Chapter 10 Cultural Diversity 2009 Delmar Cengage Learning

Chapter 10 Cultural Diversity © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

10: 1 Culture, Ethnicity, and Race • Health care workers are involved with many different people • Respect individuality • Be aware of factors that cause each person to be unique • Influence is cultural/ethnic heritage © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Culture • Values, beliefs, attitudes, language, symbols, rituals, behaviors, and customs unique to a particular group of people • Passed from one generation to next • Often defined set of rules • Foundation of behavior, but variances (continues) © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Culture (continued) • • Culture is learned Culture is shared Social in nature Dynamic and constantly changing © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Ethnicity • Classification of people based on national origin and/or culture • Share common heritage, geographic location, national origin, social customs, language, and beliefs • Common ethnic groups • Subgroups within larger ethnic groups © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Race • Based on physical or biological factors – – – Color of skin, hair, and eyes Facial features Blood types Bone structure Race cuts across multiple ethnic and cultural groups © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Cultural Diversity • Differences among people resulting from cultural, ethnic, and racial factors • These differences influence a person’s behavior • Differences exist within ethnic/cultural groups • United States called a “melting pot, ” or is it more accurately a “salad bowl? ” © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Acculturation • Process of learning the beliefs and behaviors of a dominant culture and assuming some of the characteristics – Every individual has unique blend of characteristics – Need to develop sensitivity to differences © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

10: 2 Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotyping • Bias: preference or inclination that inhibits impartial judgment • Prejudice: strong feelings or beliefs about a person or subject; pre-judging others without reviewing facts or information; often based on fear • Stereotyping: making the assumption that everyone in a group is the same (continues) © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Bias, Prejudice, and Stereotyping (continued) • Creates barriers to relationships • Health care workers need to avoid feelings and assumptions • Ways to avoid bias, prejudice, and stereotyping © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

10: 3 Understanding Cultural Diversity • Cultural and ethnic beliefs will affect behavior • Health care worker needs to be aware of these beliefs to meet the physical, social, emotional, and mental needs of individuals (continues) © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Understanding Cultural Diversity (continued) • Family organization – – Nuclear Extended Patriarchal versus matriarchal Recognition and acceptance of family organization is essential in all aspects of the health care field (continues) © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Understanding Cultural Diversity (continued) • • • Language Personal space and touch Eye contact Gestures Health care beliefs (See Table 10 -1 in text) Spirituality and religion (See Table 10 -2 in text) © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning

10: 4 Respect Cultural Diversity • Regard each individual as unique • Everyone adopts beliefs and forms a pattern of behavior based on culture, ethnicity, race, life experiences, spirituality, and religion • Health care workers must learn to respect differences in individuals © 2009 Delmar, Cengage Learning