Exploring Culture Chapter 3 Understanding Other Cultures What

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Exploring Culture Chapter 3 Understanding Other Cultures

Exploring Culture Chapter 3 Understanding Other Cultures

What is Cross-Cultural Understanding? • Perspective ▫ a way of looking at or thinking

What is Cross-Cultural Understanding? • Perspective ▫ a way of looking at or thinking about something • knowing about how other people live and learning about their cultures • some benefits of cross-cultural understanding include: ▫ ▫ ▫ appreciate/respect different cultures obtain new ideas recognize shared experiences help to get along with others and work together recognize/appreciate the contributions made by people from other cultures • important in trading with other countries, travel, and in being good neighbours(especially in emergency situations…ex. Igor)

Generalization and Stereotypes • Generalization: ▫ a conclusion based on a person’s experience, or

Generalization and Stereotypes • Generalization: ▫ a conclusion based on a person’s experience, or on specific events/facts ▫ can allow us to simplify complex ideas and make predictions • But, beware of stereotypes: ▫ an inaccurate and often unfair idea that everyone in a group or culture looks and/or acts exactly the same ▫ Ex. ’s) -all Newfoundlanders fish -all British drink tea -teenagers are troublemakers -all Canadians love hockey etc.

 • Stereotypes continued… ▫ stereotypes can be created about groups based on… �Gender

• Stereotypes continued… ▫ stereotypes can be created about groups based on… �Gender - only girls figure skate �Age – all teenagers like rap music �Social Group – all farmers like country music �Language – all French-speaking people drink wine �Religion – all Christians go to church on Sunday • we need to keep an ‘open mind’ about others • be sure to have reliable information about other people and cultures

Dangers of Stereotypes • don’t allow us to truly appreciate/understand other people/cultures • can

Dangers of Stereotypes • don’t allow us to truly appreciate/understand other people/cultures • can lead us to believe that our own group/culture is superior to another • fails to reflect the diversity within cultures • can lead to bias, prejudice, and discrimination

Terminology • Bias: �a preference that favours one thing over another �often involves a

Terminology • Bias: �a preference that favours one thing over another �often involves a pre-judgement, not based on information we have gathered • Prejudice: �a dislike or distrust of individuals or groups based on bias and fear �for instance, racism is a prejudice based on a person’s heritage or skin color • Discrimination: �unfair treatment of individuals or groups as a result of prejudice �only boys are allowed to participate in the chess club

6 Steps to Take Action Against Stereotypes… (1). Start with yourself (2). Think first.

6 Steps to Take Action Against Stereotypes… (1). Start with yourself (2). Think first. (3). Ask questions to make people aware of what they are saying. (4). Speak out in a reasonable and polite way. (5). Find others who agree with you. (6). Talk to a responsible person (parent, teacher, elected official, ombudsman, …) ombudsman: a person responsible for investigating complaints against an organization to protect the rights of people