make a mistake while talking to someone.

The truth is, most people make mistakes on their journey toward cultural awareness, and that’s understandable, says Dr. Page.

“If you make a mistake, simply apologize and let the person that you may have offended know that you are learning and be open to any suggestions they may have,” she recommends. Sometimes it even makes sense to apologize in advance, if you are saying something you are unsure of. You can say, “I may have this wrong, so I apologize beforehand but…” Dr. Page suggests. “The key is to be sincere in your conversations and always open to learning from others,” she says.

Making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process and it is important to approach these topics and conversations with shared respect, compassion, and grace.

If you are in a relationship with someone who is of a different race or culture than you, it’s important to have open, honest discussions about this. “If a person is going to grow in interracial and intercultural relationships, you have to step out of your cultural comfort zone and seek an understanding about other cultures,” says Dr. Page.

Questions to Ask Someone to Learn About Their Culture

Having a genuine discussion with someone about your differences can feel awkward, and it can be helpful to kick-start the conversation with a few open-ended questions. Dr. White shared some helpful questions:

• Can you tell me about your culture?
• Tell me a little something about how you were raised?
• What role does religion play in your life?

Here are some additional questions that could be asked with respect and consent, to another (and also to yourself!):

• What holidays and celebrations are important in your culture?
• What customs and etiquette are important in your culture?
• What is your favorite food in your culture?
• Is religion an important part of life in your culture? If so, what religion do people practice most often and why do you think that is?
• How do you express your cultural identity?
• What stereotypes or misconceptions do people from your culture often face and what do you wish more people knew?
• Is there anything about your culture that you find challenging?
• How has your culture changed over time?
• How do you think your culture has influenced your personal values and beliefs?
• What is the importance of family in your culture?

One of the important ways to develop culture awareness is to educate yourself about other cultures. Learning directly from people of different cultures is a fantastic way to get authentic information. But it’s important to engage in conversations with others about their cultures in respectful , appropriate manners.

When you decide to ask others about their culture, be mindful that they may not want to answer, and know that that’s okay, says Dr. White. It’s also important to make the conversation a two-way street. Don’t just ask them about their culture—talk about your culture as well. “Share your culture first to model the behavior and let others know it is safe to talk about their culture,” Dr. White suggests.

Finally, make sure to take it upon yourself to do some of the work. “Once you learn of someone’s culture you wish to cultivate a relationship with, do your homework to learn as much as you can,” Dr. White says. Don't simply rely on others to educate you—this may be seen as insensitive, Dr. White says.

The main pitfalls of not developing cultural awareness is that we don’t expand our understanding of other cultures, we don’t deepen our relationship with people who are different than we are, and that we risk continuing to have a narrow view of the world around us. 

“We live in an ever-changing diverse world,” Dr. Page says. “We rob ourselves when we only hang out with people from our cultural groups. We have to branch out and experience the beauty that others bring.”

Angelis T. In search of cultural competence . Monitor on Psychology. 2015;46(3):64.

Shepherd SM, Willis-Esqueda C, Newton D, et al. The challenge of cultural competence in the workplace: perspectives of healthcare providers . BMC Health Services Research. 2019;19:135. doi:10.1186/s12913-019-3959-7

Kaihlanen AM., Hietapakka L, Heponiemi T. Increasing cultural awareness: qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions about cultural competence training . BMC Nursing. 2019;18(38). doi:10.1186/s12912-019-0363-x

Calkins H. How You Can Be More Culturally Competent . Good Practice. 2020:13-16.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Improving Cultural Competence .

By Wendy Wisner Wendy Wisner is a health and parenting writer, lactation consultant (IBCLC), and mom to two awesome sons.

Cultural Identity Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

No matter where you study, composing essays of any type and complexity is a critical component in any studying program. Most likely, you have already been assigned the task to write a cultural identity essay, which is an essay that has to do a lot with your personality and cultural background. In essence, writing a cultural identity essay is fundamental for providing the reader with an understanding of who you are and which outlook you have. This may include the topics of religion, traditions, ethnicity, race, and so on. So, what shall you do to compose a winning cultural identity essay?

Cultural Identity Paper: Definitions, Goals & Topics 

Before starting off with a cultural identity essay, it is fundamental to uncover what is particular about this type of paper. First and foremost, it will be rather logical to begin with giving a general and straightforward definition of a cultural identity essay. In essence, cultural identity essay implies outlining the role of the culture in defining your outlook, shaping your personality, points of view regarding a multitude of matters, and forming your qualities and beliefs. Given a simpler definition, a cultural identity essay requires you to write about how culture has influenced your personality and yourself in general. So in this kind of essay you as a narrator need to give an understanding of who you are, which strengths you have, and what your solid life position is.

Yet, the goal of a cultural identity essay is not strictly limited to describing who you are and merely outlining your biography. Instead, this type of essay pursues specific objectives, achieving which is a perfect indicator of how high-quality your essay is. Initially, the primary goal implies outlining your cultural focus and why it makes you peculiar. For instance, if you are a french adolescent living in Canada, you may describe what is so special about it: traditions of the community, beliefs, opinions, approaches. Basically, you may talk about the principles of the society as well as its beliefs that made you become the person you are today.

So far, cultural identity is a rather broad topic, so you will likely have a multitude of fascinating ideas for your paper. For instance, some of the most attention-grabbing topics for a personal cultural identity essay are:

• Memorable traditions of your community
• A cultural event that has influenced your personality 
• Influential people in your community
• Locations and places that tell a lot about your culture and identity

Cultural Identity Essay Structure

As you might have already guessed, composing an essay on cultural identity might turn out to be fascinating but somewhat challenging. Even though the spectrum of topics is rather broad, the question of how to create the most appropriate and appealing structure remains open.

Like any other kind of an academic essay, a cultural identity essay must compose of three parts: introduction, body, and concluding remarks. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of the components:

Introduction 

Starting to write an essay is most likely one of the most time-consuming and mind-challenging procedures. Therefore, you can postpone writing your introduction and approach it right after you finish body paragraphs. Nevertheless, you should think of a suitable topic as well as come up with an explicit thesis. At the beginning of the introduction section, give some hints regarding the matter you are going to discuss. You have to mention your thesis statement after you have briefly guided the reader through the topic. You can also think of indicating some vital information about yourself, which is, of course, relevant to the topic you selected.

Your main body should reveal your ideas and arguments. Most likely, it will consist of 3-5 paragraphs that are more or less equal in size. What you have to keep in mind to compose a sound ‘my cultural identity essay’ is the argumentation. In particular, always remember to reveal an argument and back it up with evidence in each body paragraph. And, of course, try to stick to the topic and make sure that you answer the overall question that you stated in your topic. Besides, always keep your thesis statement in mind: make sure that none of its components is left without your attention and argumentation.

Conclusion 

Finally, after you are all finished with body paragraphs and introduction, briefly summarize all the points in your final remarks section. Paraphrase what you have already revealed in the main body, and make sure you logically lead the reader to the overall argument. Indicate your cultural identity once again and draw a bottom line regarding how your culture has influenced your personality.

Best Tips For Writing Cultural Identity Essay

Writing a ‘cultural identity essay about myself’ might be somewhat challenging at first. However, you will no longer struggle if you take a couple of plain tips into consideration. Following the tips below will give you some sound and reasonable cultural identity essay ideas as well as make the writing process much more pleasant:

• Start off by creating an outline. The reason why most students struggle with creating a cultural identity essay lies behind a weak structure. The best way to organize your ideas and let them flow logically is to come up with a helpful outline. Having a reference to build on is incredibly useful, and it allows your essay to look polished.
• Remember to write about yourself. The task of a cultural identity essay implies not focusing on your culture per se, but to talk about how it shaped your personality. So, switch your focus to describing who you are and what your attitudes and positions are. 
• Think of the most fundamental cultural aspects. Needless to say, you first need to come up with a couple of ideas to be based upon in your paper. So, brainstorm all the possible ideas and try to decide which of them deserve the most attention. In essence, try to determine which of the aspects affected your personality the most.
• Edit and proofread before submitting your paper. Of course, the content and the coherence of your essay’s structure play a crucial role. But the grammatical correctness matters a lot too. Even if you are a native speaker, you may still make accidental errors in the text. To avoid the situation when unintentional mistakes spoil the impression from your essay, always double check your cultural identity essay. 

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• Communication

Cultural Awareness

Updated 10 November 2022

Subject Communication

Downloads 30

Category Culture ,  Sociology

Topic American Culture ,  Cultural Competence

Cultural Competence

Cultural competence is the ability of people from various cultural backgrounds to communicate effectively with one another. It primarily entails comprehending people of various ages, abilities, races, gender, and national origin, among other things.

American Culture

The American culture, for example, is competent and encourages material accumulation, religious freedom, individualism, and equal opportunity for all people (Hecht et al., 2012).

Traditional African American Ideals

On the other hand, traditional African American ideals include traditional kinship, spiritual principles, community versus person thought, and holistic thinking, among others. In a case study, this paper examines African American cultural competence by assessing how a more profound cultural awareness may have affected the teacher's responses.

Case Study 3.8: African American Cultural Competence

In the case study 3.8 which talks more about the African American culture, the time frame is based on the early childhood education of eight years old Jamal who is a student at Simpson Elementary school.

Jamal's Disruptive Behavior

Jamal is very disrespectful to his teacher Ms. Anderson since he fails to complete his classwork on the required time. Moreover, Jamal could engage in other activities like sharpening the pencil or talking to classmates thus obstructing other students during the learning hours. This behavior greatly annoyed the teacher who assumed that Jamal had no interest in academics.

Teacher's Perception and Recommendation

She ended up developing a perception that the curriculum of Simpson school surpassed Jamal's ability and recommended a referral to a special education learning center where Jamal could improve on his studies and behaviors.

Parents' Rejection and Test Results

Despite the fact that Ms. Anderson recommended the referral of Jamal to a special school to improve his studies, Jamal's parents, on the other hand, did not adhere to this idea. This is because the parents believed that their child was bright and energetic enough to excel in the same school. However, the parents accepted to let Jamal tested for any complications by the school psychologists, Dr. Mann. After the test, it was found that Jamal had a special gift and this was the reason for his argumentative nature in class. Dr. Mann recommended that Jamal should be transferred to a challenging environment that would stimulate him academically.

Ms. Anderson's Work Ethics

Also, Ms. Anderson had good working ethics as far as being a teacher is concerned. This is because before making the final decision of transferring Jamal to a special learning center, she decided that Jamal should be tested for any complications. In contrast to this, Ms. Anderson portrayed poor qualities of a teacher by giving up easily on Jamal when she recommended his transfer to a special learning center instead of trying to develop a way to improve on Jamal's character.

Peer Pressure and African American Culture

As far as work ethics of Ms. Anderson is concerned, peer pressure in African American culture is a major factor that leads to poor performance of the students. Peer pressure mainly affects the male child who at most times work hard to be assimilated in the peer group other than working hard in academics. This leads to their underperformance as peer pressure rewards underachievement at all times.

Recommendations for the Teacher

Furthermore, the teacher seems to be in a dilemma whether to adapt to Jamal's behavior or to nurture him to change and become a better student and adapt to the curriculum of Simpson school. However, the teacher seems to rely more on referring the student to a special learning center other than focusing on how to nurture the student. To help the teacher out of this dilemma, it is advisable for the teacher to develop a good and healthy relationship with the student (Hecht et al., 2012). This is because most students work hard when they have respect for the teacher and after they have created a good rapport with each other. Also, creating a good relationship will enable the teacher to understand the student well and work on the negative aspects of the student (Lynch et al., 2013).

African American Communication

The African American communication is mainly the verbal communication which has been drawn from their origin, the West African culture. Their communication styles mainly include The oral tradition, call and reaction patterns, the use of idiomatic expressions, vocal variation and the use of nonverbal communication e.g. gestures to intensify the meaning of the message being passed from one person to another.

It is worth noting that cultural competence plays a vital role in helping people of different cultural backgrounds to relate well with each other. In African American culture, they mainly embrace the traditional values like kinship and traditional religious beliefs. In addition, they use the verbal type of communication such as the use of idiomatic expressions and vocal variation, an oral tradition among others. In a school situation, the teachers have to create a good relationship with their students since they come from different cultural backgrounds and they need to understand each other well.

Hecht, M. L., Collier, M. J., & Ribeau, S. A. (2012). African American communication: Ethnic identity and cultural interpretation. Sage Publications, Inc.

Lynch, E. W., & Hanson, M. J. (2013). Developing cross-cultural competence: A guide for working with young children and their families. Paul H. Brookes Publishing.

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Cultural Awareness Essay

Cultural awareness is the ability to understand and respect the culture of others. It is an important aspect of communication and helps us to avoid misunderstandings and offense.

Culture includes many things, such as language, customs, beliefs, values, and behaviors. It is passed down from generation to generation and can be shared by groups of people who have common experiences or backgrounds.

Cultural awareness allows us to see the world from different perspectives and to better understand and appreciate the rich diversity of our planet. It also helps us to build bridges between cultures and to create a more peaceful and just world.

It is important for people to be aware of different cultures, so they can understand how that culture shapes a person’s values and behaviour. This cultural awareness is crucial not only for countries, but also for the children growing up in them.

It is especially important in today’s globalised world, where people from all corners of the world are brought together.

There are many benefits to cultural awareness. For one, it can help to prevent misunderstandings and conflict. It can also promote respect and understanding between people of different cultures, and provide a greater appreciation for the world’s diverse range of cultures. Additionally, cultural awareness can help to foster economic opportunities by opening up new markets and business relationships. Finally, it can simply make life more enriching by providing a deeper understanding of the world around us.

There are many ways to become more culturally aware. One way is to travel to different countries and experience different cultures first-hand. Another way is to learn about other cultures through books, films, and discussions. Additionally, many schools and universities offer courses on cultural awareness.

No matter how you choose to become more culturally aware, it is an important step in promoting understanding and respect in our increasingly globalised world.

To begin with, cultural awareness protects a nation’s culture by passing on the people’s values and beliefs from generation to generation via parents or elders to their children, who in turn do the same for theirs. Preservation of culture becomes more difficult as people are increasingly exposed to various cultures and because of that, young people are gradually adopting “foreign” customs instead of their own.

Cultural awareness also allows for people to be able to understand and embrace the differences in cultures, which is important in today’s society as there is a lot of cultural diversity. By being aware of other cultures, it allows people to be more understanding and tolerant of others, which can lead to a more harmonious society.

Cultural awareness also helps people to better understand and appreciate the differences in cultures. It is important to be aware of one’s own culture and how it influences their thoughts, actions and beliefs. It is also important to be aware of other cultures and how they differ from one’s own. Cultural awareness leads to cultural sensitivity and understanding. It is a process that enables us to recognise our own culture and the impact it has on our lives, as well as other peoples’ cultures and how they differ from our own.

The second point is that cultural awareness fosters a sense of pride and belonging by encouraging people to respect and appreciate their talents more than others, as in Kenya there is a village, Luhya, who are excellent at football. For children, this feeling of pride encourages them to value their culture more and thus do all they can to protect it. It also gives youngsters the notion that they belong to a wonderful community.

Cultural awareness also helps people understand and appreciate other cultures. By learning about the customs and traditions of other cultures, we can come to better understand and appreciate the differences that make us all unique. Cultural awareness can also help to break down barriers that exist between different cultures, and can help to build bridges of understanding and respect.

When we are culturally aware, we are better able to communicate with people from other cultures. We are better able to understand their perspectives, and they are better able to understand ours. We can avoid misunderstandings and conflict, and can instead work together towards common goals.

Cultural awareness is an important part of being a global citizen. In today’s world, it is more important than ever to be aware of the cultures of the people around us. We are all connected, and by understanding and respecting other cultures we can create a more peaceful and just world for all.

Cultural awareness is not only about understanding and respecting other cultures, but also about understanding and respecting our own culture. It is important to know where we come from, and to be proud of our own traditions and customs. By being aware of our own culture, we can better appreciate the beauty and richness of diversity in the world around us.

In short, by familiarizing ourselves with other cultures, we can learn to coexist peacefully. We act disrespectfully when we ignore a community’s customs and values–which often leads to hostilities such as feuding, hatred, anger, and rivalry. If enough people fail to show cultural awareness on a international level, it could even result in war.

When we are cultural aware, we show sensitivity and knowledge about the cultural norms of others. We don’t make assumptions based on our own worldview and instead take the time to learn about other cultures.

Cultural awareness also allows us to embrace diversity. We can celebrate the differences between ourselves and others, rather than view them as threatening.

Lastly, cultural awareness helps prevent misunderstandings and communication breakdowns. By being open to others’ cultures, we are more likely to effectively communicate with them.

There are many benefits to being culturally aware. For one, it leads to more peaceful interactions between people or nations. If we understand a community’s preferences and dislikes, we are less likely to act in a way that would be disrespectful.

One way is to travel to different countries and immerse yourself in the culture. This will give you a first-hand look at different customs and traditions.

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Cultural Awareness Essay | Benefits, Importance and Long Essay on Cultural Awareness

October 1, 2021 by Prasanna

Cultural Awareness Essay: The word ‘culture’ refers to the lifestyle of an entire society. Cultural differences are the variations in the way of life, traditions, beliefs and the laws that surround different countries, societies, religions and also people. Here are some examples of cultural differences within different countries like Clothing, Food, Language and different Rules. For example Scottish men wears kilts to express their heritage, Islam people aren’t allowed to eat pork, Scottish people have their own language to communicate with one another, the European rules and regulations are different from United States of America’s rules and regulations, etc.

A culture is more than food and clothing, it’s the customs, values and beliefs passed down through generations. People must be aware of different cultures and also respect them to find new opportunities.

Cultural awareness is all about recognising and understanding different values, beliefs and customs of the other group or a person. The culture of one person or one country can be entirely different from another. By respecting other cultures and accepting people’s opinions, rights and feelings even if they are different to us – we can truly benefit from cultural diversity.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Globalisation and technology have made World more smaller. People from various cultural backgrounds can travel or also work together easily. This is possible because of cultural awareness. It is very essential for people to have cultural awareness and also understand the cultural diversity to communicate with different people. It also allows a person to build successful and professional relationships in a diverse environment.

The main purpose of cultural awareness is to make people understand other cultures and respect their values, beliefs and customs.Cultural awareness will break down cultural barriers among the countries and will make people learn how to love, and appreciate those having different cultures from us.

Long Essay on Cultural Awareness 800 Words in English

Culture is the term used to identify the customs, social behavior, beliefs and customs of a particular people or society which is passed down from generations.

Cultural awareness is the understanding of different cultures of different groups or individuals that our own culture differs from. Being culturally aware enables us to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds more effectively. Language plays an important role in building cultural awareness.

When we learn new languages and cultures, we realize our own behaviors, values, and beliefs. We value people with different cultural backgrounds as we begin to understand ourselves better. This results in more better relations than conflicts.

Food is another great way to learn about other cultures. Arrange monthly lunches that have food from around the world, or ask people from different cultures to share recipes for their favorite foods from home. During religious or cultural festivals, invite your friends to share your culture with them. Introducing new traditions to your friends and society helps to bridge the gap between different people with different cultures.

By being culturally aware, we can recognize and have an appreciation for other’s values, customs, and beliefs and meet them without judgment or prejudice. Cultural awareness will make people realize what is inappropriate or offensive to others. Incorrect body language often leads to misunderstandings. Cultural differences may affect and influence individuals at business places too. Here are some reasons why cultural awareness is so important at the workplace:

• It makes people aware of their own culture so that they understand and appreciate it.
• It allows people to communicate with the people you work with in different cultures effectively.
• It stops people from making quick judgement calls on others’ behaviour
• It gives each and every employee equal opportunities and a friendly environment to work with.
• It improves collaboration between colleagues

There is a need to create a homogeneous environment that fosters creativity, and innovation while boosting productivity and profitability.

The cause of many conflicts is a result of miscommunication and misunderstanding. People from different cultural backgrounds often have different styles of communication. For example, in some cultures, they bow down to greet instead of a handshake. So while working with people from other parts of the world having different cultures, try to study communication norms of their cultures. This way, you’ll have more context in understanding the physical and verbal communication because that differs from your own.

We can develop cultural awareness by learning and understanding other cultures.

We need to explore ourselves and get information about different cultures around us. One of the most authentic ways is attending cultural festivals and events at which people express themselves through music, food, and art. And, we get the opportunity to interact with people who are different from us. When we get acquainted with people from different cultures and interact with them frequently, we can observe different lifestyles, customs and beliefs.

By understanding the differences in ethics, beliefs, and values of different individuals and developing cultural awareness, we create a happy and productive environment.

FAQ’s on Cultural Awareness Essay

Question 1. How to develop cultural awareness among the people?

Answer: We see many diverse populations around us and we come across people of all ages, ethnicities and cultures. People speak different languages, dress in different kinds of clothing, and eat different kinds of food.

Cultural Awareness matters because it opens our eyes. When we become aware of people and respect our diversity we can work in a more effective environment. We can develop cultural awareness through following ways

• One way to increase cultural awareness is to have a better understanding of each other’s cultural experiences.
• Go to lunch, or invite someone into our home for dinner who is different from us in some way.
• Another aspect of awareness is understanding different cultures through reading the history of other racial groups or your community.
• Visiting cultural institutions in your community is also a great resource of cultural awareness.
• Sometimes visit the National Museum of History and Culture to study different cultures.

Question 2. Is it important to develop cultural awareness among the students?

Answer: Yes, students are the future of the country so it has become necessary to develop cultural awareness among the students. The following are some benefits of teaching diversity to students.

• Students become more empathetic with people having different cultural backgrounds
• Students understand their lessons and people better.
• By exposing them to a diverse range of opinions, thoughts, and cultural backgrounds, they will be more open-minded.
• Students who are aware of different cultures during their education feel more comfortable and safe in life.
• Also students can interact in a wider range of social groups and feel more confident in themselves.
• Today it has become more important to be able to work with people from different cultures and social groups.
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Increasing Cultural Awareness in Healthcare Essay (Critical Writing)

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Introduction

Importance of education, on-field training, promotion of personal exposure, resources and action items.

Despite the recent tendency of offsetting globalization due to the pandemic, the international movement of people still exists, and the cultural diversity will remain. The recipients of healthcare include representatives of numerous ethnicities, social affiliations, and other groups. Equal indiscriminate treatment of all patients can lead to conflicts between practitioners and clients, which may result in negative care outcomes. Promoting cultural awareness is essential in creating a medical environment that respects diverse identities.

People carry their personal beliefs and experiences into all spheres of life, including work. One of the ways to develop a culturally sensitive environment is to select health professionals who have received training in intercultural communication. The more culturally competent the medical staff is, the fewer conflicts would arise out of misunderstanding on the basis of gender, race, age, sexuality, or culture. The administration of a healthcare organization can adjust its hiring policy accordingly.

Another venue for cultural promotion in healthcare is to actively propagate the inclusion of cultural training in education. Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations can influence medical educational establishments to correct the curricula to cover cultural sensitivity. For instance, introducing corresponding subjects with mandatory completion or having cross-cultural practice may increase future health professionals’ understanding of sensitive areas. Subsequently, it will lead to an overall friendlier medical environment when the students graduate and start working.

The deficit of cultural competence in healthcare will not be resolved by proper education alone. Current practitioners are going to stay in the field of patient care, even though a large number of them do not satisfy the requirements posed by modern diversity. A logical solution to the issue would be improving the skills of the active workforce. According to Henderson et al. (2018), “instead of focusing on training, cultural competency in community healthcare implies that one must attempt to develop a higher level of moral reasoning in community practitioners” (p. 611). By combining the immediate patient care experience with the knowledge relating to diversity issues, it is possible to make the healthcare setting more culturally sensitive.

Educating the already working practitioners may even provide better results than accentuating changes in the curriculum. For instance, Govere and Govere (2016) write that “a systematic review of 34 studies by Beach et al. (2005) found that training improved knowledge in 17 of 19 studies and skills and attitudes in 21 of 25 studies” (p. 408). As a result, implementing educational courses for the staff during their workdays can foster cultural sensitivity in healthcare.

Another way of enhancing personnel’s communicative skills is by influencing their experiences outside of the work. Anyone who is exposed to foreign or unfamiliar groups, whether they are social, ethnic, sexual, or cultural, is more tolerant and welcoming of people of different backgrounds. Therefore, the administration of an organization can encourage their subordinates to establish cross-cultural connections on their own, for example, by offering vacations in foreign countries.

There is also research that proves that the inclusion of communication with people with different social orientations elevates cultural sensitivity at work. A study by Gözüm et al. (2020) delved into the causes of low cultural competence in hospitals. Their findings asserted that “health professionals’ frequently establishing contact with friends or neighbors from different cultures in their private lives was one of the major factors positively affecting cultural competency levels” (p. 15). Subsequently, promoting personal exposure is a viable way of making healthcare organizations appreciate differences.

Changes in group behavior are accomplished via properly motivating its members. A healthcare organization possesses resources, which can compel the staff to adopt a less rigid view of other identities. Santana et al. (2018) argue for the adoption of a person-centered-care, which acknowledges patients’ gender, sexuality, race, and culture. The researchers point that an organization can “provide adequate incentives in payment programs; celebrate small wins and victories to ensure resources for staff to practice PCC” (p. 432). Ultimately, the employee policy decides the staff’s attitude to patients.

As for the actual steps an organization can take to strengthen cultural sensitivity, there are three major initiatives. According to Hollinger-Smith, entities can involve their members in “assessing their perceptions of cultural problems and conflicts, and plan how they should be fixed” (p. 8). She also argues for the adoption of policies respecting cultural differences, for instance, by adjusting when and how meals are served according to respective traditions. Finally, an organization can provide the working personnel with information on cultural subtleties, which may complicate communication.

Altogether, it is evident that in order to make the healthcare setting more appreciative of differences, it is necessary to work with the working staff. Promoting cultural education will make medical graduates more competent. Administrations can set up courses for the medical staff, which would raise their awareness. Encouraging personal first-hand experience of communicating with various identities will help in culturally sensitive patient care. Overall, healthcare organizations should create conditions motivating health professionals to increase their cultural competence.

Govere, L., & Govere, E. M. (2016). How effective is cultural competence training of healthcare providers on improving patient satisfaction of minority groups? A systematic review of literature. Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing , 13 (6), 402-410.

Gözüm, S., Tuzcu, A., & Yurt, S. (2020). Developing a cultural competency scale for primary health care professionals. Studies in Psychology . 1-22. Web.

Henderson, S., Horne, M., Hills, R., & Kendall, E. (2018). Cultural competence in healthcare in the community: A concept analysis. Health & Social Care in the Community , 26 (4), 590-603. Web.

Hollinger-Smith, L. (n.d.). Diversity & cultural competency in health care settings. Mather. Web.

Santana, M. J., Manalili, K., Jolley, R. J., Zelinsky, S., Quan, H., & Lu, M. (2018). How to practice person‐centred care: A conceptual framework. Health Expectations , 21 (2), 429-440. Web.

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